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Gasparilla Distance Classic Runner Comments
Back to Gasparilla Distance Classic Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 182 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
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Lisa Talbot from New Bedfrod, MA
(1/27/2004)
 "Absolutely Spectacular" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 1. The organization of the entire weekend is first-rate. The marathon course is beautiful, flat, well-marked, scenic, well-managed and runner friendly. 2. The volunteers and specatators were wonderful. 3. The early start is fantastic. 4. 26.2 in Tampa makes all the winter training in MA worth it! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You | |
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b. k. from pennsylvania
(1/27/2004)
 "Will do this one again!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Beautiful course and overall a very well run event. Enjoyed the bands along the way, and the violinist on Davis Island was great. Lacked some spectators compared to other races, but some of that could be due to the 6:00 am start. Plenty of well stocked water stations with enthusiastic volunteers (thanks to all of you), and the shower set-ups felt great as the day heated up. Pre-race expo was very well done. My only real problem was with the food available at the finish. I agree with an earlier poster who said that some local restaurant food would be a nice touch. Great shirt. | |
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P. G. from Dakota
(1/27/2004)
 "Beautiful January Climate" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just returned from running the Hops, my 4th marathon. On a positive note, I thought that the aid stations, support, and organization of the race was superb, plenty of potties, food, music, cheerleading squads. The weather was stunning. I feel that other potential future runners may be interested in what I thought were the drawbacks of this race. My biggest complaint was the surface--I contacted the race office twice before I planned my trip to see if there would be any concrete. They assured me it was all asphalt. While chatting in the opening miles, a local runner informed me that the last 10 miles was actually asphalt over concrete. Note to race staff: I know you want to recruit runners, but please be kind--concrete is hard on these granny legs! Also, the route through Ybor City was drab and industrial, whereas we went through the beautiful Davis Island estates in the dark. Maybe Ybor City would be better in the dark... Sports Authority had some nice T-shirts at the expo. Everyone has a different opinion, but I prefer shirts that have a big scenic picture on the front over the embroidery. So, aside from the concrete, Ybor, and the T-shirts, if you want to marathon in Florida, this race is well organized with great aid stations. PS--stay at the Marriott Waterside. Very nice. | |
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S. V. from Jacksonville, FL
(1/27/2004)
"Excellent Florida Marathon!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 As a veteran marathoner, here are my random thoughts after running the 2004 race: Course: Perfect, this is probably the most beautiful Florida marathon course I've ever run. The cobblestone road that people are whining about is not really cobblestone... it's paved with bricks, which I thought added interest to the course. No problem whatsoever running over them. Overall the course is flat with just a few viaducts to run over. Weather: There were hydration stops galore along the route; even so, it was too warm this year and I cramped up bad over the last couple of miles. Nothing the race organizers can do about something like that though; it's Florida, we have to deal with it. Spectators: Awesome. No, the course isn't jam-packed with them, but then again I don't have spectators when I train either. I felt there was a steady amount of them along the course though. The volunteers, musicians and fans on the course were very vocal, offering the right shouts of encouragement. OUTSTANDING! I loved the girl on the violin, she was jamming! I am forever indebted to the race fans in Tampa, now it's time to applaud you! Small Tweaks for Improvement: Have the word 'finisher' on the medal so that others can see that you didn't get them in the race packet, you had to run the distance. Post the results right away, under a proper link. Flood light the starting line with halogens... there was a big pile-up because the timing mat got crinkled, but no one could see it in the blackness at 6 AM. Other than that, you've got a great race Tampa - don't shut it down! Put down the crack pipe and think about it... prize money might draw a faster elite field, but more festivities that encourage the whole family to participate (even the non-runners) is what will eventually give you what you're looking for en masse. Heck, the Miami Marathon is drawing a big crowd just because they have a large, unique spinning medal! You should be very proud of your marathon, though, and I would definitely consider running it again if the weather's colder. | |
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John D'Angelo from Orlando
(1/26/2004)
"Great overall experience except the pasta party" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 What an awesome marathon! Very well organized, great expo and friendly spectators and entertainment all along the course. There were MORE than enough water and aid stations and even 8 or 9 places to get an energy gel. Wonderful! Where the heck was NEWTS??? Badly placed on the map means that we never made it there. Shame. Also, the pasta party had no vegetarian marinara sauce. I'll definitely run the course again and make reservations at the HYATT's AVANZARE restaurant for their 'Create your own pasta' dinner. | |
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A. R. from Bergen County, New Jersey
(1/26/2004)
"Will definitely do this one again!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Loved this race. Crowd support was not always there, but when it was, the fans were great. Somebody actually had Chariots of Fire soundtrack on a loop on their boombox! Everybody cheered me, 'Jersey Girl', on. The volunteers at aid stations were terrific, loads of water ready and waiting, plenty of smiles and encouragement. Pretty neighborhoods, very friendly runners, organization was tight and cohesive. The weather was PERFECT, started out kind of dark, ok, REALLY dark, think moon and stars. But running in the dark with hundreds of others on the same quest, through quiet streets ... wow. Ethereal. Loved it. Will do this again, no doubt. | |
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irene steh from Toronto
(1/26/2004)
"Excellent first marathon experience" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I made a pilgrimage from -20-degree temperatures in Toronto... needless to say, training has been a bit buggered. And all things considered, my first marathon ended in a pretty good time. Great course, the scenery was beautiful, and more importantly, distracting... being 'able' to run 26 miles on a sunny day, on the water. Doesn't get better than that! Thanx to the fans, bands and the guy at mile 17 with the sign 'pain is temporary, pride lasts forever'... that took a bit of the burn away for sure. Kudos, Tampa!! One thing: promote the pre-race dinner more, ie. bring in speakers, running reps... those night-before events are a great bonding opportunity for runners. | |
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V. M. from Palm Harbor, FL
(1/26/2004)
 "More PR needs to be done - more food & excitement" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 1. Get vendors to donate items to encourage more people along the course, especially on Davis Island, to come out and cheer or play music. Ex: - Publix certificates for $5.00 to each participating household or movie passes or passes to the Aquarium. Encourage them to leave their Christmas lights outside a little longer and turn them on becuase running on Harbour Island was very dark. Have more bands. The violinist down by the Yacht Club was perfect. 2. More excitement at the finish - food, food, food. There is more food at my sprint triathlons than this marathon. You have the Harvest Bread Company, oranges, and juice. THAT'S IT??? Get HOPS out there or Outback. Whoever is doing your PR needs to kick it up several notches. Get Tampa Bay involved. Get the restaurants in Y'Bor involved. 3. Change the course to avoid running on the cobblestones down Balast Point. Take us out on Harbour Island. Take us down the central street in Y'Bor. Jazz up the course. 4. Your host hotel wanted the business but did very little to earn the title of 'Host'. No late check out, no food (not even real coffee - the stuff in the room does not count) in the a.m. Their handout said room service would be availabe at 5:00 a.m. but when I called for real coffee with real cream, I got a security guard at my door with cheap packets of coffee. No nothing. The front desk said they had something in the a.m. before Gasparilla but low attendance. Well, this is Sunday and a marathon. I really do not care what they did or did not do on Sat. Blending the two events has been a mistake from the start, but you are not willing to change. The only thing the Hyatt did was discount the room. I stayed at the Hyatt for the first time before this marathon because of its claim of being the host hotel. 5. I enjoy using a jacuzzi after the marathon. The YMCA even closed at noon. When I am done I would have to liked to hang out a bit but had to hurry back to the Hyatt to jump in the jacuzzi and hurry and check out. I met a lot of people from out of town that had no clue about the post-race party at Newk's. A marathon info booth in the Hyatt would be nice. This is the 3rd Hops marathon I have done and I don't see any improvement from last year when they made the fatal mistake of combining the two events. I am really feeling the crunch of a financial lack of planning and not getting the financial backing from supporters. | |
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sutah robins from the jersey shore
(1/26/2004)
 "Don't miss the start time" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I was a half hour late to the start and found it most confusing. I ran 6 miles the wrong way before a man placing cones told me to turn around. found the pack coming across the Hyde Park bridge. The finish line was the quietest I have ever crossed. Shhhhh. | |
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G. H. from Tampa, FL
(1/26/2004)
"First marathon--SUPER!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The course was spectacular, better than I could have imagined. Spectator support was there, but a little sparse in the later miles, even for a 4:00:00 race. Overall, I was extremely pleased and am anxious to run again. |
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