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 61 to 71]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 5 6 7 8 9 .. 17 > ]

 

M. L. from Jacksonville, FL (12/29/2008)
"Great 1/2 Course and Race!" (about: 2008)

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


This was my very first half-marathon and I couldn't have imagined a better experience. Course was very well put together, the race started on time, and the neighborhoods were great.

The only con was the occasional car creeping up on you in the middle of the race. When 75% of your race is in a residential area, it's to be expected.

I'm definitely coming back for the FULL marathon next year!
 

Dawndy Mercer from Columbia, South Carolina (12/26/2008)
"Must Do Again" (about: 2008)

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


I ran your full marathon (and set a PR) in 2005. This year I did your half marathon. Once again, I was extremely impressed with the execution of an excellent race. The police support was tops, as were the volunteers at the water stops. The course was clearly marked and the entire run was a pleasure, especially the turnaround point that gave us a chance to see fellow runners and cheer on friends. Getting to your race is a five-hour drive from Columbia, South Carolina and it's well worth it. We'll do this one again. Thank you for all the hard work you put into making it a fun event.
 

C. B. from Watkinsville, GA (12/23/2008)
"Great!" (about: 2008)

First Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This is my first marathon and it was a terrific experience! Packet pickup was very well organized. Facilities were beautiful. Course was excellent, beautiful (wish I could afford a home in the neighborhoods we ran through!!!), excellent police presence, excellent water stop volunteers, the toilet facilities were well located, and the turn-around was fun!!! I can't think of one negative thing to say about this race. Kudos to the organizers/volunteers/police, and to the Jacksonville citizens, for allowing us to disrupt their Sunday morning by running a marathon through their neighborhood!
 

K. F. from USA- Ohio (12/21/2008)
"Solid Race - Well Run" (about: 2008)

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


Just finished the Jacksonville Marathon.

This is a great event: well run, flat and well shaded.

Water stops: great job. Police did a fantastic job with traffic control, and the course was well marked.

Very impressive!
 

S. B. from Nassau, Bahamas (10/29/2008)
"Perfect marathon for a first-timer" (about: 2007)

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


The crowds in bigger marathons can overwhelm a first-timer. Not so with the Jacksonville Marathon, which has a smaller number of participants, is well organized, and is run in quiet areas.
 

Wade Morris from Birmingham, Alabama (2/19/2008)
"Good Run" (about: 2007)

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


The bottom line is that this is a no-frills race. They market it that way so anyone who expected more is living in a dream world. The weather was hot and humid but you are in Florida, so that should be expected as well. The only problem with the race at all is the lack of parking. I had a flight to catch after the run so I had to take my rental car to the race site the night before and call a friend to pick me up and take me back to the hotel.
The run is at a good time at the end of the year and it keeps you in shape before the Christmas eating, so I will probably do it again next year.
 

H. C. from Ocala, Florida (1/27/2008)
"Nice, relatively flat course; close to home" (about: 2007)

First Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


This was my first 1/2 marathon and overall it was a good experience. For a first-timer, the course was great. I only have a few complaints, the resolution of which I think would make the race even better. First, the bag check was unmanned and do-it-yourself. There should have been at least one person there monitoring the area for the safety of the racer's possessions. There were so many people there, no one would have known if a person not involved in the race would have snagged a few bags in hopes of scoring some cash or jewelry.

Secondly, upon finishing, the medals were handed to you in plastic wrap. I don't know about anyone else, but the last thing I want to worry about is unwrapping my medal to display it after running 13.1 miles. My motor skills were completely shot.

Lastly, it was advertised that massages would be available after the race. There wasn't one table set up (that I saw) and I was waiting on someone to finish the marathon and wouldn't have minded a nice massage. If you're going to advertise for it, make sure it's offered. And a little music after the race wouldn't have been terrible.

These are minor things that could be fixed next year to make the experience even better. I'm in no way knocking the organization, because they did a great job. But, a little constructive criticism never hurt anyone.
 

M. R. from Orlando, Florida (1/14/2008)
"Not bad - FLAT course; nice path" (about: 2007)

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


Overall a good event.

PROS:

Easy packet pick up the morning of the race.
Plenty of water stations on a warm humid morning.
Decent food at the finish - with hot soup.
Shirt - ok.
Medal - ok
Course flat as advertised.

CONS:

A little short on port-a-pots at the start - the church across the street was very gracious in opening their doors to allow for runners.
Having cross-over runners at several points where runners were coming directly at you got confusing and somewhat challenging.
Probably should start the full and half at separate times, as the typical half marathoner's pace is different from those running the full.
 

D. N. from SC (1/14/2008)
"Decent winter race, but nothing spectacular" (about: 2007)

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


I'm going to try to focus on things that the organizers can control (i.e. not the weather). The ending of the race was odd; that could be better organized. There were not enough restrooms on the course, as I saw many people waiting for bathrooms. There were some rough spots on the track where people were going in opposite directions. The worst spot on the course was under the overpass, by a water station, with runners going in both directions. My only other major complaint was that there was no Gu provided for the 1/2 marathoners. Most racing suggests a Gu for every hour of running, but there was none available for the 1/2ers.... A Gu station was needed around mile 5 or 6. I had to carry my own, which isn't a huge deal, but kind of inconvenient.

Overall, the race was ok and I would run it again, but I can't say I'd be that thrilled to do so.
 

N. L. from Tallahassee, FL (1/11/2008)
"Decent course; organization needs improvement." (about: 2007)

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


This was my 3rd marathon (and 3rd this year). I PRd in spite of sore IT band due to the flat and fast nature of the course. The residential scenery was very, very nice, but the ending was rather weird. Stations were well spaced, and volunteers great. I don't care about spectator support - not the reason I run these (although I do like them when I see them!). Packet pick up could have been at a less congested, it could have been easier to get to the location, there were no safety pins in the packet, and in spite of asking if my chip was in the packet, it turned out it was not (I had to get it the next morning). Pasta dinner the night before: The info they gave us had the wrong address - completely avoidable. It was aggravating to spend the evening before looking for this place that did not exist at that address. Go to Vito's by 1st Place Sports; it was great.
 

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