calendar icon Oct 31, 2024

Marathon Details - X-Country Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > FL > Tampa > X-Country Marathon

X-Country Marathon

X-Country Marathon & 30K, Half-Marathon, 5K

location icon Tampa, FL USA

calendar icon November 27, 2022

calendar icon http://www.tamparaces.com/X-Country

Marathon Results

By Year: 2022   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017   2016   2015   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004   Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

Held at Alafia River State Park. Rolling hills with sweeping views, you will feel like you are running in Kentucky.

Contact Information

Name: Jim Hartnett
Address: 2302 N. Central Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone Number:  813-232-5200
Fax Number: 813-232-7200
Email: Email the organizers

Race Organizer

Great Cross-Country Running (7/13/06)
Ricky Howe


If you are new to trail running or an old soul, you will like the rolling hills and wide grassy paths on this double-loop course.

Runner Reviews (14)

Course Rating Course 4.1 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.4 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 2.9 
 
 
Number of comments: 14 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

 

C. W. from pottstown, pa (12/1/2018)
"Nice flat race for trail or road runners" (about: 2018)

11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


This is a great race for road runners looking to try out trail running. Hard core trail runners will not find the course to be technical or challenging but still a great organization. The race is a double loop thru the park and is fairly flat. There are a few short spots where you run on sand but the vast majority of the course is on grass or packed dirt with only 2 small water crossings to hop over. Like most trail races, there was a great selection of food afterwards. I was concerned about the bikers on the trails but the bikers in Florida are much more respectful than the bikers in Pennsylvania and pulled over for any of the runners.

 

K. T. from Washington, DC (4/6/2015)
"I LOVE THIS RUN" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 2 X-Country Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I'm a trail runner at heart. I love to get off the beaten path and hear the sound of the leaves under my foot steps. I love the laid-back nature of trail runs. The race directors are so fun and give out great prizes and finisher awards. The food is better than mom's and the DJ plays some tunes that keep me running. But the best is being out in some awesome weather, in nature, with fun people, staying fit and having a blast.

 

B. H. from Dallas, TX (11/16/2014)
"Great marathon . . . nice trail FL marathon" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 X-Country Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


So, I will start this off by trying to downplay that the course was marked wrong for a little bit and we did an extra 2 miles. As far as I know this hasn't happened before and I don't fault the race director or the volunteers or anyone. It was a FANTASTIC marathon!
Reminded me a lot of the grasslands marathon run in Decatur, TX

Positives
1. Great trail marathon with very few hills
2. Great volunteers
3. Cheap and Tampa was an easy airport to fly into
4. Nice people running it
5. Easy park to find, easy to park, easy to get in and out of
6. it's a double out and back (which I like b/c if you can't finish or having a bad day, you can stop halfway.

Negatives
1. Possibly the wrong signage, but again see comment above. Not a huge deal. Some people were making it way too big of a deal. We all came to run and have fun. Can you complain if you run an ultra for the price of a marathon? ;)

This would be a great trail marathon if this was your first trail marathon (just to give it a shot and see if you could do it). You could stop at 13.1 if you weren't feeling good.

Overall great marathon. I would highly recommend it to everyone.

 

RRRICK Karampatsos from Florida, USA (12/5/2013)
"A Challenge for sure!" (about: 2013)

50+ previous marathons | 2 X-Country Marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


I love the way the folks put this marathon together! More than enough water stops along the way. When you are done you are treated like someone who did something! ~ This was my 3rd marathon in 4 weeks - came in sore .. Heat got to me badly. BUT STILL LOVED IT! Will be back!

 

K. S. from Florida (11/22/2010)
"Trails were tough, especially long sand stretches" (about: 2010)

1 previous marathon | 1 X-Country Marathon
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


This was my first marathon and I had fun. Beautiful trail but not what I expected a trail run to be. I ran a half marathon trail run before out of country and it was hilly but didn't have the obstacles this course had: Lots of tree branches/roots, horse poop, and the worst of it were the long stretches of sand with very few grass patches to get any relief. My time was 45 minutes over what I expected to get. Tough on the feet.

 

n. p. from Orlando, Florida (10/26/2010)
"Lonely run on horse poop" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 X-Country Marathon
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 1


This trail run uses the route of horses and was full of horse manure. Also saw a black snake on the trail. Not much in the way of scenic views. Sand traps. No spectators. Knit ski mask with palm trees on it and a coffee mug was the finisher's award. Marathoners make 2 loops. Starting time too late for the Florida heat.

 

L. M. from Scotland (12/12/2008)
"A lovely little race!" (about: 2008)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 X-Country Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


A nice low-key marathon run in a very pretty park. Never felt too lonely with all the other races going on at the same time. Got a bit confused at the cross-over point when starting the second lap, but was soon put right. Only downer was seeing a guy just in front of us take a shortcut. I assumed he was pulling out of the race but I ended up behind him again at one of the water stops - I hope it was a mistake!

 

W. W. from Niceville, FL (11/20/2007)
"Wow! Love those trails! Beautiful!" (about: 2007)

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


I can't imagine wanting to run a road race when races like this are available. It took longer but seemed shorter than any marathon I've run. Great staff at the water stations. Amazing trails!

 

Brian Savage from Daytona Beach, FL (11/19/2007)
"Great trail course; wonderful area!" (about: 2007)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 X-Country Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


This course won me over and I am not a trail running fan. The course was very well marked, fellow-runners were really encouraging and positive (especially when I cramped up at mile 23 and needed some moral support), and the weather, scenery and volunteers were all exceptional. Thanks to all you guys and gals who worked on making this a wonderful experience!

 

S. D. from Tampa, Florida (11/19/2007)
"1/2 marathon - Excellent Race" (about: 2007)

11-50 previous marathons | 4-5 X-Country Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was a very scenic race and true XC - not trail running. Lots of open fields and trails. Good food, music, and DJ. I loved it; Tampa Races does it again. All of their races are well organized.

 

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

 
 
Getting ready for this event? Get a personalized adaptive training plan and 1:1 coach assistance. Get Your Plan
 

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor




Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor