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Apr 28, 2024

Space Coast Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Space Coast Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.7

Spectators 3.6

Number of comments: 90 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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S. V. from Brevard County, Florida (12/8/2009) "My first - would definitely do it again!!!" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 After my cross-country season this year, I decided to try a half-marathon. This one was local and perfectly placed right after the state finals. For me, it was quite a large race, but it was very open and not at all intimidating. I'm definitely recommending it!!!
L. D. from Orlando, FL (12/5/2009) "Nice" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a nice small marathon. Well organized, and very friendly. The expo was small, yet I managed to spend $200! The weather was good for Florida (cool and not humid). I got to see several dolphins along the course. The slant in the road led to some knee pain for me by mile 20. The aid stations were plentiful, as were the volunteers. Minimal spectators though, so the second out-and-back was quiet. I didn't like the traffic jam with the half marathon runners along the first portion, nor the cars that were out once the sun came up. The pace groups were a nice treat, and the leaders were engaging. I hope they improve the second part of the course from mile 19-20, which had a weird u-turn and curve through a neighborhood. It seemed to waste a lot of steps and energy covering that mile. The Radisson was one of the host hotels and my room had roaches and ants! Had to check out and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. Loved the pancakes at the end and the space theme was a hit.
K. H. from N.E. Florida (12/3/2009) "Nice course, and fun" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really enjoyed this course. The expo was small but enjoyable. There was still something there to suck $60 out of my pocket. I signed up for the pace team there too. The host hotel that I stayed at was excellent. It was next door to Ron Jon's and I used the buses to get to the marathon on Sunday morning. There were two times that the buses left: 0400 and 0445. The 0400 bus was just about empty. There were plenty of signs to find the start line, bag check-in, etc., and plenty of port-o-johns. Course was somewhat crowded for the first mile or two, but after that it spread out. There were a few "hills" if you are from Florida, but if you are used to them, you'd call them flat. There was plenty to look at while running. Nice houses, old and new. Running along the river was pretty with the sunrise. There were plenty of water stops and port-o-johns along the course, and the volunteers working them were exceptional. Plenty of gels. Some of the themes at the water stops were Star Trek, Star Wars, Buzz Lightyear, and I'm sure that there were others, but I don't remember them. There was only one band on the course but I could hear them for about a mile. They were just before mile 13. The finish was nice, and was the only part of the course with lots of spectators. Good food at the end and plenty of Cokes. All of the water in bottles was gone by the time I finished (4:19) but there were coolers with cups for water, so I just filled up my own water bottles. Pace teams were excellent! First time I used one and they were right on time. Although there were not lots of fans along the course, those that were were loud and friendly. They'd call out your name and ring those cowbells as loud as they could. Took the bus back to the hotel after the race and enjoyed the hotel pool for about an hour. This was a very nice, easy-going race. Medals were cool along with the long-sleeve tech shirt and towel. If you like a smaller race (2,500 runners) that still has plenty of fanfare, then I'd recommend running this. If you are into the large, 20,000+ runners, then don't run this one. This one is worth running again!
H. S. from Florida (12/3/2009) "This is a must-do race!" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon was great. It was smaller than the other two I've run, but has the feel of a bigger race. Water/Gatorade every mile or so after the first half, with many options for gels (GU, PowerBar, Shot Bloks). It was very organized, bag check was easy, and they had great post-race food. Not many spectators, but the water stop helpers dressed up in space-themed costumes and were great fans. My only con would be how cambered the road was. Being an out-and-back course, it was hard to avoid the constant slant of the road. All in all, it was a great race. I PRed and BQed. I definitely recommend it. :)
C. M. from Kingston, Jamaica (12/2/2009) "Excellent race. Loved it! Worth the travel" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Enjoyed this run very much. I actually did the half-marathon. It was my first race since my marathon in 2004. Beautiful water-side course. Mostly flat with a few gradual bumps that gives legs a little variety. LOTS of water and Gatorade. I took a hand-held 10-ounce bottle and barely used it. I loved the themed and enthusiastic water stations. I thought it would have been quite warm from start to finish, but it was chilly at the start and then warmed up. I got the Florida weather wrong, but the day turned out great. Excellent pizza at the end (pancake line was long). The pasta party the night before was excellent - fun, good food, nice venue at the Radisson and it was interesting to meet and hear Jeff Galloway. Only things I would have wanted improved would be a bigger expo and true-to-fit-sized technical shirts (they ran big, at least for women). I traveled internationally for this race and would do so again. Fantastic race!!!
L. T. from Valrico, Florida (12/1/2009) "Very Satisfied with This Marathon" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The Space Coast Marathon was exactly what I expected - and that's good! The course was lovely and the race organization exceptional. The second half has very few spectators, but I knew to expect that from reading previous comments posted here. With the exception of the water station volunteers, the rest of the Cocoa community seems oblivious to the fact that there's a big race going on. The pace groups were an excellent addition to the race.
Wade Morris from Birmingham, Alabama (11/30/2009) "A Marathon Everyone Should Try" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Great race. The organization was the best I have seen in the 10 marathons I have run. The workers and volunteers were encouraging and helpful. The course was flat and scenic, but the road was tilted, which causes a bit of soreness the next day. The only thing that could help this race is to have some nice hotels near the start/finish line, but do not let that keep you from doing this first-class race! It is well worth your training and time!!!
Valerie McCord from Piqua, OH (11/30/2009) "Can't be Florida at this time of year." (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course is very flat. It goes north and south with the Indian River on one side and beautiful homes on the other. It's beautiful but not varied. The course also limited the ability of fans to see you. It was hard for family to get to points on the course. But I'd rather have the pretty course. The fans that were out there were great. The first 13 miles (til the half-marathoners finished) were pretty crowded. I wouldn't mind seeing them start even a few minutes earlier to spread out the field a little. I appreciated the late pick up for packets. Parking was fairly easy. Breakfast at the end was very good, but short on fruit and I imagine even sparser for the later finishers. The space theme was great. I loved the costumes of the aid station volunteers. The gel and Gatorade were plentiful. Thanks for a great race.
D. I. from Gainesville, FL (11/30/2009) "BEAUTIFUL COURSE!" (about: 2009) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great marathon experience! The course is very beautiful - palm trees add shade! I saw dolphins jumping in the water. The weather was great. There was good course support (including police) throughout the course. Water/Gatorade at every mile! Loved the medal! Thanks for a great marathon experience!
Elizabeth Connor from Roswell, Georgia (11/30/2009) "Where has this race been all my life?" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Space Coast Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 It's the day after the 2009 Space Coast Marathon, and I can't wait to tell the running world about what a great time I had yesterday. The Space Coast Marathon does all of the essential things so well. The food is terrific, the goody bag is stuffed to overflowing, the flat course is gorgeous, the tech shirt is cool enough that I would wear it again, the space theme is fun and very well executed, and the staff pulls it all together so well that I can't wait to go back. But what I will really remember is that the Space Coast Marathon gave me a spectacular experience on a day that started out disastrously. I arrived late - so late that I had given up all hope of finishing the race in the seven-hour window. But when I got there, the race organizers were determined to give me the absolute best race experience they could. A volunteer at the start, impressively dressed like Buzz Lightyear, sent me down the half-marathon course while he looked for my number. My brother met me on the course with my number, and I got to finish the course with an official bib. By then, word had spread along the route about the woman from out of town who started the race so late. I didn't deserve the attention to detail that I would have gotten if I had arrived on time, but race organizers gave me that and more. All along the course, they were cheering me on and making sure that the course didn't close up before I passed. I finally did finish the full marathon - not the last one to do so, I should point out - and the race organizers estimated my real time for the website. During the course of the day, I even got to meet a few wonderful Cocoa residents: the hotel clerk who helped me find the race and the woman from the race neighborhood who jumped in to pace me the last few miles. Here are a few suggestions to make sure you have the same great experience I did: Check the weather. Because the race starts at 6 a.m., you should miss the Florida heat, but there are no guarantees. Be prepared to enjoy the scenery. It's a smaller race, which makes it friendly and convenient, so there aren't a lot of spectators as you finish the full. I can see why they've been running this race for 38 years. My rule is that I'll never do the same marathon twice, but I'll make an exception for the Space Coast Marathon.

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