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☰
Ocala Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Ocala Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 2.9
Number of comments: 78 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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P. W. from New Jersey
(4/17/2005)
 "Friendly, Southern Hospitality" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Ocala Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The course was beautiful, with rolling hills, farms and horses. The people were extremely helpful and friendly. I ran dead last for most of the first 17 miles. The water station (of which there were plenty) volunteers waited for me and were supportive. The race director stopped by just to check in and to tell me not to worry - they would keep the finish line open (I ultimately passed a few people and stopped feeling guilty about keeping all the volunteers out). A good ovation at the finish line, and they let my 4 and 6 year old daughters pass out the medals, including mine. A very friendly and family-oriented event. There was a bit of a traffic jam toward the end, where we had to run on a very narrow shoulder, but that was very short, and the earlier poster over-emphasized it. | |
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J. K. from Monticello, Florida
(4/9/2005)
 "Can't Go Wrong with this Small Race" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Ocala Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Ocala Ran the half and found it to be a beautiful course full of long and gradually rolling hills. As a resident of Tallahassee, Florida, I cannot say that the hilly course came as a surprise and the hills did not prove to be too much of a challenge. While I cannot speak to exact grades, none of the hills seemed too steep. The hills actually helped to make the course beautiful, as during much of the trip we were surrounded by horse farms and each rise and descent brought another beautiful home / horse farm into view. Also give kudos to the race directors for the work they must have done to pick the route. You actually start in the parking lot of a mall in town but within minutes of leaving the mall area are in very rural settings and don?t get into populated areas again until the end of the race (which ends back at the same mall parking lot location that serves as the start). I also thought the strategy of having the half marathoners run one loop around the mall before heading out on the course was a brilliant way to separate the half marathon traffic from the marathoners who head directly out sans the mall lap. You cannot go wrong running this small race ? beautiful rural course with good organization and a decent post race party. Will definitely do again. | |
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J. R. from Tampa Florida
(4/5/2005)
 "Perfect Florida Marathon" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Ocala Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Not too big, not too small. Great folks who organize. I heard the truck broke down on race day morning that was bringing the whole starting area stuff and they had to quickly improvise. Showed a lot of courage to keep the race on time after that. Great sheriff and police support and such a nice, friendly atmosphere after the race. The course was breathtaking if you like rural tree canopies and horse farms. Just a great day in the sun in Florida. I'll be back so long as they keep running it. Aid stations were so friendly also. Obviously the folks out there loved being there. It just seems to keep on getting better year on year. | |
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R. S. from Philly
(2/19/2005)
"Good Job!" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I was very proud of Ocala because of the marathon a few weeks back. I used to live here and moved out west. I came back not really knowing what to expect. I was very pleased and happy. The course I knew would be beautiful but I was very surprised how involved the police get. It was wonderful to see. I talked to the winner of the men's marathon and he said he'd never felt so important in the way they protected him. Well I thought that too and I took over four hours to complete the course. Great job Ocala. I'll be back. PS. Medal awesome - T-Shirt awesome! | |
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S. S. from Columbia, MD
(2/8/2005)
"Beautiful course; best finisher's medal" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Ocala Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Just as promised, rolling vistas and beautiful horse farms! The finisher's medal is distinctive of Ocala horse country: a cut-out of a horse jumping. The pasta party was great fun; well attended by the 50+ states club and the Japanese 'full hyaku' club. The reasonably priced host hotel, Hampton Inn, graciously offered late checkout and freshly baked chocolate cookies. Kudos to Chuck and Dave for organizing a delightful small marathon! | |
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S. D. from Florida
(2/8/2005)
 "Beautiful Scenic Marathon" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my first time in Ocala and I had a really enjoyable marathon. The course was beautiful, really scenic; and the people friendly. Also, I loved the T-shirt we received, one of my best yet! | |
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D. W. from Fresno
(2/8/2005)
"Awesome" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I came from California to run Ocala because the course is well-known in running circles as being one of the most scenic in the country. This race was great. I can't believe CA from Crystal River was even at the same race as me. Unlike CA, who traveled 40 minutes down the road, I personally was very happy I travelled 6,000 round trip, stayed in town and ran a great marathon. Highly enjoyable and I'll be back again next year. The organizers were very nice. Yes, some hills on the course, but all in all, this marathon is one of the best small marathons in the country. Good job! DW Fresno | |
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C. A. from Crystal River, Florida
(1/30/2005)
 "Never Again" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Ocala Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 A very poor excuse of a marathon. The start was a madhouse. The course was awful. Runners had all of 6 inches of space at the edge of the road. And the steep grade made it tough on your knees. The roads are in poor shape. You run along busy highways. Cars continuously speed by within inches of the runners. They advertised that there would be someone calling out your name at the finish - there wasn't. They advertised live music - there wasn't. They advertised an 'exciting awards ceremony' - there wasn't even a ceremony (after they made us wait until 1:00 pm). We were informed that we could go up to the registration table and claim our prizes. That was a nightmare! It took 20 minutes for them to give me my award because they didn't know what a 'master' was. The finisher's medals are cheap and generic. They gave the same ones to the half-marathon finishers. Maybe I was expecting too much. This race is only 40 minutes from my house, but I won't be back. I'll do Tampa or Clearwater instead. | |
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S. R. from Melbourne, FL
(1/30/2005)
 "Beautiful fun race!" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I was in Ocala for the weekend for my daughter's soccer tournament and decided at the last minute to run the Ocala 1/2 Marathon. I loved it! I ran the Disney 1/2 Marathon earlier this month, and though it was fun, but there were just too many people. This was such a refreshing race...I loved having such a small number! The route was beautiful...I truly enjoyed the peacefulness of the run. I thought it was marked wonderfully, and there was so much support from police and medics. I would run this race again in a heartbeat! It was much hillier than I anticipated, and I'm sure I'll be feeling it tomorrow, but it was just such a perfect day! Thanks to all of the volunteers who were there handing out water and leading us in the right direction!! The organizers put on a great race! Thanks!!! | |
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D. T. from Madison WI
(10/3/2004)
"Amazing" (General Comments)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Ocala Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I signed up for 2005 marathon and I cannot believe how friendly the organizers are. I have run it before and thought the organization was good then, but this year it was as good as anything I've ever known at a marathon, and I have run in 63 of them. I've had a personal invite letter and numerous emails personally addressed all offering help, directions, hotel deals and other things if I needed it. I have asked questions and got an answer back very quickly. These folks seem to really understand how to make people feel welcome. You are in good hands with this one. I recommend it. |
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