Green Cathedral Half Marathon, 5K & Fun Run

Sunday, September 17, 2023 • Youngstown, OH • Course Map

Located along the western border of Ohio and just over an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh, Youngstown plays host to the Green Cathedral Half Marathon & 5K, which the race organizers describe as “13.1 miles of pure happiness through historic, scenic Mill Creek Park.”

Runners are set to start the out-and-back course for the race at the Wick Recreation Area of the Mill Creek Golf Course, part of the 4,400-acre Mill Creek Metro Parks that stretch throughout Ohio’s Mahoning County and feature rivers, lakes, floral gardens, a 400-acre working farm, a historic grist mill and plentiful biking and walking trails and hikes through the woods along the shores of Lake Cohasset and Lake Newport.

From there — the address is 1861 McCollum Road — runners head first out of the park and through a residential neighborhood just outside it, and then back into the park by way of Calvary Run Drive, where they head east to meet up with Lake Glacier, one of several along the river that snakes through the park.

There, they turn right and head south, following West Glacier Drive to the southern tip of the lake, where they cross over the water.

The course brings runners south past the series of lakes along the river, keeping them mostly in the wooded areas along the water. There’s really very little in the way of hills — the biggest hills occur early in the race, as there’s a drop between miles 2 and 3, and then a climb of just over 130 feet in elevation between miles 3 and 4. After that, the course largely levels out for the next several miles.

There’s a final uphill stretch in the last mile of the race, after runners cross over a creek and head west along Bear’s Den Road, in the home stretch back toward the Mill Creek Golf Course, where the race finish line lies.

There will also be cash prizes, race awards and a live performance by the River’s Own band, organizers note, as well as activities for kids on race day.

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Race Weather & Climate

Nestled along the Mahoning River in northeastern Ohio, about 74 miles southeast of Cleveland and roughly 65 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pa., Youngstown typically sees mild to moderately warm weather in September, which has brought record temperatures here as low as 26°F (in 1989) and as high as 99°F (in 1953).

On race day (Sept. 17), the average low is 53°F and the average high is 77°F.

Past Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Green Cathedral Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

  • 8:00 AM – kids’ fun run
  • 8:30 AM – half marathon
  • 8:45 AM – 5K run/walk

Fees

  • $35 – $40 for the half marathon

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of Youngstown’s Green Cathedral Half Marathon, 5K or fun run, register online at RunSignUp.com here.

Official Race Website

www.millcreekmetroparks.org/visit/things-to-do/green-cathedral/

Comments

Ever run in the Green Cathedral Half Marathon? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments below.

See more races in: September, Ohio

3 comments… add one
  • Lindsay September 13, 2017, 10:24 am

    Great challenging race! It was my 2nd half marathon and the course through Mill Creek was absolutely beautiful! Does anyone know where we can view the professional race photos that were taken throughout the course? (9/10/17)

    Reply
  • Mary Hoffman June 9, 2016, 6:05 pm

    Just noticed that the date shown on this is September 18, 2016. The date shown on the Mill Creek Park Website is September 11, 2016.

    Need to get the dates coordinated!

    Reply
    • Terrell Johnson June 9, 2016, 7:54 pm

      Thank you, Mary! The date has now been corrected above, and on our calendar pages.

      Reply

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