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Apr 28, 2024

Ocala Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.4

Organization 4.4

Spectators 2.9

Number of comments: 78 [displaying comments 31 to 41]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

G. W. from Stockholm Sweden (4/5/2006) "Never again sorry" (about: 2006) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I ran the half marathon on the day. I flew over from Sweden, starting in the UK (in combination with a holiday) for this race. The race was beutifull as in the scenery. But the organization part was rubbish. At ca 2 miles nobody knew where to go about and 30 runners got lost and the police didn't even direct us as the signs were lying on the ground. The police were not runner freindly and they didn´t even put their arm out to show us the way. The water station: many times I didn´t get any water as no one was there to give it to me. At the end of the race at the run in a lady and a kid just walked in front of me, none of the orgainizers stopped them or told them to be aware. The food at the end was terrible, some hot meat stuff. Were was the fruit???? I am sorry you will have to do better, Ocala. But the scenery was beautiful and the t-shirt was nice. Try better next time Ocala.
A. S. from Fort Wayne (2/23/2006) "Ocala" (about: 2006) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Yesirree! Ocala was a very good race. I sucked time-wise and laughed all the way back to Indiana because I predicted 4:15 on the application and ran 5:20. First marathon, so be gentle with me!!!!!!!! I thought it was a wonderful vibe and atmosphere. Had my photo taken with that race car guy and the guy from Creed. The medal was very bling. Might even wear it out dancin' Recommend it? Sure. It was excellent.
J. T. from South Carolina (2/21/2006) "Great Southern Race" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Ocala was such a nice race. The organizers were so very friendly and helpful and I was amazed at how beautiful the whole area really is. The medal was probablly the best I have ever seen. It's worth it for the medal alone. The post-race party was excellent, great food and variety, massages, as well as other attractions. I loved the weather and had no complaints. Some folks went off course I believe but don't let their comments make you think twice about this race. It was great to meet so many famous personalities also! just a great race. Can't wait for the anniversary race next year. Oh, did I mention they had free beer?! I repeat: "free beer." You gotta get down to Ocala in February. Thank you Ocala.
K. J. from Kentucky (2/21/2006) "Ocala Marathon" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was the best marathon I have ever done. I enjoyed Ocala more than even Boston and that's saying something. The medal was beautiful and I loved every minute of being in Ocala. The organization I thought was good. My thoughts only. I loved the band and the after-race atmosphere. Do this for sure.
J. M. from Idaho (2/21/2006) "Ocala is a great race" (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Were all these people posting below at the same race as me? The medal was awesome, the T-shirt nice, the course just out of this world, scenery-wise. The post-race party was first-class with a band playing, the massages very welcome and the police, EMS, and the rest were first-class. This race is a great race and those negative things below in my experience were just NOT TRUE! I was one of the runner who went off course a little bit, but so what? It was great experience and I know I'll be back.
s. d. from jacksonville, florida (2/13/2006) "Change the course at mile TWO!" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 2006 HALF MARATHON GOOD NEWS 1) The views were great! 2) The medal is fabulous!! 3) The ROLLING hills were not that bad. 4) Water stations were everywhere. 5) Spectators. A few. 6) I didn't see any horses. I saw lots of bulls and cow. My friends said that they saw horses. 7) Organization was O.K. It was a small-town race. 8) Lots of food after the race was over. 9) Massage tent too. 10) Great to do - ONE time only. BAD NEWS 1) NO CHAMPIONCHIP for timing? It's 2006. 2) There were not mats on the course and I saw runners cheating themselves by running off course through parking lots. 3) About 30 runners got lost at an intersection at mile two. We stood there for at least 3 minutes without signs to tell us to go RIGHT OR LEFT. The runners who went to the RIGHT took a half-mile off the course because they missed a loop (but they didn't know). After running in place for 3 minutes, the runners who followed the confused police officer on the motorcycle to the LEFT did the whole 13.1. 3) All runners should get a LONG-SLEEVE t-shirt when the race temperature is less than 40 degrees. (It's FL, but it was cold.) 4) If you're within driving distance, great! Don't fly in for this one!!
I. V. from Tampa (2/13/2006) "Nice course, unresponsive race director." (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Really liked the course. Volunteers were great! Race director didn't have enough t-shirts, and never returns email. Race packet was a joke. I heard some of the 1/2-marathon folks were misdirected. You might want to run this... but don't register!
Bob Kroeger from Cincinnati (2/12/2006) "Ocala: a very good small marathon." (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I enjoyed running my fourth marathon at Ocala. The temperature was a wonderful: 39 degrees at the start and in the low 50's at the finish, which is cool for Florida, but perfect for running a marathon. With only 176 finishers, this was the smallest field I had run in and I was lucky to hook up with a fantastic fellow runner who made the miles go by easily. Thanks, Peggy! My friend Roger was not so lucky and he ran alone after mile 9. He objected to having to dodge the cars on the roads where there was two-way traffic. Police were abundant in the first hour but then they seemed to vanish. A truck going about 50 whizzed by Peggy and me - obviously hell bent on getting somewhere quickly, despite creating danger for tired runners. The course was absolutely beautiful: one horse farm after another and plenty of country lanes framed by majestic oaks draped with Spanish Moss. However, there are hills, which seemed even worse when going into a strong headwind. Still, the weather was worse for the leaders who got rain - but those who finished in four hours stayed dry. So there is some merit to being a turtle! The food and the fans (though sparse) were wonderful!! Ocala will be a great memory for me.
J. M. from Orlando (2/8/2006) "Amateurish Organization" (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Ocala Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I ran the half marathon in 2006. The course included some pretty horse farms, but be forewarned that the race organization is poor. Like many of the runners in the half, I was directed off the poorly marked course in the first 3 miles. I ran an extra 3/4th's of a mile after following directions from a Marion County Sheriff working the race. I received three wrong directions from race personnel in the first 3 miles. When someone questioned the third wrong direction, the Marion County Sheriff personnel were highly disrespectful to the runners. I would not advise anyone to run this race unless he or she is just looking for a training run. If you do, ignore the instructions on the website. They are not correct. There were no colored course markers on the roads (although there were a few cardboard signs); there were no instructions (actually, there were absolutely no words spoken) by race personnel at the start (not even a countdown!); no timing chips; very few traffic cones to protect the runners from traffic; and the course (half) is apparently not certified. I've run hundreds of marathons, halfs, ultras, triathons, etc. throughout the country over the past 25 years, and this was as amateurish an operation as I have seen in the past 15 years. Twenty years ago, it was commonplace to have timing volunteers writing finish times and places with pencil and paper, but, until Ocala, I hadn't run a road race without computer chip timing in quite a few years. Sorry to be so negative about this race, but hopefully my experience will at least temper some expectations. On the positive side, the weather was perfect for racing.
L. S. from Key Largo (4/18/2005) "Ocala is the perfect winter race" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Ocala Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 What is it about Ocala? I have done this race three times and it just keeps getting better and it is my prediction that it will grow into one of the finest of the country's small mid size races. I did the marathon and my wife the half. Both of us had a wonderful day in Ocala. Something went wrong at the start this year but it had bearing or impact on the race so, apart from that one minor thing it was just a great day. Great courses and wonderful police support. Even had E1 fire trucks there and whole bunch of other stuff. Incredible medical coverage on the course with mobile paramedics on modified golf carts. Longhorn Steakhouse did a great job with the cookout too. If you haven't done this race give a chance. I'll be back!

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