9. Cleveland Marathon and 10K

The Buzz -- Held each spring in late April or May, this event takes advantage of beautiful weather and never fails to yield a great turnout. Thousands of hard-core marathoners attend, and couch potatoes try to be runners for a day. Both races attract elite athletes. However, lots of residents run the 10K at a "leisurely pace" for the reward at the end – bagels, ice cream, Powerbars, Popsicles and the satisfaction of knowing they ran 6.2 miles. Lots of music, food and exciting race finishes make this a fun event for spectators too.