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Best of the West race photo

Best of the West

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USSeptember 202742.195km · 21.1km · 10km
JonRidinger · CC BY 3.0
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Ravenna · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km
Entry fee
$85From the 2026 edition
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 19, 2026 · Entry ~ Sep 19, 2026 · Entry fee $40 · Start 08:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 17, 2026
Best of the West race photo
JonRidinger · CC BY 3.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Best of the West — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

A 10K was added in 2026.

The race also celebrates the newly constructed Buckeye Trail section in West Branch State Park.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Best of the West runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

We haven't found a video for this race yet. We'll add one when we do.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Best of the West — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition

Marathon

Entry cost $85

Best of the West Marathon · until Aug 19, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $70

Best of the West Half Marathon · until Aug 19, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

10K

Entry cost $40

Best of the West 10k · until Aug 19, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform RunSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Best of the West course map and elevation

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

West Branch State Park Beach, Ravenna, OH

Start · Google Maps
Show more

The Best of the West Marathon·Best of the West Half Marathon·Best of the West 10k events are held together.

Start line is located at West Branch State Park Beach, Ravenna, OH, and the race starts at 8:00 AM local time.

Course is an out-and-back course on the same route.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Best of the West race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

The full, half marathon and 10K trail races start at 08:00.
Race-pack collection times have not been published.

West Branch State Park Beach, Esworthy Road, Ravenna, OH 44266

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNone — start/finish at West Branch State Park Beach, Ravenna, OH
  • Transit cardRavenna, OH is a small town in Portage County with no dedicated IC transit card; local bus service…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

None — start/finish at West Branch State Park Beach, Ravenna, OH

Rural state park venue in Portage County; nearest transit service is in Akron/Kent (~20 miles) with no direct route to the park. Car required.

West Branch State Park has no public transit access; the marathon course is an out-and-back around the lake and dam.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start — West Branch State Park Beach

Half Marathon finishers ride an organizer shuttle back from the turnaround to the beach finish (see shuttle field).

Map

Start shuttle

Half Marathon participants finish at the Marathon's turnaround point (across the dam near the campground entrance) and take an organizer-run shuttle back to the start/finish at the beach.

Transit card

Ravenna, OH is a small town in Portage County with no dedicated IC transit card; local bus service (Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority) uses cash fares rather than a tap card. Most visitors will find this a car-access venue given limited/no direct connection from major regional airports.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Average 18°C — favourable conditions for runners in Ravenna in September.

The key factor is the time spent waiting before the start.

If you begin with a cold body, you will spend the first 5km just warming up.

The venue is in an area without public transport.

Plan on travelling by private or rental car.

Registration is handled through the RunSignup platform.

The point where runners typically fall apart in full marathon is around 30km.

The 30 seconds you save in the first half can preserve five minutes in the second half.

Do not skip aid stations; take a little at each one.

The start is at 08:00. Registration is open until September 19, 2026.

Times are local to Ravenna. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Cleveland｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from Hopkins International Airport

$245

View on Klook

Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball Game at Rocket Arena

$31

View on Klook

Pittsburgh Penguins Ice Hockey Game at PPG Paints Arena

$79

View on Klook

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Cleveland｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service from Hopkins International Airport

$245

View on Klook

Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball Game at Rocket Arena

$31

View on Klook

Pittsburgh Penguins Ice Hockey Game at PPG Paints Arena

$79

View on Klook

Where runners eat in Ravenna

Eating well is part of the trip

View all →

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

What to see in Ravenna after the race

Seeing Ravenna with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Ravenna.

Total cost and budget for Best of the West

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Best of the West

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Ravenna runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Best of the West

FAQ
When was Best of the West 2026 held?

It was held on Sat, September 19, 2026. The next race is September 2027.

When does Best of the West 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, September 19, 2026.

How much is the Best of the West 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $40.

What distances does Best of the West 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half · 10K. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Best of the West 2027 start?

The race starts at 08:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Best of the West 2027 start?

West Branch State Park Beach, Ravenna, OH. (From the 2026 edition)

What is the Best of the West 2027 course like?

The Best of the West Marathon·Best of the West Half Marathon·Best of the West 10k events are held together.

Start line is located at West Branch State Park Beach, Ravenna, OH, and the race starts at 8:00 AM local time.

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