Marathon Details - Pensacola Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > FL > Pensacola > Pensacola Marathon

Pensacola Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K

Pensacola, FL USA

November 11, 2018

http://www.pensacolasports.org/pensacolamarathon

More Info:	News Press Releases
Results:	2018 \| 2017 \| 2016 \| 2015 \| 2014 \| 2013 \| 2012 \| 2011 \| 2010 \| 2009 \| 2008 \| 2007 \| 2006 \| 2005 Top 3 Finishers by Year
Course Maps:	View Course Map/Elevation Chart

Contact Organizer

Name:	Jason Libbert
Address:	Pensacola Sports Association 101 W. Main Street Pensacola, Florida 32502
Phone Number:	850-434-2800
Fax Number:	850-432-4237
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 4.1

Organization 4.5

Spectators 3.6

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Number of comments: 69 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

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

Steven Rausch from Navarre, FL (11/20/2016) "Great Non-Profit Race." (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Pensacola Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The course is flat by any other standards but hilly for Florida. The time of year meant pleasant running conditions, but it still was a little warm for my liking by the end. I won the Grand Masters competition. There was no award ceremony and the local paper did not mention the Masters or Grand Masters winners, only the overall and wheel chair winners. Awards were cheap and undifferentiated. I got the same award as a 3rd place age group winner. Not a big deal because it is a charity race, but worth mentioning if that is important to you. I will definitely run it again!
P. W. from Louisiana (11/18/2015) "Nice race, with some easy to fix flaws!" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I hope the organizers will read this. It's a good race, but has three major flaws- all easy to fix: 1. Parking- a big big mess. Put up some signs, or put a parking map in the race bag. 2. Bathrooms- plenty at race start, but zero until mile 6 or 8, then only very very few on the course. I saw more people peeing in bushes and beside the road than any other marathon. 3. Pictures- the photo company is a joke! It took two weeks to add a link, and then they post 10,000 pictures. No bib links, no search ability, Nada. To find any pictures you literally have to scroll through page after page after page. AND.. You can't save any, or jump directly to any picture number. For instance, you like picture 4235? You must start at number 1 and page forward. It's basically the worst managed, worst organized photo service of any marathon I've ever run.
R. H. from Pensacola FL (11/25/2014) "All around great value." (about: 2014) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Pensacola Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 These comments are from a local who has run the half for the last two years. Expo was small but friendly with the usual marathon merchandise mix, parking was plentiful and easy both for the expo and the race. The course for the half can be broken into thirds: the first is scenic, second is residental and suburban and the third is urban depressing up to the last mile when you re enter the historic downtown section. I also noticed the turn from the half to the full is very well marked unlike 2013 when several runners missed the turn. Post race party area is grassy, lined with trees and close to the water with loads of free food samples and beer. I also liked the award process where you present your time and pick up your award. If you like hearing your name called this would be a minus, but placing in a race like this is something I don't have to worry about, so it's all good. Shirts and medals are good quality and nice design. The only negatives I heard were concerning the sport drink.The company must be a sponsor because I have yet to talk with anyone who likes it, but apparently someone does because it been there for several years.
C. L. from Minnesota (11/17/2014) "Low Key...Well Done Overall" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Pensacola Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 50th state & we had 30 runners in the various races. Everyone was pleased with the event. Medals & shirts were outstanding. The race was very organized throughout. Water stops every 2 miles. Good signage. Parking was very abundant. Close to start & finish. Plenty of porta potties. Nice start & finish line for a smaller race. The location was great for a late fall race for anyone looking for a get away in a warmer place with a stress-free race. We stayed 3 extra days & rented homes on Pensacola Beach. It was a fabulous destination for our group.
E. D. from FL - Florida (11/11/2014) "A personal best" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I wasn't sure what kind of experience this would be after reading previous reviews. Easy packet pickup, plenty of parking near the start. Most scenic areas were the very beginning and the very end with lots of industrial and average neighborhoods in between. Really nice medal. Would have liked to see proper medical tents at least a few times on the course. Overall a great experience and my fastest marathon yet.
B. W. from Florida (12/3/2013) "Won't go back" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Pensacola Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Even though a 6-hour time limit was stated, results from previous years included times slower than that. I finished in around 6:24 and was told that I 'technically did not complete the race,' because I didn't finish in under 6 hours. Which means that I will not show up in the result. Bad news. Many races must open the course, but runners are still allowed to finish. Not here apparently. Be forewarned.
K. F. from Pensacola, FL (11/13/2013) "Great route. Friendly people." (about: 2013) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Pensacola Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a small laid back marathon (which is just what I look for). A ramp up Scenic Highway and one steep hill, everything else is flat.
C. M. from Pensacola, Florida (11/11/2013) "I live here-may pass next year" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Pensacola Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I live in Pensacola. I have run over 280 marathons. Pensacola is one of my LEAST FAVORITES! It has potential to be first class race, but needs more organization, promotion and backing by the city. With a three day weekend a great beach and the Naval Aviation Museum, it could even be a family event. A major complaint, as has been stated most every year is picking up traffic cones and directional signs alongside runners and the sag wagon being very aggressive. Slower runners (and I do not mean the few going over the 6 hour cut off) have found this to be a very unfriendly run. Slow runners were allowed to continue on the sidewalk (which is fine) but as the cones were picked up, so were course markings. If you were not familiar with the course, you could get lost anywhere after around mile 23. And the drink-the Nuun should be BAR NUUN, Stuff is horrible!
D. R. from Georgia (11/27/2012) "Not a lot to see here." (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pensacola Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my second marathon in two days so a slower pace than normal let me take in the sights. However, there wasn't much to see. The course was boring and hilly for Florida. Fortunately I had a running partner to pass the time. Also you better bring your own Gatorade. The drink they were providing was just terrible.
Mark Rice from AL (11/21/2012) "Fast course. Easy logistics. Some nice views" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Pensacola Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My goal was to go fast (for me); qualify for Boston 2014. I did both. EASY: I parked quickly, walked a couple blocks to packet pickup, ran back to the car and prepared, then walked to the start line. Pensacola was fantastically easy. FAST: The elevation profile made for a fast course... not perfectly flat (several rolling hills) but fast anyway. The profile encourages a negative split because it's mostly gently uphill for the first half, and mostly gently downhill for the 2nd half. The wind in the last three miles was strong and head-on. Other than that, it was usually not too bad. AWARDS: They had awards for MANY age groups, including masters, grand masters and senior grand masters (men and women). It's nice for people who are doing well for their age to be rewarded. They were very nice too! VIEWS: They were nice for parts of the course. Other parts were normal neighborhoods. This didn't bother me... I actually liked the roads with less traffic. SPECTATORS: The ones that were there were great. The signs were creative. But if someone needs large crowds, they would be disappointed. I don't, so this was great. === NEGATIVES === MERGES: There is a spot where the full marathon merges with the half marathoners. My mile 17 was their mile 7.5 (at 2:05). They were less than half of my speed and often walking side-by-side. Not their fault.. just not a good design. The speed difference was too great to have together. To go around, I was either fighting with the curb or swinging wide into the road. SIGNS: The wind was the likely culprit, yet more durable signs is a need. Three times I had to really study (and ask) which way for the full marathon. Some signs were affected/moved by the wind. I never got lost though. === THANKS === Thanks much to the workers and volunteers who made it great! All were willing to help, and sometimes went beyond the call of duty. === RESULTS === Really enjoyed it! Will likely run next year. Fastest marathon I've had, by over 8 minutes. Boston qualified by 14 minutes.

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

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Steven Rausch from Navarre, FL (11/20/2016) "Great Non-Profit Race." (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Pensacola Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The course is flat by any other standards but hilly for Florida. The time of year meant pleasant running conditions, but it still was a little warm for my liking by the end. I won the Grand Masters competition. There was no award ceremony and the local paper did not mention the Masters or Grand Masters winners, only the overall and wheel chair winners. Awards were cheap and undifferentiated. I got the same award as a 3rd place age group winner. Not a big deal because it is a charity race, but worth mentioning if that is important to you. I will definitely run it again!
P. W. from Louisiana (11/18/2015) "Nice race, with some easy to fix flaws!" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I hope the organizers will read this. It's a good race, but has three major flaws- all easy to fix: 1. Parking- a big big mess. Put up some signs, or put a parking map in the race bag. 2. Bathrooms- plenty at race start, but zero until mile 6 or 8, then only very very few on the course. I saw more people peeing in bushes and beside the road than any other marathon. 3. Pictures- the photo company is a joke! It took two weeks to add a link, and then they post 10,000 pictures. No bib links, no search ability, Nada. To find any pictures you literally have to scroll through page after page after page. AND.. You can't save any, or jump directly to any picture number. For instance, you like picture 4235? You must start at number 1 and page forward. It's basically the worst managed, worst organized photo service of any marathon I've ever run.
R. H. from Pensacola FL (11/25/2014) "All around great value." (about: 2014) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Pensacola Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 These comments are from a local who has run the half for the last two years. Expo was small but friendly with the usual marathon merchandise mix, parking was plentiful and easy both for the expo and the race. The course for the half can be broken into thirds: the first is scenic, second is residental and suburban and the third is urban depressing up to the last mile when you re enter the historic downtown section. I also noticed the turn from the half to the full is very well marked unlike 2013 when several runners missed the turn. Post race party area is grassy, lined with trees and close to the water with loads of free food samples and beer. I also liked the award process where you present your time and pick up your award. If you like hearing your name called this would be a minus, but placing in a race like this is something I don't have to worry about, so it's all good. Shirts and medals are good quality and nice design. The only negatives I heard were concerning the sport drink.The company must be a sponsor because I have yet to talk with anyone who likes it, but apparently someone does because it been there for several years.
C. L. from Minnesota (11/17/2014) "Low Key...Well Done Overall" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Pensacola Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 50th state & we had 30 runners in the various races. Everyone was pleased with the event. Medals & shirts were outstanding. The race was very organized throughout. Water stops every 2 miles. Good signage. Parking was very abundant. Close to start & finish. Plenty of porta potties. Nice start & finish line for a smaller race. The location was great for a late fall race for anyone looking for a get away in a warmer place with a stress-free race. We stayed 3 extra days & rented homes on Pensacola Beach. It was a fabulous destination for our group.
E. D. from FL - Florida (11/11/2014) "A personal best" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I wasn't sure what kind of experience this would be after reading previous reviews. Easy packet pickup, plenty of parking near the start. Most scenic areas were the very beginning and the very end with lots of industrial and average neighborhoods in between. Really nice medal. Would have liked to see proper medical tents at least a few times on the course. Overall a great experience and my fastest marathon yet.
B. W. from Florida (12/3/2013) "Won't go back" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Pensacola Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Even though a 6-hour time limit was stated, results from previous years included times slower than that. I finished in around 6:24 and was told that I 'technically did not complete the race,' because I didn't finish in under 6 hours. Which means that I will not show up in the result. Bad news. Many races must open the course, but runners are still allowed to finish. Not here apparently. Be forewarned.
K. F. from Pensacola, FL (11/13/2013) "Great route. Friendly people." (about: 2013) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Pensacola Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a small laid back marathon (which is just what I look for). A ramp up Scenic Highway and one steep hill, everything else is flat.
C. M. from Pensacola, Florida (11/11/2013) "I live here-may pass next year" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Pensacola Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I live in Pensacola. I have run over 280 marathons. Pensacola is one of my LEAST FAVORITES! It has potential to be first class race, but needs more organization, promotion and backing by the city. With a three day weekend a great beach and the Naval Aviation Museum, it could even be a family event. A major complaint, as has been stated most every year is picking up traffic cones and directional signs alongside runners and the sag wagon being very aggressive. Slower runners (and I do not mean the few going over the 6 hour cut off) have found this to be a very unfriendly run. Slow runners were allowed to continue on the sidewalk (which is fine) but as the cones were picked up, so were course markings. If you were not familiar with the course, you could get lost anywhere after around mile 23. And the drink-the Nuun should be BAR NUUN, Stuff is horrible!
D. R. from Georgia (11/27/2012) "Not a lot to see here." (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Pensacola Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my second marathon in two days so a slower pace than normal let me take in the sights. However, there wasn't much to see. The course was boring and hilly for Florida. Fortunately I had a running partner to pass the time. Also you better bring your own Gatorade. The drink they were providing was just terrible.
Mark Rice from AL (11/21/2012) "Fast course. Easy logistics. Some nice views" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Pensacola Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My goal was to go fast (for me); qualify for Boston 2014. I did both. EASY: I parked quickly, walked a couple blocks to packet pickup, ran back to the car and prepared, then walked to the start line. Pensacola was fantastically easy. FAST: The elevation profile made for a fast course... not perfectly flat (several rolling hills) but fast anyway. The profile encourages a negative split because it's mostly gently uphill for the first half, and mostly gently downhill for the 2nd half. The wind in the last three miles was strong and head-on. Other than that, it was usually not too bad. AWARDS: They had awards for MANY age groups, including masters, grand masters and senior grand masters (men and women). It's nice for people who are doing well for their age to be rewarded. They were very nice too! VIEWS: They were nice for parts of the course. Other parts were normal neighborhoods. This didn't bother me... I actually liked the roads with less traffic. SPECTATORS: The ones that were there were great. The signs were creative. But if someone needs large crowds, they would be disappointed. I don't, so this was great. === NEGATIVES === MERGES: There is a spot where the full marathon merges with the half marathoners. My mile 17 was their mile 7.5 (at 2:05). They were less than half of my speed and often walking side-by-side. Not their fault.. just not a good design. The speed difference was too great to have together. To go around, I was either fighting with the curb or swinging wide into the road. SIGNS: The wind was the likely culprit, yet more durable signs is a need. Three times I had to really study (and ask) which way for the full marathon. Some signs were affected/moved by the wind. I never got lost though. === THANKS === Thanks much to the workers and volunteers who made it great! All were willing to help, and sometimes went beyond the call of duty. === RESULTS === Really enjoyed it! Will likely run next year. Fastest marathon I've had, by over 8 minutes. Boston qualified by 14 minutes.

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Marathon Details - Pensacola Marathon