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Jun 30, 2024

Jacksonville Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.1

Organization 3.9

Spectators 2.7

Number of comments: 166 [displaying comments 101 to 111]

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D. O. from Tampa, FL (12/17/2006) "Get Organized!!! People Have Worked Hard!!!" (about: 2006) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 It is amazing that people recommended this race. This was the least organized marathon I have ever witnessed. We were at the rally point where we were told there would be shuttles at 6, 6:15, etc. There were none to be found. There were not even bathrooms at the rally points. We had to get back in our car and drive and park about a mile from the starte. The shuttle busses (school busses) did not all show up. They should have had backup. The course is flat, but boring. The temperature at the start was 55, and it was 77 at the finish. Uneasonably warm for Jacksonville and bad luck. The expo was nonexistent. The bathrooms were nonexistent at the start and sparse throughout the course. Lines were ridiculous and I find it unbelievable that they would have the same number of toilets from one year to the next after knowing they had a problem last year. The food at the end of the race was weak. Going from grass to dirt to track at the end was fine, but there were branches and tree roots sticking out at all over the dirt. There were cars all over the course - so much so that there was a backup and you had to hit the side of the car so they would move over and give way. There was exhaust from motorcycles and cars in the neighborhoods and especially during the traffic jam. The good thing about the race is that it was flat. It is shaded, but the bummer of that is that if you have a Garmin watch it will stop working halfway through the race, becuase you are in the middle of too many trees. Water and PowerAde are only every two miles and the Gu they advertised was nowhere to be found. With all of the marathons that are out there, I would never recommend this race. It was poorly organized, managed and executed and the race directors should send an email to all participants apologizing for their ineptitude.
T. F. from Harrisburg,PA (11/26/2006) "Good PR course" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I'm from the north and love to come down to race in warm weather in the dead of winter. As far as expos, I couldn't care less. Real runners like running, not poking around looking for free water bottles and candy bars at expos. Crowd support? Who cares! That's what people like Lance Armstrong need to complete a marathon. I'll be doing this one again in a couple of weeks. With luck, breakn' my pr. Good luck folks! Happy running.
C. F. from Williamsburg, VA (10/26/2006) "Laid-back & low-maintenance runners will love this" (about: 2005) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you are into glitz and glam, this is not your race. I loved this race because of the great organization, the wonderful people working the event, the glorious finish around the track, the adequate supplies and porta-potties and the lovely, residential FLAT course. I got all the support I needed from the locals, and my husband was able to find me from the sidelines in several places. The race was small enough that it was easy to find other marathoners that I ran with along the way after the race. You'll get a great sense of community and support throughout the race. Do it!
B. B. from Orlando, Fla. (10/26/2006) "Avoid This Marathon" (General Comments) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This is a 3rd-rate marathon, which is poorly organized, and a major disappointment for anyone who has ever participated in a first-class event. Runners meet before the race in a 1950's-era high school gym with minimal bathroom facilities, the course goes along streets with vehicular traffic (for the first and last 2 miles), there are motorcycle "escorts" that result in runners breathing exhaust fumes, and there are very few if any spectators. I ran it one time and feel an obligation to tell others to take a hard look before committing yourself to this event.
S. F. from New Smryna Beach, FL (6/8/2006) "Great flat, fast and no frills race" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If you want to run fast, this is the race for you! There is no expo - who cares. There are no hassles with this race. It took 5 minutes to park and pick up the race packet. On race morning it was easy to get to the start and since it was raining, we stayed in the car until just minutes before the short walk from the school parking lot to the start. It was easy to get right on pace within the first mile. The course is beautiful, shaded (although not needed 12/05, it was cold and rainy) and flat. It is easy for anyone interested in watching you run get to various locations on the course and the finish line to see you. Aren't your friends and family the ones you want cheering you on? With big races, spectators have a hard time getting around the course and they're lucky if they catch you crossing the finish - and if they do, it seems to take forever before they can actually get to you. You do run on the shoulder of a 4 lane road near the end, but the shoulder is about as wide as a regular car lane - so not a big deal. I was worried about running on the grass toward the end, but even with all the rain we had it wasn't bad transitioning from road to grass to dirt trail to the track. The finish was great and my friends were there immediately after I crossed the finish line to give me a hug and help me with anything I needed. Didn't get any food - brought my own. Didn't get a blanket - brought my own sweatshirt. As always, take care of yourself. Hey, we're not babies, we're marathoners!! Enjoy the simplicity of it all and run a fast time!!!
H. S. from Middle Georgia (1/8/2006) "Fast and Fun" (about: 2005) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Despite a "gully washing" rain over the previous 24 hours, there was a nice, flat course, volunteers were plentiful, especially the cheerleaders at Mile 24-25?, never had a problem at the aid stations, GU was available (but had to look in boxes) at aid station. Nice residential run for the most part, drivers along the course were courteous but apparently some previously not used to running on a (coned) 4-lane road. Hotel did allow you to shower in a common shower area.... Food and refreshments at the finish were good; wish I could have stuck around more but my family was freezing in the rain. Loved the warm soup! Last half-mile was challenging with all the rain. Very nice long-sleeve T-shirt, will definitely be back, and hope for a dry weekend in 2006.
S. W. from Indiana (1/6/2006) "I would do this marathon again." (General Comments) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 If you're looking to qualify for Boston you might think about coming here. They advertise the course as being flat and fast, and they don't lie at all. The course is so flat it's unreal, with very few hard turns. Though this was my third marathon and the first that I truly got good training for, I set a PR by over 20 minutes on this course. There are next to no spectators but I've found that to be true for a lot of marathons. The organization was fairly nice but if you even think you place in your age group, check out the awards booth because they don't announce any awards.
S. G. from NH (1/5/2006) "Good FIRST Marathon" (about: 2005) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Good first marathon, very accurately promoted as a flat course. However, some of the typical race amenities just weren't there! No pre-race expo, no merchandise to remember the event by... such as hats, shirts, fleeces, etc. Also at the finish line, bad last 1/2-mile through the mud/woods/trail/puddles (but they've heard all this before). Also, NO Mylar blankets, which we really needed, man handing out the medals at the finish line could've at least taken it out of the little plastic bag and put it around our neck... but he seemed in a really foul mood. Lousy food at the finish. Otherwise use this marathon if you want to qualify for Boston, BUT don't expect any of the excitement/frills of a typical well organized large race!
J. M. from Cape Canaveral (1/5/2006) "Not a good marathon" (about: 2004) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I ran this marathon Dec 2004 and it was the worst marathon I've run. I've run about 8 marathons. The course was pretty good although there were barely any spectators supporting. No city participation whatsover. You had to meet up in some school gym prior to the race and throw your belongings in a pickup truck. At the end of the race your belongings were scattered on the grass. There was no expo. You picked up your packet at little sports stores spread out around the city. Their expo consisted of some racks of clothes put outside the store. Poorly organized. The course was neat but after the half-marathon ended, the marathon's had to run with and against traffic. There were no roads blocked off... almost as if we didn't matter since the half-marathoners were complete. I wouldn't run it again.
j. c. from atlanta, ga (1/4/2006) "There is much room for improvement" (about: 2005) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Jacksonville Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I was really looking forward to running this marathon with all the rave reviews that I saw posted here on this website. As for a well-organized high quality small marathon, there was much left to be desired. I agree with the one reviewer who mentioned that this race is not supported very much by the city of Jacksonville. It was frustrating attempting to run a marathon while trying to avoid aggressive drivers honking there horns to basically get you off the road! At one point, the police officers failed to control the traffic flow at all. I collided with some half marathoners who were headed in the opposite direction while also trying to avoid vehicles which the police officers kindly directed onto the course with the runners. One runner shouted at the officers asking them why the officers were there at all. Believe it or not, I found it best to run right up the median of the road. This allowed the frustrated drivers on both sides of the road to pass me without any problems. I wasn't really thrilled with the course either. If you are looking for a fast PR course with crowd support, I'm certain that you would do better to look elsewhere. I could continue on here with several other observations but I will spare you the details.

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