Gasparilla Distance Classic - Race Reviews

Tampa is awesome! The course was very flat and fast - perfect for a PR. It's too bad that this was the final voyage for the Gasparilla 26.2. It was great seeing the sunrise over downtown from Davis Island and finishing along Bayshore Blvd. The volunteers were great and the spectators toward the end of the race were inspiring - especially all of the kids high-fiving at mile 25. That really helped me finish strong. Tampa, please bring this race back!

I am pursuing the 50 states and am so thrilled that I was able to run this marathon before it disappeared. There were so many great things about it. I'll list just a few here: The expo was awesome and well-organized Bart Yasso at the expo!! Woo hoo! MORE than adequate fluid stations Flat and fast course Plenty of food and liquid at the finish, even for slower runners Plenty of awesome swag, including a tech shirt with embroidery, a hat, and a towel. Plus, an amazing medal! VERY QUICK responses to email and Facebook questions!! Volunteers were top-notch at the expo, on the course, etc. All miles were marked (though I missed a few) Excellent traffic control Wonderful host city and great host site at convention center Just a few things that would be great to improve, but these are MINOR compared to the MANY awesome things: The baggage line before the start was super-long Can you add more volunteers to this area? There were few spectators in certain areas, especially in the first 10 miles It would be great to offer a pasta dinner Overall, I give this marathon very high marks. I felt so cared for! I loved the young people around mile 24 with the white shirts. I could see and hear them from far away, and they ROCKED! It truly is sad that the marathon is going away. I'd recommend the rest of the races anyway, and I suggest staying at the Westin or Hyatt or Embassy Suites, all within a 5-minute walk of the expo and starting line. So glad that this was my FL marathon!!! Thanks so much to Susan and her crew!

This was one of the best ever, and it really is a shame it was the last year - which is why I came out. Every detail was perfect. And when I apparently forgot to pre-register and didn't have enough cash on me at the expo, which had just closed, the wonderful volunteers took what I had and gave me a bib anyway. The course was beautiful, if a little crowded at points with the half runners; the aid stations were wonderfully staffed; and the banquet at the finish... wow. Great job, Susan!

Ran the Mich Challenge. Loved everything about all three races. The expo was well done. Received three tech shirts, and an awesome pullover hooded sweatshirt. Let's not forget the hat. The 5K was a little tough in the rain and nearly 10,000 people, but the 15K earlier was just perfect. Marathon weather was just perfect. I'm sorry to see this be the last. Overwhelming aid, water and Gatorade on the course. I cannot not say enough about the finish line - open till the last finisher crossed. Awesome marathon medals; the Mich Challenge medal was HUGE, and we got a finisher towel. I stayed in HOJO Plaza, within walking distance of the start line. Overall, a great experience.

Flat, well organized, beautiful marathon.

I entered this race at the last minute after Myrtle Beach was canceled. This was truly a great race. This was one of the most organized runs I've done. The runners' packet was well stocked with a tech shirt, hat, and snacks. The course was pretty, with a combination of city streets and waterfront views. The only negative was not anything the organizers had control over. Like at most marathons, you had those walkers who for some reason just think they have to start at the front. They jammed things up for the first few miles. It's too bad that this race hadn't grown fast enough to keep it alive. If you missed this one, you missed a good one.

I had to run this race since it was the final chapter (hopefully someone will bring it back). It is an excellent course close to many downtown hotels. I stayed at the Hyatt and they did a tremendous job. The crowds were spread out, but were also very vocal and supportive. Davis Island and the Bay Boulevard (the out-and-back) section were very nice. Excellent: - Shirt - Medal - Expo - Pace groups The only improvement: they need to cover those darn bridges with a rug or red runner, like they do in Chicago. I would NOT fly there for only a half marathon.

This was my second marathon, so my only comparison is the Flying Pig in Cincinnati, a much bigger race. I found the Gasparilla to be a lovely and well-organized run, very clearly marked with plenty of helpful volunteers. It's flat and scenic, though the wind coming off the Tampa Bay for the last 6 miles dried me out. I am very slow (5:27) but never lacked anything on the course, and the finish line was still fully manned with food, drinks, fans and a really nice medal. The second half is out-and-back, which meant I actually saw the marathon winner running toward me at one point with his lead car and all, which was exciting to me because I usually just sees other slowpokes. The dark start with the random traffic cones was a challenge (I saw more than one person bite it), but the sun coming up over the bay was worth it. The section over uneven cobblestones was not so welcome, but the buses bringing fans out to the distant miles to cheer WERE. Great weather; great people. Fewer fans than at the Pig, but the last three miles were lined with school kids yelling their hearts out, which was very helpful. I'm sorry that I won't get to run this one again.

As a director of a race myself, I know how much work goes into putting on a great event. Susan and her crew did an excellent job. From the expo, to the marathon start, to the course, to the finish-line, the event was top rate. Congratulations, Susan, and thank you for a great marathon.

This was the first time I have run the Gasparilla Marathon and my first time in Tampa. Overall, a very positive experience, and I am sorry to hear this is the last year for the full marathon. Positives: -Decent expo. Information booth was helpful for the questions we had. Packet pickup went quickly. -Nice, blue, long-sleeve, tech shirt and running hat. The towel at the finish line was a nice touch. -Start was easy to get to and line up at. -Course was almost completely flat and scenic, with a nice section along the waterfront. -Plenty of water and Gatorade stations. -Not a lot of entertainment and spectators, but those there were great, especially that section with all of the kids yelling for you. -Finish line went smoothly and I loved the medal. -Lots of food, including fruit cups, bananas, bagels, water, soda, and rice and beans. Negatives: -Only real negative I had was that the course really seemed bogged down for the first seven miles until the half marathoners turned off. Early into the race we came to almost a complete stop and we narrowed down to go over a bridge. But part of this was my fault, as I should have lined up farther up. I would recommend this marathon to anyone, so I'm sad to hear it is going away.

I ran the BUD LIGHT CHALLENGE - running the 15K and 5K on Saturday, and the Half Marathon on Sunday. This event was so well run, from the expo at the Tampa Convention Center to the great support for the runners. The PUBLIX SUPER MARKET that is at the start opened up early to allow runners to use the restrooms and stay warm. Way to go, PUBLIX. The volunteers are great, offering plenty of support and water stops. The people living in the area came out to cheer, and I guess the big thing I will remember is the Yellow Lab dressed as a pirate. If you're into medals, this was a goldmine - I got a total of four, and the BUD LIGHT one was HUGE. This was the last year for the full marathon. I'm sorry to see it go. I wanted to try it but waited too long. I will be back next year for the half though.

I am runner, not a marathoner. When they said that this was the last year, I used it as motivation. I think the city did a great job putting on a great event. I thought everything was first class. The pace group leaders were amazing.

I couldn't pass up the final voyage of the Gasparilla. The weather was beautiful. It's too bad that this marathon will not return next year. The organization and support are outstanding. The course is scenic, and there is a strong police presence for traffic control. The crowds are great... and it's in a beautiful spot in Tampa! Well done! My only complaint is that it won't be back next year!

I walked the half. Overall, I had a great time. My only complaint would be about the pass through downtown near the finish line. I was walking, and actually one of the last to cover the route. As we passed to the right of the finish chute and began our loop through downtown, the course was not well marked and we weren't even sure we were on course. Some who had already finished the race crossed through the course just beyond the finish line and seemed unaware that they were crossing through. I finished after the real medals were gone, but I greatly appreciate the fact that I received a real medal in the mail. It's awesome. The entire event was encouraging to someone who hopes to walk a half in every state and chose this one to start with. I'd love to come back, but I've got 49 others to do first!

This is my second year running Gasparilla. I ran the 15K in 2008 and the half in 2009. Pros: Beautiful course Plenty of water stations Right time of year and early start Convenient location Large expo Good food at the end Great finisher's medal Quality race shirt Body wrap at the finish Cons: They ran out of shirts for those pre-registered before 2:00 the day prior Heavy congestion for the first mile-plus The race packet contained little There were few trash cans at the finish No recycling They ran out of medals if you were slow (though I got mine)

Great job on the marathon in difficult conditions. In regard to the earlier comment: "Keep the PRAYER at the start - a little thankfulness in today's world is needed." I disagree... not everyone who runs the race is a Christian, or has any type of faith. Whereas I do not personally take offense, some do. So out of respect for "everyone's" religious views, I think we should separate religious customs from running events (unless they are promulgated by a religious faith based organization).

This was my second Gasparilla Classic and I WILL BE BACK!!!!! I ran the Bud Challenge, and so my comments will relate to all three races. Pros: Easy PARKING close to the convention and the start/finish line. EXPO is good for a mid-tier marathon. The convention center was open on race days with real toilets - not port-a-johns. Great MEDALS - all four of them. I like the medal for the challenge versus the coffee cup they gave out last year. Keep the PRAYER at the start - a little thankfulness in today's world is needed. Finish line FOOD was top of the line and plenty of it. Cons: On the 5K and the 15K courses, they need pace signage. Way too many walkers and kids were at the very front of the line, creating bottlenecks in the first quarter mile. The full/half course slows down on the bridge, as the course is thinner. That causes a bit of a problem for keeping one's stride. The weather was windy on Sunday, but they have no control over that.

This is only my second half-marathon, and I participated as a walker. I really enjoyed the course; the volunteers were great, and food was plentiful. Overall, a "walker-friendly" event. Great food at the finish. The expo was "easy in and out" and had some good samples. I will consider adding this to my FL vacation in the future. Weather was a bit rough - rain and wind.

Well organized, and the many bands and fans were great. Weather and wind were a problem, but not a bad as they could have been. I wish a better map of the course had been provided. Some of the half-marathoners (walkers) were somewhat in the way at about the 13-mile marker. I would do it again; great job by everyone!!!

The course was very flat - it definitely has the potential to be a PR race. This was my first Gasparilla Marathon and I enjoyed it. The only complaint I had was the weather... it was terrible. This was my 7th marathon and my first one I am commenting on. I read the other comments and saw people writing that the weather was perfect! The weather was perfect for about 45 minutes to an hour. After that, it was horrible. All in all, I did have my 2nd fastest time, but it was challenging with the weather. As with any race, the weather can't be controlled; but the organization and logistics were very good. I will run this race again. I also enjoyed the city of Tampa

I've run the marathon once and this was my fourth straight half. Once again the expo was great. It was very easy to get my number and shirt. The expo itself had the usual selections, which never interest me much anyway except for the Sports Authority, which has some very cool looking event shirts. The start was organized, there were plenty of port-a-potties, and the convention center was open. The start was on time and the water stations were plentiful and well manned. You will be hard-pressed to find a better half-marathon course. That said, I will never run the marathon with its current layout. I was one of the faster half runners, so heading toward the finish I saw the congestion that the marathoners had to endure as the merged with the half runners around their 11-mile mark. They would also rejoin the really slow half runners at the 23-mile mark. This race is really geared toward the half runners and will never be considered much of a marathon until they change the course. And what's with the group prayer before the start? This guy went on for over a minute. Maybe the organizers can keep their personal beliefs personal.

I thought this was a nice race and I was only about 2 minutes off my best marathon time despite the bad weather. The course looked like it would've been really beautiful along the water if it had been sunny out. Completely flat. The expo was good, but I really only go to pick up my number. I liked the pirate theme and loved the medal; it's my favorite yet. Really easy start to get to and not very crowded, compared to some other races. I just hopped right in around where my time would be, and was off. I loved the huge group of volunteers out on the course with about 4 or 2 miles to go. Can't remember exactly where now, but they were great. The marathon got a little lonely, and although I finished at a pretty good time for women, I felt like the marathon had the feel that it was closing down towards the end even though there would've still been people finishing for a few hours. Thank you to the man in the 3:30 pace group who gave me his Gatorade when I missed it and could only get water! That was so nice of him. The pace group leader was really nice and encouraging. It was hard weaving through miles 11 to 14 or so, with the tail end of the half marathoners on the course. Real nice marathon and I'm sure my impression would've been a lot better if it was better weather. Can't control everything, though - at least it wasn't raining at the start!

This was my first marathon and I was looking forward to running in warm weather after training in the cold. Oh well, that was shot after 13 miles with rain, rain, rain and lots of high winds. I had read previous years' comments about merging with the half marathon at mile 11 and didn't think it would be a problem, but it actually was a bit annoying. Also, why not run through downtown while it's dark and then enjoy Davis Island in the daylight? I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of support considering the weather and the "Let Me Play" kids were fantastic! Water was unevenly spaced, but there were so many stations that it didn't matter. Gels and oranges were also offered quite frequently. Course was scenic and interesting most of the way. Very flat... I don't even remember a hill! Medal was great (but I love pirates). Post-race food was the best ever - Spanish rice and black beans. Free beer was nowhere to be found.

The expo was a REAL disappointment. The merchandise was expensive and very cheap-looking. They were out of shirts when we got there, even though we had preregistered months ago. ALSO they ran out of medals!!! No crowds along the way. Water stops unorganized. Start too crowded. NO BEER!!!

This was my first Gasparilla Marathon even though I am from Florida. I am so pleased to have finally done it! I really enjoyed the event. The weather was rainy and windy, but the views of the water were incredible. The course was very well marked and supported. No chance of getting lost! I have to congratulate the organization for a job well done! I am a walker and finished in over 6 hours, but I had support throughout the entire experience. The police were GREAT... the volunteers were GREAT... the medal was GREAT!!! Thank you, Tampa, for a great marathon experience! I'll be back!!!

This was a decent race, just on a very windy day. Putting the weather aside, I liked the race. Aid stations were oddly spaced, but they were very frequent, so no problems there. The early start was a little weird, as I am not used to racing in the dark, but is probably a life-saver on hot days. Overall, the course was decent - very flat and running by the bay was cool. You don't see much at the start because it is dark for the first 45 minutes. My biggest complaint with the course is that the marathon breaks off from the half at mile 7 or so, but then rejoins the half marathon at mile 11 or so, which is about mile 8 for the half-marathon. It was very tiring having to rejoin the group and weave through a large pack of half-marathon runners for 2-3 miles. This and the wind, which I assume is an issue most years (price of running next to the bay) slow down what otherwise could be a decent PR course. Medal was HUGE.

This is my second Gasparilla and I loved it even more!! Organization is great, course is flat, and weather was good (rainy, but at least it wasn't hot). Great marathon!! You've got to run it at least once!!

The rainy, windy day made for a challenging race this year. But, the weather aside, this is a very nice course. It is flat and has interesting scenery the entire way. The first half of the marathon does a couple of loops and the second half is an out-and-back. The volunteers are fantastic. I was happy with the cooler weather since I was running, but those volunteers had to be cold. Despite all of this, they were cheerful and encouraging. And, just before mile 24 there was a large group kids along the course cheering us on. I don't know what organization they were with or how many there were - it seemed like a couple of hundred. But at that point in the race, their cheering drove me to my second fastest mile of the day! I'm used to running marathons with only a couple of hundred runners, so I thought there were plenty of spectators along the route yelling encouragement. Someone used to big-city marathons may have a different perspective. My only complaint is that the half is run with the marathon for the first 6 miles. For the first half-mile of the race people were bunched up like a large marathon. When we joined back up with the half runners at mile 11, I was worried, but at that point they were strung out and it was slower people at the back, so it wasn't that big of a problem. There were no hitches in this race. The expo is well run, and large enough to be interesting. There were no problems with the race itself. There were volunteers outside of the finish area with water so those of us waiting for friends to finish didn't have to walk all of the way to the food tables. It's just too bad that it was raining and cold so that I didn't want to hang out around the food afterward. But, no one can help the weather.

The good: * Excellent volunteers... enthusiastic and genuine about wanting to be out there helping the runners * Nice, long-sleeve, technical tee * Nice medal * Great post-race food... loved the rice and beans! * Plenty of fluids and gels throughout the course * The course itself... flat as they come * Oh my - pictures everywhere, so keep smiling The bad: * Did not care for the praying at the start line - keep religion out, please! * The steel grids on the bridge get slippery when wet - some carpeting would have been nice The ugly (real ugly and almost criminal): * Full and half marathoners merge between miles 9-10 and then you wind up running the next 3-4 miles with the slowest half-marathon runners (over 2+ hours). A lot of dodging and weaving - it was criminal, in my opinion Overall, it was a good race. But it's bad enough to mix the start of full and half runners; they really need to fix the course so that full and half marathoners don't merge so early in the run.

The terrible 2009 weather notwithstanding, this is a nice event - small enough to be manageable, but large enough to feel like a real race. The aid stations were numerous and the volunteers were terrific. I think the finisher medal is one of the best I've received. On the downside, there are few spectators and the route loops itself so you see many houses and landmarks more than once. The track is flat, but unless you're starting in the front, expect major delays during the first mile or two, as 5,000 people cram their way onto a narrow two=lane bridge, which takes you to Davis Island (major flaw in the route). It's likely you'll lose a couple of minutes or more in this mess as you're nearly halted to walking pace for about .25 of a mile. But, all that said, it's a friendly town with lots to do at that time of year - including spring training games, if baseball's your thing.

I ran the half-marathon at a fairly easy pace, recovering after the full Pensacola Marathon two weeks ago. The race was well organized, and the course was flat and relatively easy. Highlights: awesome long-sleeve tech shirt, great-looking medal, fantastic food at the finish, donated by a local restaurant. Weaknesses: although water/Gatorade stops were frequent, volunteers (especially at earlier ones) were overwhelmed and could not keep up. They did not prepare cups in advance, so runners were backed up waiting for drinks. Also, runners were promised a free beer (beer coupon was on the bibs), but I searched at the end and no beer was to be found anywhere. I didn't NEED it, but once it was promised, I was looking forward to it and disappointed when it failed to materialize. Overall, a good race which I would run again in if TB.

Wow, I am so glad I picked Tampa as my first marathon. Coming from Ohio, I didn't know what to expect, but after reading the previous reviews, I decided to sign up. I could not have had a better experience. The expo was fantastic, and everything was close to the start. The race starts at 6 a.m., so it was a different experience racing in the dark. The weather was perfect. The fans and volunteers were amazing. A nice touch is that your name is on your bib, so fans cheer you on by name as you go by. Plenty of water stops, and lots of food, drink, and music after the race. Because I was a "maiden voyager," a bell was rung when I finished the race. I've run Virginia Beach's marathon and Athens, Ohio's since Tampa, and although those marathons are different and special in their own right, nothing compares to the outstanding organization and overall race experience Tampa offered. Thank you, fans and volunteers, for giving me the marathon bug!! I will be at this marathon every year!

This year I ran the marathon for the 1st time. I ran the half the last 2 years. This was my fourth marathon. My first was Disney 2007. My second was Chicago 2007. My third was the marathon as part of the Goofy Challenge Disney 2008 (4 weeks ago). Having done Disney twice, despite the obvious appeal of the theme parks, they have nothing on Gasparilla. The Gasparilla expo is bigger and better, the course is much more scenic, and there are people all over the course. At Disney, there are definite dead spots. My overall impression of the Gasparilla Marathon course is: I loved it! It is as flat as can be and despite the small field (984 finishers), much of the course consists of out-and-back sections, so that you are always in the presence of other runners on one side of the course or the other. I was able to see both the male and female leaders twice on the course, as well as see Team Hoyt finish the half. The only bad part of the course is the ramp to get on to the Davis Island Bridge. It is a bottleneck and slows you down. Fortunately it is about the 3/4-mile mark so I look at it as it prevents you from running the 1st mile too fast. I definitely plan on running it again.

This was my 3rd marathon and I had a blast. It was super flat and perfect weather. The headwind at the last 6-7 miles on the water was not welcome, but other than that, perfectly put together. Also, I loved that there were A LOT of water stations through the course. Crowds were very enthusiastic and supportive. I will be back next year for sure.

It was an overall great race. It was fast and flat. Definitely a Boston qualifier course. Pace team was excellent. Please keep them coming for the following years. The only recommendation will be to detour the 6-mile headwind if possible.

This was fun! Coming from the cold of the Midwest to run in Tampa is an absolute thrill! Even the early early start posed no problems. Expo was one of the best I have seen. Pace team was fantastic! It is sooo nice to be in a place where the water doesn't freeze! The mime was a great touch along the course.

This is one of the best-organized events I've ever run. If you want to run a well-organized event compared to the the music marathons, without the huge crowds, this is it. This a a PR-setting, flat, fast marathon. I will consider this one while trying to qualify for Boston. It seemed like all the pace groups were right on target, if one would need their help to qualify. The expo was great - lots of vendors, well organized. Easy, inexpensive, close parking. Metered parking was also available. Lots of porta-potties, so hardly any wait at all. Free coffee and other samples before the race. Amazing post-race amenities. Lots of food and samples and a great festive atmosphere. The 15K was a bit crowded for the first couple of miles. The 5K was also crowded, but if you place yourself right it shouldn't be too bad. The marathon/half marathon begin together and then split at mile 7, just to rejoin later on. It flowed flawlessly. I ran the challenge and did not grow tired of the course. The course takes us through Davis Island. It was great running there in the dark; some people came out to their driveways to cheer us on. We ran through some beautiful neighborhoods, shady areas, through a park and then back onto Bayshore, where the headwinds were strong but refreshing. I was afraid of the heat coming back onto the exposed few miles, but at that point the sun was not right on our faces as I had thought it may. The timimg was perfect. The volunteers were plenty and they were amazing! The spectators were the best; they had their very own aid stations, offering beads, candy, donuts, coffee, water, Gatorade and many other items. My family, even though they are not familiar with the Tampa area, was able to see me six times and that's after taking an hour-long nap. I love the pirate theme and the medals are awesome - all three of them! Thank you, race directors, for putting on such a top-notch race. Thank you, PUBLIX, for helping keep this great race going.