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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 161 to 171]
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Florida Runner from Florida
(1/7/2003)
 "Flat, Beautiful Course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Perfect weather (40's - 50's although it was unseasonably cold) and a beautiful course. This is a great less-crowded Marathon & a good one for a PR. With only about 2000 runners, I had plenty of room to find my own pace from the beginning without too much weaving. The spectators were great...when there were spectators that is. Not nearly the support of the big ones (ie. Chicago) but they were there when it counted in the last 10K and people were very supportive. Volunteers were also fantastic. Thanks! Personally, I had an off day but one can easly reach a PR on this course. Nice and flat and lots of breathtaking water views. With a 6am start it was very dark in the beginning but a nice run. I stayed at the host Hotel & this kept me right in the middle of the action. An easy walk to and from the race & I got to watch friends run the 15K the day before. I look forward to seeing this one grow in size and organization. Small details could still be ironed out... 1. I didn't get a gear check tag. No big deal but could've been devastating for someone who really needed to check gear. 2. The chip verification should have had a big sign or something at the expo. There was just a lady sitting at a table with a computer & you'd never know what she was there for unless you asked. 3. The aid stations should always set up the same (in my opinion). Always Gatorade then H2O or visa versa but don't mix it up. Us marathoners need all the help we can get! The Post-race party was also well done with awards and some door prizes. If you're considering this one - go, it's a nice race. | |
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S. C. from Olathe, Kansas
(1/7/2003)
 "Well organized, excellent volunteers and flat" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Excellent organization, volunteer support along with the flat and very scenic bayfront and tourist area race route defines Hops. With 23 aid stations, a clock at every mile and well positioned and abundant port-a-potties along the route allowed for easy management of your run. Race conditions for 2003 were excellent upper 30's for the start and mid 50's around noon, clear and sunny. With the starting line outside the Tampa Convention Center, the availability of indoor restrooms and the warmth were convenient. Early sections of the course out by the airport were illuminated with portable flood lights before the sunrise, course supervision and traffic control were great. The racecourse was fan friendly which allowed easy support and viewing by spectators and family, who only had to go two blocks to see runners at the 8 and 13 mile mark and finish line. Volunteers were numerous and enthusiastic and Gatorade and water were abundant. The positioning of the Clifshot gel stations were placed strategically on the last half of the course just before an aid station with water. The finishers medal and shirt were good quality, with the shirt being a Cool-max long sleeve shirt with an embroidered Hops marathon logo. The move of Hops to a January event was a good decision for the race directors. This race is one to do again. | |
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H. W. from FL USA
(1/7/2003)
"Tampa was great" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 About the 7th marathon I've been to and the 2nd time at Hops. This year was better organized than the first, but a lot less people since they moved it to January and Disney is only a week away from it. A lot less people cheering on the crowds too, but those that were there were really great. Beautiful course, great neighbourhoods, right along water. | |
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J. P. from A runner from the midwest.
(1/7/2003)
 "Skip the mouse - This is your winter marathon!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 What a fun time! If you want a marathon with great support from the volunteers, a really cool looking medal, shirt and expo without the crowds then this marathon is for you. The course is flat and fast as advertised. The town needs to come out and support this race more. For those spectators that did, a big thank you!! You were great and made me feel like you were my own personal support crew. Did I mention the outstanding water stops? You couldn't have asked for better. This marathon beats the big city and crowd marathons IMHO. The only negative is that many of the downtown eateries and businesses are closed putting you at the mercy of the hotels unless you have a car or want to cab around. | |
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J. S. from Louisville, Kentucky
(1/5/2003)
"Well organized marathon on a beautiful course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a 'can't miss' marathon. The course is very flat and fast and the scenery is excellent, with much of the course along the water. There are 23 aid stations, all staffed with enthusiastic workers. The Expo was great! I'll be running this one again! | |
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A Runner from Miami, Florida
(8/15/2002)
"great marathon/1/2 marathon-great organization" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran this last year in December. The course was great. Plenty of everything! Beware of the host hotel-when checking in ask for an outside room. My room overlooked the atrium and every night I was forced to listen to screaming, laughing, drunken guests until the bar closed. Not good when you are getting up to run! | |
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A Runner from florida
(1/7/2002)
"verizon medals were the worst ever!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Perhaps you shouldn't run a race for the medal and t-shirt but the 1/2 marathon medals and t-shirt provided by Verizon were the worst I've ever seen. The medal does not even say 1/2 marathon on it. They took great advantage of the opportunity to advertise their product and put forth minimal effort to applaud the effort of the runner. The full marathon medal by Hops was far superior. I did the Hops inaugural and enjoyed it. I will not do anything else presumably 'supported' by Verizon. I am amazed Verizon would approve such a design and more amazed that a medal designer would create this. Clearly, no 'runner' was consulted. If you consider this race for 2002, do the full marathon. At least you won't be ashamed to display your medal. | |
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A Runner from Tallahassee
(12/14/2001)
"Organization and Volunteers Were Great" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Water and Gatorade at every mile was great. The volunteers were wonderful and offered many kind words along the way. Food and drink at the end of this race was awesome. Crowd support and spectators were the only disappointing feature about this race. Without a doubt I will be running this race again next year. | |
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A Runner from St. Augustine, FL
(12/12/2001)
"Great, well organized event" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 58th marathon and will go down as one of the best. The course was beautiful, the organization superb, an awesome medal. Love the race windshirt and the city was very runner friendly. Having been a race director for a marathon I appreciate the tremendous amount of time and work involved. I really enjoyed my run at the Hops Marathon. Super Job!! | |
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A Runner from ST PETE
(12/4/2001)
"GREAT SUPPORT" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 You can't ask for better support--plenty of porta potties, luid stations with gatorade and water every mile. I don't eat while I'm running because I'm afraid I'll get an upset stomach but I heard they had food galore along the course--they were handing out krispy creme donuts, chocolate chip cookies, muffins, oranges and there were several points giving out powergels even though the prerace info said there would only be one pewergel handoff. I ran the course two years now and it was warm both years. I have to disagree with the news article that said the temperatures this year caused worse times than the inaugural year. I found the weather to be a little bit mere comfortable than last year but still on the warm side. I definitely liked the course better this year--did not care much for running all the way down to MacDill Airforce base in the inaugural year. If you run this course plan for warm weather but maybe we will get lucky next year and get a cool front. About a week before the race they were calling for a cool front but it never came. |
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