calendar icon May 2, 2024

Jacksonville Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Jacksonville Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.1 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 3.9 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 2.7 
 
 
Number of comments: 166 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 17 > ]

 

W. G. from Maryland (12/29/2014)
"Outstanding Marathon" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Jacksonville Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I've run 43 marathons and 7 Ironman races. Sizes from less than 100 runners to the New York city marathon. The Jacksonville Marathon is now one of my favorites. Excellent organization, friendly/helpful staff and an outstanding course. Not heavy on the spectator front but personally I get a little tired of continuous screaming. As advertised the course is fast. Although I didn't have a very good race I was still able to qualify for my 16th consecutive Boston. The only constructive criticisim I have is the organizers should use their influence to make the host hotel provide for late checkout. I would have enjoyed hanging around after the race but was forced to leave in order to shower before getting on a plane later that evening. Definitely a 'do again' race if scheduling permits.
 

M. G. from Jacksonville, FL (11/17/2014)
"Well organized PR course" (about: 2013)

11-50 previous marathons | 4-5 Jacksonville Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I've run 4 Jax Bank full marathons. 1st Place Sports does an excellent job putting on this race. 2013's weather was unfortunate, but normally it has been a clear, cool, fast course. Not a ton of crowd support.
 

M. R. from Orlando, Fl (1/26/2014)
"Tough day with Rain" (about: 2013)

11-50 previous marathons | 3 Jacksonville Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


Not my day. Hot humid heavy rain, but this is not an issue with the race directors.
Flat course where you can hit your PR if you like a flat course (I like a few hills).
Upgraded medal from prior years.
Parking is very tight as the race has gotten popular, plan accordingly.
Good food at the end - including hot soup.
 

M. H. from Virginia Beach, VA (1/2/2014)
"Hot, Humid and Rainy day" (about: 2013)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Jacksonville Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This marathon is a definite PR course if the weather is kind. We had morning temperatures of 72 degrees at the start with high humidity. The forecast was for heavy rain and thunderstorms for the race and it started raining about one hour into the race but really picked up around the 3 hour mark with heavy flooding rains with the occasional clap of thunder. The course was flooded with ankle deep water for about 5 miles. The course itself was pretty nice going through several neighborhoods and was pancake flat. I would love to do this course again with cooler weather and dry skies.

The post- race was good with soup, bananas, cinnamon buns, etc. I didnt see any chocolate milk which is what I want after the race but there were several stores close to the finish which I was able to get my fix.

The race shirt was a short sleeve Tech shirt which was nice.

Medal was decent with the skyline of Jacksonville with runners below and had the word finisher at the bottom. Nice size.

The volunteers were awesome at all the aid stations and there were plenty on the course.

The packet pickup was at one of the several running stores in Jacksonville and was quick and painless. I was able to get a new water bottle while there.

Some suggestions for runners of future Soldiers marathons:
Hotels are plentiful within a 5 mile radius of the start. I would recommend staying in the Baymeadows area.

In summary, as I am near the beginning of the 50 State project, I am glad I ran this one for the Florida Marathon. The course is a good and flat and is a PR course if all the factors are right.
 

M. D. from Georgia USA (1/1/2014)
"Good small marathon on a flat course." (about: 2013)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Jacksonville Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I must disagree with an earlier comment. I completed the race at 5:13 and there was plenty of food at the finish. Fan support was limited, but it was pouring ran much of morning. It is a flat and fast out and back course. Organization is good and volunteers are great. Plenty of port-o-johns and fluids along the course. I have no issues with the race. The course is OK, but not memorable.
 

M. S. from Columbus, Ohio (12/29/2013)
"Fast race" (about: 2013)

1 previous marathon | 1 Jacksonville Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


This is a very small race with limited spectators. It was a fun race other than the torrential downpours. I PRd by quite a bit even with the rain, so I can imagine it is quite fast when the weather is better!
 

E. P. from New York (12/29/2013)
"Bad weather..." (about: 2013)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Jacksonville Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 2


I can't recommend this marathon for someone looking to run a fast time. The course is flat but not all that shaded as billed. Thankfully we didn't need it as it poured the entire second half. It was also 70F. Not exactly conditions for a fast race. The organization was pretty good but there was hardly anything to eat at the finish. And the results page kept giving errors. Overall it's a nice small race but if you live up north just know you are taking a big gamble with the weather unless you like it warm.
 

B. S. from Connecticut (6/28/2013)
"Fast, low-key marathon" (about: 2012)

2 previous marathons | 1 Jacksonville Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my second marathon. Without proper training, I was on pace for a BQ (15 minutes faster than my previous marathon) and I nearly collapsed at the 24th mile. A local half marathoner caught me, and together with a cop, walked me to the finish line. The generosity of these Jacksonville people made a tremendous impression on me. This is a super flat, fast course, but as I learned, be prepared for the last couple miles in the hot FL sun.
 

J. N. from Fairfield, CT (12/21/2012)
"Flat, Fast, Well Organized" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Jacksonville Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


This is a great winter marathon. I stayed at the host hotel and there was a bus shuttle right to the start line. The host hotel had bananas, coffee, and bagels out by 5:30AM. Also plenty of grocery stores and drug stores near the hotel for last minute items. The Bolles school is a great place to start - if you walked back to the track area you were treated to plenty of indoor, flushing toilets! The course is flat, fast and most of it is shaded. Water/Gatorade every couple of miles and I think they also had pacing clocks at each mile. I like finishing on a track too so I considered that a plus.

I marked it low on spectators because there just weren't many of them. I'd call the course 'pleasant but not scenic'. I recommend this for anyone looking for a well-organized marathon in the winter. I also think this is great if you're a serious marathoner looking to PR without having to deal with big city hassles and a lot of crowds. It got a little warm near the end, but the start is 7AM and I think this was a warmer year than usual - and even so the 7AM start time helped prevent heat from being a big problem. There was a decent pack of 5-10 in the 3 to 3:05 pace range - thanks for pulling me to a 3:04 PR!!!!
 

c. s. from Florida (12/21/2012)
"Awesome PR course" (about: 2012)

6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


Great mid-size marathon. Super flat course, very few turns, mostly shaded, plentiful aide stations, very well organized.

The only negative is that it is a Florida marathon so weather is always a factor; a little warm and humid this year but I still managed a 5 minute PR.
 

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 17 > ]


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