It was a great day for a run! Minus the 40-50 MPH wind gusts... they helped for the first half of the run... the second half was not as nice! Few spectators, but the ones who turned out really kept me going with their clapping and shouting! VERY FRIENDLY!

Still waiting for my certificate of completion to be sent out and it has been nearly 1 year now since I ran the race!

Overall: Great race, beautiful course, friendly people!

In spite of some negative comments posted for previous years, I decided to do this for my 3rd marathon. So glad I did! Thanks for the Early Start group--it was fun being in the lead for just a few miles...The markers were easily visible and encouraging. The course has a really neat variety although that one trail seemed to go on forever. It did begin (mile 15?) with that super park with REAL restrooms and ended with the lovely lake! The traffic directors were plentiful & pleasant. I loved the last part where we ran downtown. My favorite thing was the orange slices--didn't know I liked them that much! Medal is so fun to show people. The no-hands massages aren't necessary and that's the only suggestion I have for this super marathon!

This was my first time running the Gulf Beaches 10K (which is the same morning as the marathon & marathon relay). The course was great, despite the incredible headwind almost the whole way! Organization was OK at the 10K start - needs some improvement. The finish line area for 10K and marathon were topnotch, with great organization, music, food & drink. The 10K awards were very nice, as were the T-shirts. My winning time was slow, but with all that wind, it was inevitable. I hope to improve my time in 2006. Thanks for a great race!

WOW! Great marathon! Information is plentiful and easy to access via the web site. The expo is small but very efficient and the Belleview Biltmore Resort (race HQ and expo site) is very nice. Last year?s comments had me a little concerned. However, this was an AWESOME marathon. Whatever problems they had last year were corrected this year. Chris Lauber did a great job. He had to adjust how the start and finish area were set-up due to the high winds. The water stops were well manned and had plenty of fluids, post-race party had lots of good food, and the volunteers were very courteous and helpful. (Also, the porta-potty lines were not too long.)

The first half of the course is very scenic. You cross several bridges, run along the coast, and then cross the inland waterway and head for home. However, if you need crowd support you are out of luck ? especially on Pinellas Trail. Pinellas Trail can be very isolating. For the most part, the only people are other runners, people walking their dogs, and the water stop volunteers. Taylor Park is very pretty with a nicely manicured trail around the lake. Other than the bridges, the is a flat and fast course. Even with the wind, I was able to PR by 5 minutes!

The weather was cold and WINDY!!! (I thought I was back in OKC!) The start was in the 50s with a 20 mph wind with 30/40 mph gusts!!!!! The wind was out of the north and west, so the first half the wind was to our backs. However, it was a loop course, so the last 10 miles were directly into the wind. The wind chill was wicked. I was exhausted... It was so cold at the finish, the live band at the post-race party were all bundled up! On a positive note... it did NOT rain (there was a 40% chance), and it was cloudy most of the morning.

This was an awesome race. This was the first marathon my family attended. So, I put them to work! They were my crew... had a good time and helped the volunteers while waiting on me at each location. According to them, ?Marathons are NOT a spectator sport!? :)

The medal and the t-shirt make it all worthwhile!

Chris, thank you for a great marathon! Volunteers, thank you for being there. Without you this marathon would not be possible. And to my family (who drove down from Atlanta, GA just to ?be spectators?)... a big THANK YOU for a great weekend and supporting me!

If you have the opportunity to run this marathon ? ?DON'T MISS IT!!?

Chris,

Having been former residents of St. Petersburg, it was a joy to visit friends and relatives still living in the area AND run another marathon. My wife and I ran our first marathons in the Tampa Bay area and many years later thought it would be 'fun' to do a circle and come HOME to do a nice flat marathon. Quite different than the Grandfather Mountain marathon I ran in July, 2004, in Boone NC... We were thinking about heat and humidity and got STRONG breezes and cool!!!

This was my 12th marathon and thought it was one of the most well organized races I have run. The amenities, such as the packet and the goodies at the end of the race, were outstanding... it seems in the last couple of years the price of the races have increased but not the quality; yours was different and exceptional in this respect. We told all our North Carolina running friends how great the race was (except for the wind!!!) and you may be seeing them next year!! Best to you and your crew in the next marathon...

Randy and Sue Mellott

On the January 23rd at 6:30am we stood huddled in a bunch on the memorial causeway on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico; we were absolutely freezing, the wind was ferocious, but when the 'Star Spangled Banner' was sung, the atmosphere was so exciting...

I found the spectators great and felt like a hero! It was particularly exciting when they read my singlet and realized I was from Australia... 'Go Ozzie' 'Whoopie... all the way from Ozstrayleeah, good on yooo.' Sheriffs were at every single road intersection and drink stops were regular and very well organized, water on one side, Gatorade on the other, Florida oranges, carbo gel, bandaids and even aspirin and pain relieving gel!! The camaraderie of the marathon is always great. The man in the purple T-shirt was very supportive, he seemed to be running in surges then walking; each time our paths crossed I heard another 'Go Ozzie.' Earlier on in the run I met a local girl who was singing (Julia Roberts style in Pretty Woman) to her headset; we stayed close and supported each other a lot of the way. She wanted to break 4hrs and I thought that would be nice, but just to enjoy and complete the race was my main aim...

The day before we had received our race T-shirt. I loved the quote on the back and kept reciting the phrase written on it: 'I had the courage to start(particularly in such rotten conditions, the only downfall of the day, but no one can control that and at least it wasn't raining!) I have the guts to do the distance (it was what I had trained for!!) and the heart to finish'... (I definitely have the heart I thought!) At times I felt so full of emotion.

Everyone was just so friendly, the experience was so wonderful and I was really enjoying my run, all that training was panning out, it was such a good feeling after the nervous panic attacks I had been having for the last few weeks. I loved running in miles, there weren't as many to run and the calculations kept my mind busy. At 40k (about 24 miles, I figured), I knew I was almost there, but running into a very strong headwind was tough! It was like one step forward, two steps back! I was so close, now I just wanted to finish, why are finishes always so long and deceiving no matter which part of the world you are in?...3.49 I was happy with that and felt proud to have my gold starfish medal hung around my neck. I absolutely loved my first overseas marathon experience. Thank you so much to the organizers and supporters. I loved the Florida Gulf Beaches Marathon!

This was my first time to run this marathon, but not the last. Except for the wind, and when a race director learns to control the weather, why would he be directing a race... I have no complaints. Not a lot of spectators, but I give 5 stars to all the volunteers; especially the snowbirds with their 'Yankee' accents handing out the 'wadda.' (Reminded me of NYC where on one side of the bridge you get 'wadda' and on the other side 'water.')

Clearwater is fortunate to have such a beautiful trail running through the city. You will enjoy this one!

I've run all 6 of these marathons. I've done 59 marathons total, and 3 of my worst times were at Gulf Beaches coming into this year?s race. Warm temps have been a big factor the last few years. Did better the first two years when the race was in January, and glad to see the race back in January again. When I left for the race in the dark, I knew it was going to be a good day, as a full moon was out. Did not see the moon at the start due to cloud cover.

According to my chip time, I missed a PR by 5 seconds. Some of the course markers were blown down or not placed accurately?that?s the only complaint I'd have about this year?s race. You can't blame the race director for the blown down signs. I think the mile two marker is always misplaced. I was told by a fellow runner that had a GPS system that the course was long. A lot of the prior comments complained about the wind. The wind was a pleasant relief the second half of the race when compared to the rising heat in the past few Gulf Beaches Marathons. We had the wind at our back the first half, which was a big plus. Wind wasn't as bad as in some races I've run, such as Minot, North Dakota or Cape May, New Jersey (where almost that entire race is usually run into the wind).

There was a big improvement in post-race food this year. Plenty of warm black beans and rice on a cold day. Plenty of muffins and brownies from sweet tomatos and ice cream. Porta-potty lines at the start did not seem to be as long as in past years, but the number of runners was down a lot this year. Race will be in late January for the next 5 years, so the race should continue to grow again. The 10k still seems to draw few people. Race director also has a half marathon in December. Race director should consider ditching the 10k and have the half-marathon and marathon on the same day, as I know traffic control is a major cost of these races. Age group awards could be improved. They give out a medal to age groupers.

You did an awesome job on the race! FYI... Chris, You must know the reason I am moving down here. It all started with your notion of putting the race on in the first place back in 2000. That was the reason I came to this part of Florida! You have significantly changed my life for the better!

After 160 or so marathons, your marathon will probably be my last of a long & wonderful run.

Many thanks to you & yours,
Steve Grande

Don't know what else to say... that 'bout says it. I believe a marathon event should be a challenge and with the heavy wind this was a memorable year, though not easy (just glad we had no rain). Spectators are few though supportive, which is quite fine. Seeing the beaches and causeways at daybreak was a fine way to start the day.

Chris, you should be proud... you have a great crew and all have done marvelously. Even for this post 5-hour racewalker, fluids and gels were still well stocked - thanks a bunch. Traffic control was terrific, almost unbelievable; salutations to all involved. Post-race food must have been plentiful because there were still hot and cold goodies being served. Again... GREAT JOB!

I did miss seeing the 5-hour pace group you had last year... thought that was a good idea. I don't have much to compare your event to, but I still know when I've found a WINNER. I plan to be on the start line again next year: you're part of my training schedule.