Nearly 6,000 runners left the gates of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens starting at 7:30 a.m. in the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay.

The runners, who joined a total of 10,000 runners, including relay runners at various legs of the course, first ran through the streets of West Akron. They followed the “Blue Line” painted on roads around the city of Akron. Portions of the marathon were also along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Marathon officials estimated 100,000 spectators throughout the city watched the marathon.

According to unofficial results, Caleb Hoover of Flagstaff, Arizona won the marathon, finishing with a time of 2:25:33. Zachary Hoagland of Hatfield, Pennsylvania finished second at 2:26:48. Lizzie Gleason of Dayton won the marathon women's division with a time of 2:47:24 and Jaclyn Range of Westlake placed second with a time of 2:58:59. Nathaniel Orndorf of Akron won the half marathon, finishing with a time of 1:07:09. Jacob Law of Louisville, Ky. finished second at 1:08:12. Sarah Horbol of Westlake won the women's half marathon with a time of 1:18:30. Anna Dalton of Anchorage, Alaska finished second at 1:21:03. Click here for full results.

The start of the 2019 race, now in its 17th year, was a departure from the previous start in downtown Akron. The finish line for all races remained at Canal Park Stadium.

The marathon was also in its fifth year as part of the Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series, which offers two additional races throughout the year.

Race officials had a few reasons for changing the starting line and the course for Saturday's marathon. Officials redesigned the full and half marathon course to include new elevation changes, with fewer climbs for runners and a net 150 foot drop in both courses. This should help runners — especially elite competitors — looking for a personal record or qualifying time for other national races.

But the forecast of hot morning weather caused race officials to send out a weather alert to runners, saying its medical team suggested runners slow their pace. Organizers added misting stations at miles 19.6 and 23.6 and said ice sponges would be available at all aid stations. There was sporadic light rain as runners began the marathon, offering a moderate respite from the heat.

At the finish line, Gideon Oswitch of Kent threw his towel in the air as he thrust his arms above his head.

Oswitch, 54, has run all 17 Akron marathons.

His overall time for the full marathon was “a little bit slower, but considering the heat and the hills, I’m elated. I’m so happy." Unofficial results clocked him at 4:11:20.

Oswitch said he liked the newly designed course: "It was very organized. As usual, traffic control was great."

He thought the new start at Stan Hywet "was cool. It was different and it was kind of energizing." The light rain at the beginning of the race was nice and created a rainbow for runners for good luck, he said.

Oswitch also liked running the first half of the marathon through West Akron.

"The spectators came out more in West Akron than they have in prior years," he said. Summit Lake, another new part of the course on the back half of the marathon, also "had a nice breeze coming off there, so it cooled us down. It was nice and flat," he said.

For all Ohio.com race coverage, go here.

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Beacon Journal consumer columnist and medical reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/topics/linfisher