Space Coast Marathon - Race Reviews

You should run this race. Course is mostly flat (some hills that were a lot for me in SWFL, but if you train north of I4, you're fine). The road is a bit uneven and gave my feet some discomfort. Organization is 100%. Super easy expo, start of race, course support, and finish. Great medal swag.

26.2 miles in the upper 70s and all that was provided was water and Gatorade. The race organizers should know better than this. Won't be back.

Pros and cons of the race.... Pros.... - Mostly flat course. Chicago knows flat courses and this is pretty much flat from start to finish. The northern part of the marathon (which was also the north half marathon of the race) had more hills then the south half marathon (which was also the south half marathon). - I have never been to a marathon with so much porto potties. You might as well call it port-o-potty village! - Lots of Gatorade and water available on the course. - Somewhat an economical race. Negatives - I think that they should put the water nearer to the finish line then it was. First thing I wanted was water after giving it all I had. It was sort of distant. - The south part of the marathon didn't have as much water and Gatorade as much as the North part. The south part is the second half of the marathon so I think its crucial.

I have run Space Coast Marathon 5x. My first marathon was Space Coast. I am now in the 5 year series. This is extremely special because I run it as a memorial for my friend who is like a second dad that was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012 and passed in 2014. The first year I ran, which was my first ever, full marathon my friend absolutely loved the finishers medals. I will run for my friend Cliff and his wife, and provide them with the finishers medals as long as I as I able to, for the rest of my life if possible. God Speed my friend, until we meet again! Andrea

Can you drop down to the half from the full? NO Can you transfer a bib? NO Can you get a refund? NO Can you pick up a packet for someone else? NO What if you have their ID and a signed document? NO What if you can facetime them giving you permission on the spot? NO Can you pick up your packet race day? NO The course was nice, very flat and fast, and so was the weather, but trying to get packets for my out-of-town group was frustrating and stressful. Aid stations were so-so: one didn't have water, only M & Ms in water cups, with the next water stop some distance away. Most stations had only water or Gatorade, no snacks. There were goos of some sort available at some stops, but all seemed to be strawberry-banana flavor, an odd choice. Some of the slower half-marathoners stubbornly ran in wide clumps or insisted on occupying the exact center of the road, and wouldn't yield as needed, playing chicken with oncoming marathoners. Many onlookers and aid station workers wore space-themed costumes, which was cute.

This was my 33rd marathon (including 14 Boston Marathons) and found it to be everything my running crazies have told me it would be. Heard comments about crowned roads but didn't notice that. Heard concerns about 1/2 marathoners taking up the road. Didn't have any issues there just gave them high fives and encouragement. This is a good BQ too because its good for two years. Only one small ding is the packet pickup hotel center is very tight but this is Cocoa Beach folks. Not NYC! And running along the Indian River is really very cool. And you'll love the beach so get a hotel and bring the family. I could see me doing this one again.

Except for some packet pick-up policies this marathon remains among my favorites. The course is great, the aid stations are fun and plentiful, the shirts, medals, towels, post-race food, cumulative year awards, and volunteers are all excellent. Requiring each runner to pick up their own packet and the elimination of race day pick-up means that those that live out of town must either make two long trips to Cocoa or take a couple days and pay for a hotel. I emailed the RD twice in hopes arranging race day pick-up but got no response. Another bad idea was starting the half marathoners 30 minutes before the marathoners. Why make those of us out there longest start later? We get further out of phase with friends and family running the half and also are left out in the hotter part of the day.

Ran the half in 2010 and finally got back to run the full in 2015. Volunteers are both spirited and organized; they give the race some extra oomph. Appreciated: corrals at the start; pancakes and eggs at the finish; opportunity to swap shirt for size at the expo; the icy cloth at mile 21, so needed! Very lovely finish area, good for families and friends. Dr. Musgrave added an air of authenticity to the weekend; very much enjoyed him. Downer: the rude half marathoners who were ignorant of the faster marathoners on the last quarter of the marathon course. They really need to be chided or somehow threatened with disqualification if they walk 4 abreast or all over the road. Suggestion: offer a singlet option instead of yet another long sleeved shirt.

Marathon was great. Perfect temperature. Nice course. Beautiful scenery when running by the beach. Flat compared to other marathons I have run. Volunteers were numerous and very helpful. Medal is one of the best I have received. Downside: Packet pickup was so crowded by Sat. afternoon that it was actually hazardous. If the fire department had made a visit, they would have shut it down. They really need to find another venue for packet pickup before next year. Lower rating for organization is for packet pick-up.

First off the medal is the best I have ever gotten (better than Disney)! If for no other reason run this for the medal. The picture does not do it justice. That said the start was a little crowded but I've been in a lot worse cattle drives so no big deal there. Also it is not really as flat as you might think. To a runner 'flat' means 'pancake' with a couple bumps. This was mainly rolling with nothing steep. So again, not a problem just not what I expected. Biggest problem was lack of TP in the port-a-lavs at the start but I'm sure they've heard about that already and will correct that for next year. Okay now the good stuff. Weather was beautiful although a little warm for us northerners (not complaining!). Running along the water was very enjoyable. Support along the course was awesome (a big plus)!! Loved the GU's every mile after 13 (I needed them). Free shirt is very cool. So are the 'not free' ones but get there early. I was at the expo before noon and sizes and colors were already running low. And last but not least the MEDAL!!! You can have the worst race of your life, the medal will still cheer you up!! Super cool!! I will be back next year!

This was my first marathon, and I went into it with high expectations due to the reviews and recommendations of friends who have run this race in years past. The expo was very crowded, and I'm in agreement with another reviewer that they need a bigger location. Highlight was meeting Bart Yasso who was on hand at the Running Start booth. I was incredibly disappointed when I was informed at the shirt booth that they had NO small or medium shirts. None. According to the person at the table, the order didn't go through. You had an entire year to plan this race and you didn't know your shirt order wasn't going through? I was so disappointed that I was not going to proudly wear my first marathon shirt home on the plane as I had imagined. The race...thoroughly enjoyed first half, looking out over the water and and the homes along the road. The second half... was the same. Same water. Same houses. Same people passing on the other side of the very crowded, narrow road. Word of warning - the road is slanted on both sides toward the shoulder from the center. I assume this is for run off with heavy rains, but for the knees and ankles it is brutal and lasts the entire race. Post race was great. Plenty of food and it was nice to get the finishers beach towel and took the sting out of not getting a shirt. Metal is great. Overall this marathon did not live up to the glowing reviews. I just finished messaging the admin on their facebook page regarding the missing shirt, and she told me I should have written down my info at the expo. ?? I was never told this, asked a friend and they knew nothing of this either. I hope we get them. Also - no words of apology EVER, today or at expo that they had no shirts for finishers.

If you are looking for a destination race, as I was, this race was in a very fun location- Cocoa Beach. The organization was great, and I enjoyed the space theme. I thought I would love the course by the description, but found it to be very crowded at times. Since it is an out and back for many parts, at times I was dodging people since we were sharing one side of a 2-lane road. I did not exercise the Galloway method myself, though respect the method, but found it hard to navigate large groups of walkers with the race being only on one side of the road. I am just an average paced middle of the pack runner, and found it to be a challenge only at times. Overall, all racers were all respectful and seemed to have a great time. Not as much camaraderie as I have experienced in mid-western races that I am accustomed to, but everyone was friendly. Definitely stay awhile in Cocoa Beach, it is a relaxing, great little town.

LOVED this race. Expo was small, but smooth. Course was a double out & back, which didn't thrill me in New Orleans. It was very scenic as it ran along the Indian River. GREAT race support, and the volunteers were stupendous. Swag was just as well done. The long-sleeve tshirt looks great. The medal... well, the medal is why I chose this race in the first place. I recommend it without reservation. If you have a chance to do this race, do it!

Excellent race, perfect place for a great small marathon, well organized, very friendly, good crowd during the course, my only recommendation is with the expo, need better and bigger place. Expect some hilly parts for Florida complete flat standards.Definitely in my schedule for 2015.

I have run this race seven straight years and as long as I am healthy will continue to run Space Coast. I PRed the marathon this year. Slight rollers on coarse, great support with water stations, FANTASTIC Medal, tech shirt, and beach towel. You can eat more calories than you burn after the race, pizza, breakfast, plus!!!! THe Piercy's are great in their organization. Perfect theme for the area. Yes the first mile or two is tight and seeded corals would help but DO THIS race it is worth it.

First time running this half marathon. Nice medal. Fairly well organized. The big disappointment was in the race start. No waves, just a mass start of nearly 3,000 runners on a narrow street. It was simply too crowded and the pack did not break up very much for nearly three miles. I should have been able to PB but my 5k split was way too slow because of the crowd. I was able to pick up the pace for the last 10 but not enough to make up for the very slow start. The course was OK but narrow the entire distance and I had to dodge and weave a lot. It was worse than a Disney race for a crowded course. I was hoping to do this race again next year but if it is on the same course without wave starts, I'll pass.

Loved it AGAIN! Marathon # 76 for me (2nd doing this race). I place the organization of this race in the top three of all races I have been a part of. I fell/ tripped around mile 14 - helped right away and was soon able to get back running (although with a slower pace)... The way we are treated at the finish line is as if we we all the first runners in! More than enough food and fluids for all! GREAT medal, shirt and towel! LQQKING FORWARD to next year already!

This was my 13th marathon and favorite course. Traveled with 20+ from our St Pete group. Some had PR's and it was 1st marathon for several. One of our 1st timers was on the course for over 8 hrs and although the staff had to start tear-down (understandable) they left the finish line up until the last finisher crossed. Cudos and thanks to them for that special effort. I loved the small race feel of this event. Hopefully small 'tweaks' can be made in the crowded expo venue, crowded starting line and additional post-race transportation can be made for 2014 but these were minor issues. I would love to see a priority 1st chance at registration (maybe 48 hr? ) for those that ran 2013 to prevent early sell out and being shut out of continuing pursuit of the Big Bang Series. Many thanks to all that worked so hard to provide a mostly great event.

I really loved this course but being that I lived in NYC I wasn't ready for the change in temperature. I did my personal best cutting 31 minutes from my first marathon time and 14 minutes off my last

This was my first marathon and I am glad I selected this one as my first. The race was very well organized. The course was somewhat hilly (at least Florida hills) lol... The runners were so friendly and the volunteers were absolutely fabulous. The health and fitness expo was rather small and busy, but still everyone was friendly and having a great time. The race itself was very good. The end was well organized and plenty of food for everyone. There was coke products, juices, pizza, pancakes, eggs and fruits. The medal and towel were awesome. I cannot wait until next year.

Near-perfect marathon. I originally planned to do that other, more popular marathon near Orlando, but a 50-state marathoner told me about this one. Glad I listened to him. Affordable, easy registration and frequent email notices. Fun, no-hassle expo at the Kennedy Space Center. Shuttle bus transportation from hotels to race start. We met a lot of marathoners at both the hotel and at Brano's Italian restaurant in nearby Cocoa Beach, so there was a lot of camaraderie. The race course lacked variety, and there wasnt much crowd support, but the scenery and smooth road more than made up for it: 2 loops along beautiful Indian River, one north of town and one south, and the southbound loop tied in with the half-marathoners. Many beautiful waterside homes, seagulls, ospreys. Frequent liquid stops, with gels offered every mile after mile 13! Great festive finish at a circular, grassy amphitheater, with pizza, beer, bagels, bananas, pancakes, eggs. Finishers' medals aren't too important to me, but this one dwarfs any of my others - it was a HUGE rocket replica, more like a trophy. And a nice beach towel souvenir. Just a few suggestions for the organizers: maybe offer hot beverages before the start, since it was pretty chilly until the sun started climbing. Maybe a louder announcement at the full and half-marathon split-off to prevent confusion. Also, my calves were screaming for a massage afterwards, and it was really disconcerting to be told at the massage tent - in a somewhat rude manner - 'No more signups, our masseuses need a break.' Really? I know they are volunteers who service a lot of people, but this was a real letdown. Even just a one or two-minute massage would've helped. Still, a fantastic marathon, capped by phenomenal weather. This was the Florida entry in my 50 states quest. But I enjoyed it so much I'll definitely be back.

The course is very good but marketing is misleading in that this race is not even close to the space center. The expo is small and actually at the space center which is about an hour away from the race. Enjoyed the scenery and amenities but was disappointed as we came from New York just for this race.

Course was beautiful, plenty of aid stations. Volunteers were great and still enthusiastic even for those of us in the back of the pack :) I would definitely run this race again!

If you like the feel of a small-town race and don't need the roar of the crowd this one is for you. Very well organised, lots of parking close by, lots of porta-pots as well as real bathrooms, beautiful finish area, a real-life astronaut, great themed aid stations and volunteers. Running along the river in the pre-dawn - spectacular. Get out there, run your 26, get your medal, enjoy the sunshine and a beer. I was top 5 and cheered home by lots of the half-marathoners. Great camaraderie.

I don't know where to start. This was a wonderful marathon experience. Packet pick up at the Kennedy Space Centre, flat fast course with a few slopes,(no hills)after the marathon a large grassy area with plenty of food and beer provided. Water stops every mile, wonderful volunteers, crowd support almost non existent but who cares! Shuttle bus from hotel to and fro. Great medal plus a towel and teck shirt. 1 of my best experiences

Wonderful place to run! Great area and unique artisan area of Coca downtown was worth the trip alone. Solid management, but the race is challenged by its growth. Start and finish areas seem too small for the numbers of runners. Getting to the expo...though in a wonderful place...was a challenge. Great pace team! Overall, well worth the price of admission. Here is hoping the race can grow while maintaining its unique small marathon appeal.

This is a great small marathon. I ran the full . The start line is in the center of town. The full marathon runs north and the half marathon runs south as you leave town. At 6.5 miles the full marathon turns and comes back to town and continues south to run what the half marathoners are in the process of finishing up. It's fun seeing the half marathoners as they are running back north to finish. The first leg of the full has a lot of rolling hills. Nothing too steep but.... rollers. The second half has less rollers. The expo at the Space Center is approx 20 miles north of the start line ( wish that was closer). The vendors were few but nice. Easy access to get your race packet. Plenty of water and gatorade stops along the course. The course is very fair to the runner. Our 3:35 pace guy (George) was great. If you're looking for a GREAT small town marathon.... look no further.

I ran the 2010 half marathon for the first time. Very well organized, nice scenic route and great support. I'm thinking of doing the full in 2011. My only complaint to the organizers is the expo. For a race this size this has to be the weakest expo I've ever seen. Go check out Gasparilla in Tampa or Disney and see what they do. Perhaps a bigger venue is needed because it was over crowded and not many vendors. I expected more for a race this size.

Between the registration, email communications, course layout and amenities, the organizers of this race put on an effortless event. I was able to register online, and received frequent email updates and reminders about the event - and then the packet pickup was smooth and easy. There is an EXPO at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center as well as a pre-race dinner - what a wonderful location!! As far as the race, the support along the route was wonderful and well laid out. Each water station featured volunteers in different space costumes. After the race I enjoyed the pancake breakfast as well as the free pizza! I will do this race every year that my body allows.

The course was really beautiful, but it was a very boring marathon with barely any spectators supporting/cheering on the first 13.1 miles. You run along the river and beautiful homes north 6.5 miles then turn around on the same road and head south. The second half of the full runs south 6.5, back 6.5. Although the course was pretty, it was extremely boring. There were spectators but they were few and far between on the north end, which made it very lonely to run. The marathoners were spaced out too since it was a small race. It was so boring running the same route and without the energy from the spectators. I've run 15 marathons and about gave up at 11 miles out of boredom. It was hard to stay motivated and this was one of my worst runs despite having great training. The finish was nice but lots of turns on a narrow brick path, which made it difficult to really pick the pace up. I was worried I would trip on the bricks! The organization was good, and the volunteers were great. It's just such a small race that out-and-back makes it really difficult to stay motivated without a lot of spectators. I wouldn't mind doing the half but never again would I do the full.

This is a "must do" half marathon. Very scenic course along the water. Mostly flat course with just small rolling hills. I will be back!

Beautiful waterfront course with slight rolling hills perfect for fast times. This is a perfect course for a PR. There were plenty of volunteers and water stops along the course and everyone was very supportive of the runners. Thanks to the Running Zone for putting on a great and organized race!

Great choice for checking off Florida: Pros: 1. Excellent medal and tech shirt - really colorful design and size. They even give you a beach towel. 2. They split off half-marathoners about 500 feet into the race so you don't have the congestion. I wish every marathon did this! Marathoners run out-and-back north before doing the half-marathoner's out-and-back south course, so even slower marathoners get to see other runners instead of doing that lonely 13-mile trek. 3. Scenic, relatively flat course. Weather was perfect, with a nice breeze coming off of the river. Beautiful oceanside view and many scenic homes to keep things interesting. 4. Aid stations - many had GU and the attendants dressed in space themes (Jedis, Darth Vader, stormtroopers, I Dream of Jeanie, Avatar, etc.) - every 2 miles. 5. Nice finish area going halfway around a circle with finishers lounging around on the inside and a big screen showing finishers. Plenty of food. 6. There was a $10 discount for Marathon Maniacs.

The Space Coast Marathon is a great race with nice course and fantastic organisation. The split course with the marathoners going north while the halfers went south was great so we weren't running in a crowd. Wish all races did this. Not many spectators (which is no big deal) but what ones were out were great. I gave 4 stars for race organization only due to some of the aid stations mostly in the second half of the race. The second half of the marathon is run on the half marathon course, so I don't know if the volunteers were tired of handing cups out or what. Some stations needed more people as the ones there were not getting cups out. Had to grab cups off the table a couple times even though there was only a handful of runners. Some stations needed to fill the cups more. Other than that, the course was great. Even though it was 2 out-and-backs, there were enough small elevation changes and the road was quite curvy to keep from not getting boring. Awards were the coolest; I got a nice, framed photo of the space shuttle for my age group placing. Nice medal as well and I love getting a towel instead of a mylar blanket at the finish. Plenty of food and friendly people.

This was a great race. The start is in downtown Cocoa, which is a charming town square that is beautifully lit up in the early morning with lights in the trees. When the large video of the shuttle takes off, the race begins. The entire route is by the river, and the scenery is really pretty. Some runners even saw a few dolphins. The crews are friendly and dressed in space suits, handing out Gatorade and water at every mile with a smile. The best part of the course is the finish, but in this race it is extra special because you get a real beach towel, nice medal, and a large egg, sausage, and pancake breakfast. The price is right and the scenery can't be beat. I've done some large races like Chicago and Washington, and I enjoyed this smaller race just as much.

This is a great marathon to do for the first time. The race is right along the water. I saw dolphins in the water at about mile 8. Gatorade/Water/GUs were at nearly every mile. The constant access to porta-potties along the route meant that the wait was never more than 30 seconds (timed it). The only challenge about this course is that, when you start the second half, you must pass the finish line. It tests your dedication. However, it joins the half marathon course and so more spectators are available. I would do this race again because the medal and seeing dolphins was worth it.

My favorite marathon so far. Pasta dinner, pace groups, scenic view of the Banana River, an astronaut theme, and one guy race walked on stilts! Great food afterward - a complete breakfast. Parking was free and close. Early start for weather. One problem is the finishing area, which circles around in a small park and makes it hard to see the actual finish.