I just discovered that there has been a small, but very significant change to the Marathon route this year.  Instead of proceeding all the way to Highland Avenue on East Liberty Boulevard the race now turns from E. Liberty Blvd, right onto Larimer, then left onto Meadow and across the Meadow Street Bridge.  It then turns left onto Stanton Avenue and right onto Highland, then proceeds as before.

This means that there is now access to the inside of the route via Negley Run Road.  It would be possible for people from the North to get to Highland Park inside the loop by taking Washington Boulevard to Negley Run, then right onto East Liberty Boulevard and right onto N. Euclid (and to get out by the reverse).

I would think that this is probably the reason the change was made, but I am mystified that there was not any public notification of this that I have seen.  I only discovered it because I saw No Parking signs on Meadow and Stanton yesterday, and then I checked the route map online.

Bill Ghrist