This is the second year I've done the race.  Last year I had to walk about 80 blocks to the Convention Center to pick-up  my packet. I'm a woman and that was a little scary. There is NO parking around the convention center. This year I see a meter, put in my money and go in happy to be a little closer this year.  What do I find when I come out?  A ticket on my car!!!! I must have missed the tiny little sign that said you can't park there.  No more! I'm never doing this race again.  Parking in the decks next to the CC should NOT be $10.00.  I've already paid my money.  Like I said.  NEVER AGAIN!

Probably the best day to pick up the race packets is on Saturday. Many free parking spots on Saturday. Friday is tough with Police Memorial Parade activities, many street  closings and no parking areas. About 3,000 in the downtown area for the parade and memorial events on Friday 

That's a good suggestion.  I wish I could've gone tomorrow, but I have to work all day.  This race is becoming very expensive.

I'm sorry to hear about your ticket and trouble, but don't associate poor planning & research to anything that has to do with the race.  You should expect to pay for parking during the work week if you've ever visited a major US city, you should not plan to walk any more than a few blocks if you're not familiar with any city.  Hopefully you'll still have a good race on Sunday, and plan a little differently next year. 

I understand that cities are busier and more expensive on a Friday, but maybe race organizers could include information about the Parade in the mass email that was sent out a week or so ago?  Trying to get into the city was much, much worse than usual on Friday afternoon with multiple road closures and really bad traffic.  I re-read the email when I got home, and it even includes info about "you are welcome to park in the Convention Center lot" - which only people with passes (?) were allowed to at that time.  Fotunately, I'm from the area and am not totally lost downtown.  For those coming from out-of-town or suburbians with little knowledge of the city, Friday packet pick-up WAS a nightmare.  I hope that maybe next year, if the organizers are aware of these potential problems, that they might get that information out somehow.  I can only imagine the logistics of trying to put this race together, but little things like this (and our depressing Convention Center - ugh!) may be keeping Cleveland from becoming a more popular marathon.

That sucks, I didn't know there was restrictive parking yesterday at the convention center.  It isn't the most elaborate of facilities, but I'm not sure where else it would work better.  Maybe the Wohlstein Center?  If that's tuning people away, a little stroll down st. clair and east 40th on Sunday won't help either.

gosh, maybe the race organizers could've included in their email right before the race that it was going to rain and be windy on saturday during packet pickup, too. (i had to use my umbrella).  and that there might be an accident on 90 inbound.  and more importantly, like you said sammyncramer1 about the friday disruption from the parade ...  you know, the Cleveland Police/Peace Officers Memorial Celebration, which honors and thanks those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and those who choose to protect. 

the race organizers sure are insensitive, aren't they?  i kinda wonder who all those people were, this morning.  the ones in dark uniforms. 

thanks to everyone who helped for a great race today.