Parrot Head Run

Join us for the Heatwave Half Marathon, 10K, & 5K!

A sun-soaked summer challenge that’s perfect for the whole family.

The fun includes –

• Great Swag – designer shirt & custom medal

• Chip-timing with live results and awards

• Free photos

• FREE ice cream at the finish to help you cool off

• Plenty of hot fun in the summer sun!

Grab your friends and family—you won’t want to miss this one!

Can’t make the race? No problem! We offer a virtual race option where you can run anywhere, at any time, and still earn the fun swag!

Youth-based pricing is available: ages 12 & under are only $17!

Half Marathon/10K/5K registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

1 Mile registration is untimed and includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

Kid’s Dash is a fun, untimed dash for ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specially crafted medal for our youngest runners! (If your child wants to run the kid’s dash without swag, they’re welcome to run free on race day!)

Register by midnight on Thursday, two Thursdays before race day, to guarantee your shirt!

Registration for the Blazing Paddles Riverfest Dave Vasarhelyi Memorial Recreational Paddle and Blazing Paddles races is officially OPEN! Please register early. Our location at the Nautica Waterfront District, Music Box Supper Club is serving as the hospitality partner for our annual paddling celebration of Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River, providing free live Reggae music and Caribbean-inspired cuisine at their riverside location on Saturday (7/18/26). We will host the Riverfront Expo and early paddler check-in on Friday evening (7/17/26). The 8th Annual Blazing Paddles Paddlefest is Ohio's 2nd largest paddling event for kayaks, canoes, standups, and surf skis on the Cuyahoga River, a historic body of water that's risen like a Phoenix since the June 22, 1969 fire sparked the global environmental movement and clean water protections. On Saturday July 18, 2026 after your paddle, enjoy the Blazing Paddles Paddlefest Riverfront Expo with food, beverage and live Reggae music at Music Box Supper Club

and other Flats West Bank hospitality partners Your registration will get you: * Collectible keepsake Blazing Paddles t-shirt (please register early as we have sold out our last two years). Shirt sizes are only guaranteed for those who register for Blazing Paddles Riverfest by July 2, 2026. * Blazing Paddles sticker * Free morning coffee and a grab & go breakfast snack bar * Post paddle snack bar with your favorite munchies * $5 Music Box Food & Beverage voucher * a free beer (detail to be provided) Click on the video below to see the fun our paddlers had in 2023! The Dave Vasarhelyi Memorial Recreational Paddle & Float will take on a curvy, 6 mile urban waterfront journey that flows past a unique mix of riverfront sites where iconic pyramids of sand and stone stand in contrast to paved paths and greenspaces. 4 days before Blazing Paddles we will provide you with a digital guide that will allow you to explore and experience Cleveland's waterfront history and learn about current stakeholder

operations. Choose one of three turnaround points to suit your needs! Dave Vasarhelyi Memorial Recreational Paddle & Float course Recreational Distance - up to 10 miles, - $45 --- Register here to enjoy a fun, relaxed, self-guided journey with your paddling friends on Cleveland's hard-working, scenic, and historic Cuyahoga River. If you don't own a kayak, you can rent a single or tandem (use the code BP2 for a $5 discount!) during the registration process! You can also enjoy three different race lengths during Blazing Paddles Paddlefest. Race Lengths Recreational Distance - 3.7 miles, The Carl Stokes Memorial (all classes) - $45 Medium Distance - 6 miles, Ruth Patrick Memorial (all classes) - $55 Long Distance - 12 miles, Rachel Carson Memorial (High Performance Kayak (18'1"), Fast Sea Kayak (16'1" -18') - $55 --- NOTE: Early bird pricing runs through Saturday, April 16, 2026. Our famous photo award and a hat (trucker or light booney, your choice) hat will be given to the top three

finishers in each category. Race categories are per the Waterman Series classifications. For your entry you'll receive a cool Blazing Paddles tee, and you'll be contributing to Share the River's mission on behalf of Cleveland's waterfront while providing recreational opportunities for historically disadvantaged audiences. All ages are welcome however paddlers under the age of 15 must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Paddler instructions will be emailed by Wednesday afternoon, July 15, 2026. Race Categories * SUP 14' & Under * High-Performance Kayak (18'1") * Fast Sea Kayak (16'1" -18') * Sea Kayak (14'-16') * Kayak (Under 14) * Solo Canoe (Includes Outrigger) * Tandem Kayak * Tandem Canoe (Includes OC-2) Pre-registration closes on July 15, 2026. There is no same-day registration. “When you participate in Blazing Paddles on Cleveland’s vibrant, scenic, and historic Cuyahoga River, you’ll be a reminder of the positive catalytic effects clean water and recreational tourism have on local

and regional economies.” No Refunds - No Transfers - No Rollovers We are a rain or shine event. Blazing Paddles Riverfest is a non-refundable event.

Ready, sweat, go! Registration will open on Friday, March 13 for the 18th Annual Meltdown 5K Race and 1 Mile Family Fun Run & Walk, the centerpieces of LakewoodAlive’s Lakewood Summer Meltdown sponsored by Cox. The Lakewood Summer Meltdown takes place Saturday, July 18, from 4 - 10 PM on Detroit Avenue in Downtown Lakewood. The Meltdown 5K Race and the 1 Mile Family Fun Run & Walk both serve as a fundraiser for LakewoodAlive.

This ever-popular staple of the Summer Meltdown draws hundreds of participants annually—and for good reason! In addition to the usual race perks (fast course, chip timing, official race t-shirt, and prizes for top finishers), the Meltdown 5K offers a unique opportunity to participate in an evening race (7 PM start) with live music, food vendors, and a beer garden placed at the end of the course as a reward for your efforts. The course also offers fantastic views of Lakewood’s historic neighborhoods and the opportunity to run alongside beautiful Lake Erie.

Secure your Meltdown 5k Race registration ASAP! When you buy early, you save! The first 50 signups will be discounted to $20 followed by a pre-sale rate of $30 and registration day-of $35.

For Meltdown attendees—both young and old—interested in a more relaxed exercise experience, the 1 Mile Family Fun Run & Walk precedes the Meltdown 5K at 6 PM. This crowd-pleasing event is priced at $15 per participant (includes a t-shirt) and is intended for participants of all ages.

Enjoy this fun summer tradition while showing your support for LakewoodAlive; we can't wait to see you at the race! On your marks, get set, register!

For more information regarding Lakewood Summer Meltdown 2025, please visit LakewoodAlive.org/Meltdown

Race Day Info:

After Hours 5K at the zoo

What You Get:

Custom race t-shirt

Finisher Medal for all

Post race refreshments

Admission to the zoo

**Race Day Registration is online only!

Spectator Information

Spectators wanting to come cheer on runners/walkers will need to purchase tickets to enter the zoo.

Zoo membership does not allow you free entry into the zoo.

Ticket prices are to be announced. Spectators must purchase tickets on-line only at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Website (link below):

(Link Coming Soon) Admissions will be there to scan the online ticket once purchased. The box office will not be open.