26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer - Race Reviews

Run this race for the cause, and for the local atmosphere. The entire area shows up out to support the race, and from the start, you are showered in pink and applauded by spectators. It's a 26.2 mile party. I was overwhelmed by the support, and the kindness of volunteers. It was warm, and there were plenty of opportunities to get water and sponges , plus some ice pops and cold beer. Everyone was happy to be out, and Donna is an inspiration. I did the 10K the day prior and it was a treat lining up with Joan Benoit Samuelson at the start. I enjoyed my stay in Jacksonville. I spent a few days escaping from the cold northeast and enjoyed the beaches and restaurants. I loved Neptune Beach. People in the area were friendly and helpful. My only criticism involved transportation to and from the Expo: I opted to take the shuttle rather than drive, thinking it'd be easier. However, it was difficult to find and the volunteers had not been informed where to direct runners. If I do it again, I would drive. Otherwise, I had a wonderful weekend and highly recommend this race.

Since this marathon raises funds for a noble cause, it deserves good organization so that it does not become a "fundraiser race," which appears to be happening. I had run a few St. Jude marathons and enjoyed them, but, when it became a fundraiser a few years ago, I found another. I noticed that in this marathon, despite significant advertising, there were about 150 fewer finishers this year. Perhaps my comments will help reverse that trend. This was marathon #85 for me - all within the last 13 years, which gives me a good perspective on what a marathoner looks for in a race. First, the good: a great cause, pink wet sponges and little cold towels in the final miles, ample aid stations, fun neighborhoods - all in pink, flat course, standard expo, and large mile markers. Joan Benoit, the champion of the first women's Olympic marathon, was a guest, though I didn't know she was coming until, by luck, I stumbled upon her after I finished. I felt bad for her since no one else seemed to know who she was. What a thrill to meet her! Shame that she wasn't highlighted. What a great champion! Now, how to improve. Marathon officials stated, several days in advance, that there would be a "green" weather advisory, which means good weather. No way. Not with a starting temperature around 68 with humidity for a heat index in the low 70s. Fortunately the fog kept the sun blocked for a few hours. As the race progressed, the temps rose well into the 70s with the heat index into the 80s. By noon the temperature was 84. Over 100 runners, many of them overweight, took more than six hours to finish. Many took over seven hours. When the heat index gets into the 90s - as it was when these folks were running - that's a recipe for a heart attack or stroke in an obese person doing an extreme athletic event. Nothing was said about this. Hopefully there were no incidents. When I tried to find the results and asked several volunteers, no one knew where they were. No sheets were posted. No signs. Finally I found someone looking at his smart phone and announcing age bracket winners. For a race this small, posting results every half hour is fairly easy and is runner friendly. Someone told me that I should look on my phone for the results. But I try to minimize weight, as many do, during a marathon. Posting results right away is runner-friendly, especially in hot temps. Then, where was the shuttle bus to take runners back to the parking lot at the start? No signs. And, after asking six volunteers, I finally found directions. Solution to this? Start and finish the race at the Players Club parking lot - where the race started this year. I talked with a local who said that it used to start and finish at the Mayo Clinic, but the parking lot was too small. So, if the start and finish are together, there's no need for a bus and that money saved could be used for more breast cancer research. It's also a runner-friendly attraction that we marathoners look at when making a decision to enter.By the way, the shuttle took forever to get back to where we parked because of traffic gridlock. The food. What food? I didn't see any, though that doesn't matter much to me since I don't have much appetite after a marathon. It does matter to others, though. Some simple PB&J bagels, tubs of ice cold Gatorade or Powerade, etc. would have been great. And the age bracket prize - which organizers told me would be an engraved plaque when I was looking into this marathon - came in the mail about two months after the marathon - a two-inch cloth patch. We give out small Lucite trophies at our little 5K. I'd like to run this one again, but I won't if there aren't some changes. I noted that there's one in nearby Gainesville the following weekend.

The course is very scenic until the last 5 miles. But by then, who cares? Organization is wonderful. Spectators made the event feel like a 20 mile block party. There's ample parking at the start and free shuttle service from the finish back to the start. This was my first marathon with large spectator support, and it makes a huge difference in performance. Once the crowds thinned (after about mile 20), I could feel the lack of energy. Organization is superb! Plenty of water, gels, food, etc., along the course. Volunteers are plenty and awesome. The elevation chart doesn't show a significant bridge at about mile 24. Not the fault of the organizers, no one's GPS recorded elevation going over the bridge. I only mention it so you can be prepared for it. You'll peak the bridge just after finishing mile 25. Good news is the rest is downhill. Weather can by iffy since this is Florida, so pack for cold, warm and hot weather if you can. Overall a great experience and a race I look forward to running again. Best of luck!

Organization, spectators, refreshments (including free scrambled eggs, Ibuprofen, sunscreen, etc. at the start, three kinds of hot soup at the end), atmosphere, ... excellent!!! If they could only get rid of the two big bridges at the end ... A special feature is the emphasis on the cancer charity by organizers, spectators, etc. Instead of 'go' the spectators usually encourage you with 'thanks for running'. I wish other big events did this, starting with Olympics. Could not every one donate a part of the proceeds to a good cause? The event is smallish, under 1,000 for marathon and over 1,000 for 5 k (I have not checked the other races), but I did not miss the running crowds getting in my way. Lots of spectators all the way, very nice course through pleasant mostly partially wooded residential areas, coolish temperature at the start (around 3 C, I think).

I chose this over Ft Lauderdale due to the cause but was concerned with the logistics because the airport is up north, the expo in the city, host hotel on the beach, and race starts farther south. That being said, the race is so well organized it all worked out smoothly. The runners' village had UPS baggage check with no lines. There were ample port a potties, water and heaters as you waited. Out of 8 different marathons I've run this was the most beautiful course. Tree lined streets, beachside communities, pristine and pretty. Yards were all decorated and spectators provided ample support with food, bubbles, signs and cheers. There are many turns along the course but are marked with highly visible signs and so are the mile markers. Plenty of aid stations and they give out Gu. Galloway pacers if you choose to run with them. The on ramp in the last few miles I heard was steep but to my surprise was the long uphill bridge. It slowed my pace but I found it to be symbolic of the struggle to fight breast cancer and pushed through. The finish goes downhill initially and I had to weave through some walkers since there is a simultaneous half. There is a relay so those runners would pass me but I fed off their speed and it helped my pace. Early on miles 4-6 were quite windy but after that it wasn't an issue. The weather this year otherwise was perfect, sunny and 40-60. Finishers' village was excellent with free hot dogs, beer, donuts and a massage tent. The bus to the start was readily available. Medals are gorgeous. I highly recommend this race.

I will never forget Jacksonville the community spirit helped me endure the race set before me (Hebrew12:1&2)the joy especially after the 21st mile..so much love thrown out to me..Thank you all esp. for the woman with the woven blanket of her daughter-in-law sitting on a chair next to her watching the parade of hope in support of finishing breast cancer, to the woman who walked some of the road with me for encouragment, for the guy who yelled I was a kaleidoscope of power (my outfit was pretty crazy pink#862), for the woman who said its ok that I didnt keep pace with my Galloway group because there are people behind me right now that want to be where I am now. I am new to 26.2 but I saw my time at finish was 6:50hr but now the results say I was 7:15hr.. would be nice to have a photo at my finish to include the timeclock and the finish gate in a photo for keepsake & for evidence of me finishing under 7 hrs.lol.. just this 26.2 time is going to stay with me for a long time & hope to keep in under 7hr as I saw it finish, but it is all good & if I ever attempt 26.2 I am running 26.2 with Donna & Jacksonville!

I loved this race. The course is mostly flat, I'll get to why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 later. It runs through neighborhoods along the beach. Although only 1000 people ran the full (they also have a half marathon), the community comes out in force to cheer on the runners. The neighbors decorate their houses. They set up bubble machines. The offer oranges, food, water. The race directors write inspirational things on the road in chalk all along the course. Part of the course is on the beach, but the sand is packed hard - it is a nice break from the pavement. There were many water stops on the course. Prior to the start of the race, they have a warming tent and a tent with food and water and many many port-a-potties. The last 4 miles of the course are brutal. At that point the course moves inland along a highway. there is a ramp that is heavily slanted to one side. At mile 25 there is a bridge (hill) that is pretty steep. I found this tough on my very tired legs. I would encourage anyone to run this race despite the difficult end. One thing to note, the host hotel was on the beach and not close to the start or the finish. They wouldnt give me a late checkout that was late enough for me to shower after the race. 't was expensive and I don't think it was worth the money. I found out later that there were hotels adjacent to the finish line and shuttle bus transportation from there to the start.

Running through beachside neighborhoods and small coastal downtown areas all decked out in pink with fans, spectators, breast cancer survivors, musicians, dj's, loud people with stereos, costumed people, did I mention how much pink there was??, food offerings, and everyone happy to have you there running in their race, blocking up traffic in their town, to honor their local celebrity and hero (Donna Deegan) was a pleasant (and humbling) surprise. Made the 26.2 miles go by fast (except the bridge at the last two miles, but that is necessary if you are going to get across the intercoastal to the finish area). Port-o-potties were abundant and conveniently located at start area, finish area and throughout the course, water/aid stations were right where you needed them, course was well marked between the half and full, the beach was beautiful, the back part of the course (marathon only) wound itself through beautiful oak lined areas, the Galloway pacing groups were a huge bonus, the medals were fully engraved and gorgeous (no more stickers), and the pre-hype leading up to race day got you excited to be racing in this wonderful event. I can't say anything about runner's village post race because the one thing race organizers can't control is the Florida weather. They had to close the course at about hour 6 due to tornadoes and lightening near the event. I ran the best (ok, my only) last 6 miles of a marathon EVER to beat the weather. I did get my medal, my knees got iced, and my whole family got free burgers before runner's village was completely shut down. My understanding is that they did a good job getting everyone off the course using busses and everyone still got their medals as they moved the pertinent stuff inside the Mayo Center where it was dry and safe. I will race this again next year and hope for better weather.

This was my 107th marathon, and my 4th Donna. It has always been one of my favorite marathons. This year at mile 22.5, I was asked to board a bus for the finish. I opted instead to finish unofficially by running back to the start. I was with a first timer who had trained and driven hundreds of miles to participate. We did the prescribed 26.2 miles, finishing after after the race was called for a summer rainstorm with some lightning. I have participated in several marathons in far worse storms that were not called off. Participating in Marathons is an extreme sport. We know there are dangers, the least of which is lightning. A more appropriate response would have been to have the buses for those who chose to quit because of the weather, but leave the course open for those who want to continue at their own risk. The lightning stopped a few minutes after she called the race. I think this was a knee jerk reaction that ruined the race for hundreds of participants who came from as far away as California.

This was my 5 th year running this race. Again this year this is the most organized well run race i have ever run. Pro: Very organized from start to finish. This is a very runner friendly race. Attention to every detail from start to finish. The corrals in the parking lot made the line up much less chaotic. Again this year tremendous crowd support. It feels like the whole city of Jacksonville comes out to support and thank the runners. Southern hospitality was at its best today. People had signs up in memory of their loved ones who had breast cancer. This is a very emotional event. At mile nine there was a sign stating Save the hooters made us both laugh. The gator aid and water were plentiful at every stop. The volunteers were cheery and kind Loved the GU we got Gu twice for the half marathon which was nice. My favorite part of the run is running on the beach again this year it was as beautiful as ever Con Need better parking for spectators at the Mayo clinic. Or better organization of the spectator parking. Our daughter picked us up and many of the spectators trying to get to the Mayo to see the runners had trouble finding parking.. I would have liked to have the busses from UNF to the start. We are from Buffalo NY and not familiar with this area. Our son in law drove us to the start but it seems pretty confusing on how to get there from the North side of the city. Over all this is an awesome event and the most organized event i have ever run..

This is was my fourth year running this race. Everything about this race is top notch. From the expo right through the entire race this is a well run race. It is such an emotional event, the support for breast cancer is amazing. Every year that i have run this i see someone with a picture of a relative who died from breast cancer on their shirt. And others who are survivors and out there because they survived this terrible illness. This race is much more than just running it is about getting the message out there about breast cancer and conquering this terrible disease. There is tremendous crowd support.

It was cold in the morning but they were ready for it with heaters near the bag drop and heated tents closer to the start line. The new start location apparently made for a better parking situation compared to last year but the race start still was delayed 30 minutes. I chose to arrive early as instructed and so avoided the anxiety of cutting it close. The host hotels were a little pricey; staying a little further out can work but requires some planning as one of the main roads closes on race morning because it is a part of the course. It is important to plan for a longer than expected bus ride back to the start for the same reason. The wind on the beach was awful even though running on the beach was not; there were only a couple of 'soft'steps at each end. There were a lot of turns in the second half and it was more inland so the tailwind part of the race didn't really materialize. Save something for the last couple of miles or so as the course finishes up an exit ramp and over an arching bridge (also into the wind on this day). Crowd support was pretty good and the expo was decent. Nice shirt, solid medal (okay fine, it is a sticker with the date -- wouldn't have even noticed that were it not for the first two whiney reviewers). This race was well organized and had a big race feel even though there were only ~1,500 marathons finishers and race is in its 6th year. There are a lot of choices for Florida but this one is definitely worth considering.

Great cause and great location, but the number of participants has gone down the last three years. Organizers need to avoid the temptation to justify all the logistics problems by waving the cancer banner and touting 'the cause' - otherwise doomed to become a niche race that only folks with a strong tie to breast cancer will do - ONCE. If you ran in 2013 don't expect to see a different medal if you return in 2014, they just stick a different date on the front. Not what you would expect from a premiere race (or a race that wants that status).

Starting with huge traffic problems, the start was late. At the startline with porta-johns far away, some used the bushes & trees not far away. HAVE THEM AT THE STARTING LINE. When the course splits off, have it where theres no station. Too much yelling and music at stations leads to confusion about who goes where. And I think the finisher metal should NOT have important info like the city and date on a sticker that does NOT fit the medal and is hanging off. HAVE IT CAST INTO THE MEDAL LIKE OTHER MARATHONS.

Everything else was great, including the best expo I've seen. Out at 4:30am in freezing weather, waiting for a shuttle that came after an hour of waiting. It was filled quickly and I had to wait for the next shuttle. This is too stressful and uncomfortable a process for runners to endure. Many arrived late to the starting line, and they even had to hold the marathon start. Unacceptable conditions for such a great cause, course and otherwise well-organized marathon.

This was my 2nd time running the full marathon. Love the cause, the course, the fan and volunteer support, plenty of fluids and gels, the whole town of Jacksonville comes out and cheers. They decorate their homes, they hold parties, they serve runners food and drinks, it's wonderful. As a Galloway runner, you can not ask for a better marathon to run. The pacers and most of the runners are Galloway so you can leave your interval timer at home. That said, all of this is for nothing if you can not get to the race due to horrendous transportation issues. I stayed at a host hotel and was outside by 4:30am with no bus!! 10 minutes until race start and still no buses! The poor hotel manager was taking runners in his car and many runners were calling for taxis! So upsetting when you take all of the right steps to be on time. There is NO PARKING anywhere near the start of the race. You are FORCED to use a shuttle!! I did not make it to the race until after it had started, had to run to the start, did not get with my pacer, and worse thing was unable to run with my fellow Galloway friends. Supposedly, the race director went with a new group, because the previous year had been bad too!!! Obviously, there needs to be a fix and it may not be the bus companies fault. There is no cap on this race, so thousands of additional runners can sign up for this race at the expo and how can a bus charter company handle that??!! I know Donna does not want to cut off additional runners because that means less money to go toward Breast Cancer research, but a decision needs to be made about whether the extra money is worth upsetting the race experience for so many others. The race director really should come onto this site to address the experience that was had by so many runners that have commented before me. This site is the main site used to help most of the world decide what marathons they want to run, so i think a statement needs to be made or I fear many will not want to run this race. And aside from transportation this could be a fantastic race.

Nothing like getting to the start of a marathon 10 minutes after the start. What a cluster... What the heck was that all about? Seems like there was a major communication breakdown. Great course with such good people spectating in this decorated neighborhoods... nice and flat until the end. I love the shirt and the bag. I agree that the running pink ribbon logo needs some updating. Overall, the vibe of this race saved the day and the Sister Hazel concert at the post race party was awesome. I loved it.

I've participated in this race all 5 years- two years in the half and three years as a relay runner. (Knees!) The complaints about the bus transportation are spot-on. I'm surprised that the organizers have not commented- The buses have been a greater or lesser issue for the prior 4 years. 2012 was the first year of a new bus company- and hopefully the last. It seems to me that having the start/finish at the Mayo campus will ensure that transportation will be a problem as long as the race exists. I really think the start/finish needs to be moved. I was also disappointed to learn that after having traveled to JAX from New England for this race for all 5 years, that I wasn't considered a 'streaker.' The race has great local and fan support even in the cold weather. The course is very nice except for the bridge with it's banking (Great for cars, awful for runners.) The shirt and medal designs could be updated. The vibe and energy of the race is great as is the cause. I have very mixed feelings on whether I'll be back in the future- It's a considerable investment to travel that far- I want to be sure I can get to the start line before the gun!

Great cause. With 30 degree temperature at the start- stood outside for more than an hour, shaking like a leaf, waiting for the shuttle. Very close to going back to my room. Very little food at the end. Lots of GU offered during the race. Poorly organized for the runners.

This is the third year I have done this race. It is an amazing,well organized, emotional event. The organization has gotten better and better with each consecutive year. I have done 6 marathons and 24 halves and by far this is my favorite event. The crowd support is phenomenal. All along the course people were thanking us for running for breast cancer. I will do this race every year for as long as i can run. Love this race <3

Despite almost not getting to the start line on time, this was my fifth year at this race. The desire of the organizers to make this race special extends to the volunteers and spectators. Each runner is made to feel special. The only course problem is the last couple of miles on the causeway.

Stayed at the Best Western Southpoint one of the bus shuuttle stops. I was in the lobby at 4:50am,and I didn't board my bus until 6:40am.That put me at the start 20 minutes late!Busues ran late and there were simply not enough buses to handle the volume of runners.For this to become the world class event it hopes to be,these transportation issues need to be resolved. In spite of the transportation glitches, the course and volunteer/spectator support were first class. Running for this powerful cause was emotional and inspirational for me.I will be back!

The Good: Very different vibe than other marathons given the cause Fun and scenic course Good crowd support Best port-a-potty situation of any race I've ever run Most GU stops of any race I've run Nice post party in finish area Unique finisher's medal Pricey: but proceeds go to charity The Bad: Annoyingly- kitschy Abysmal logistics (horror stories about shuttles are not exaggerated) Hit-or-miss weather (never thought Florida would be the coldest of my 15 states) Tough course (3 miles on sand, and 1 mile uphill finish) Narrow streets crowded with walkers (countless 300+ pound gorilla women wearing pink tu-tus) Post-race food is sub-par Cheap tech race shirt

This is the fifth year of my participation in this marathon. Problems with buses from the Omni hotel and no race official at the hotel caused us to take a cab and get to the start with little time to spare. This race brings out the best in participants , spectators and volunteers . The cold weather kept the crowds down but not their enthusiasm. If it was not for the problems with the buses I would say the organizers did a great job. The only complaint about the course is the long causeway back to finish line, hard to find level surface to run on.

It's really too bad that a race with SO much local support and a great cause could be plagued by such terrible logistics. Mayo Clinic certainly benefits from the fundraising, but I question whether starting the race at their remote location really makes sense. With no ability to park at the clinic and no public transit, you'll be taking one of the chartered buses, and this year, those were few and far between. We waited 45 minutes in the cold on distant Jax Beach for a bus that arrived just before the start. Others weren't so lucky. Transit problems will break this race unless action is taken. That said, this race is a bit schizophrenic. Great fan support and an amazing beachfront course, but mostly after you leave Mayo and cross the Intracoastal. Jax Beach, Neptune, and Atlantic Beach were all a pleasure. Scenic, small beach streets, a great three miles on a hard packed beach (more like a track surface than loose sand), fans that were out partying with you early in the morning even on the coldest of mornings (32F). More than enough aid stations, at least four with gels. And then there's the bridge back over the Intracoastal. Nasty hill up the bridge from mile 23+ to 25. Even on a cold windy day on a highway bridge, the fans came out. Big plus. This was my Florida race, and if I knew the organizers had a plan to address the bus problem, I'd highly recommend it to others. But the organizers need to present a strong solution to the transit problem before I'd do this one again.

Arrived at 450am to catch a shuttle from the beach at the Comfort Inn for buses that were supposed to come every 30 minutes. It took until after 600am for the first bus to arrive and by the time I got on the third bus it was already 10 minutes before the start of the race. Needless to say, I started the race frantically trying to get to the starting line in time and still was late and therefore the first five miles was weaving in and out of slower runners; and then if this was not bad enough, when the marathon course and the half marathon course merge then had to do the same again as most were walking; and fortunately I was not afraid to yell track many times. On the plus side, the race has many supportive fans; but please in the future plan for more buses I have heard that this was a problem in the past and also put cones out for marathoners to run the last part of the race without having to weave in and out of the half marathon walkers.

First of all, it's for a great cause and the atmosphere is electric! The crowds are very supportive and the course has some good variety. Sure...it's challenging,but that's why alot of us run! I've run it every year and had some slower times and had a BQ time as well. So I would say it's an honest test of your fitness level!

This was our first half marathon and by far the best race we've ever run in! So well organized (you will never want for a portapotty), the best fan support around, and the cause makes the atmosphere uplifting! We will never miss this race for as long as we are able to run and/or walk and definitely plan on doing the full marathon.

I considered running other events for my FL marathon but chose this one based on comments made here and the cause it represents. The Jacksonville community should be proud of the way they support the runners and breast cancer survivors... it seemed like the entire course was lined with pink ribbons, banners, and signs. Running on Jax Beach was fun, and in spite of the cold temps at the start, the conditions were great. The starting line announcers were wildly enthusiastic, and all the volunteers did a fantastic job. It would be nice if slower runners would refrain from packing the front of the starting line I must have had to weave thru two thousand people in the first 3 miles to get to my pace group. And the course is flat but not easy because of all the turns and bridge at the start/finish. But the best part of the run is spectator support- the chick with the sign 'you can die at the finish line' on the bridge before the end was a classic. Overall this was a great FL marathon to run in February.

I was thrilled with this marathon. I understand other commentor's issues regarding the course not being designed for time, but what I found great about the course was the variety. You begin and end by running over an intracoastal river/marsh, there are a few miles on the beach, there are miles through quaint beach neighborhoods, some through a country club. Good variety and, more importantly, great fans everywhere except miles 1-3 and 23-26 (which are highway/bridge). Unbelievable fans. Bill Rodger's said the atmospheric was electric 'like Boston.' One more point: Many marathons have issues with finish areas/organization. While this race had some busing issues, the finish area was well organized with ample space, food (with little lines), and bands (in addition to a lot of bands on the course). Overall, I loved it.

I live here in Jax. This marathon is NOT for anyone trying to run fast. The course is unimaginative; one huge out and back. Marathoners will spend the last 7 miles weaving through the 1000 walkers in the back of the 1/2 marathon. The event is not organized by serious, experienced runners. The main local running and race event organizers (1stPlaceSprots and JaxRunCo) have been repeatedly scoffed at when they offer suggestions to make the marathon more race appropriate. i.e. removing the 5mile beach stretch of the course. Because the big constraint is that organizers need to start and finish at the MAYO Clinic (God Bless their little hearts), you run a major highway-bridge over a WIDE (1mile) section of the inter-coastal...TWICE! The second time is the 25th mile! There is zero shade and even in Feb, that FL sun can zap you. The good local runners in NE Florida avoid this race like the plague. Don't be duped. Listen, I know it's the National Breast Cancer Marathon. I get it. Run for someone you love. Please send in a supportive donation. I guarantee everyone that posts how great the race is, is a lovely, caring, awesome lady. I love them for their hearts and efforts. But please DO NOT expect this to be fast. The entire event is a fund raiser disguised as a road race. Serious marathoners shouldn't fool themselves.

50% of the course is either highway or beach. Neither are a lot of fun. The course also ruins the fan support because no fans can get out on the highway for the last few miles when you really need them. I'd say write a check to the ACS and find another race.

I've run 13 marathons, and I walked the half marathon for this event with my sister, who is a breast cancer survivor. The event is very inspirational and the course is beautiful. I highly recommend this event for people who are not competitive about their marathon results. However, if you are such a competitive person, there are things about this event you should know. First, both the full- and half-marathon courses are out-and-back, and a lot of the people doing the half are walking. What this means is that if you are a fast full runner, you will have to cut through throngs of half walkers in the last few miles of the race. I saw a path cleared for the race leader, but even the elites right behind him had to keep maneuvering around walkers because there was no running-only lane cleared for them. Second, the water stations need work. Some were water only. Some were water and Gatorade, but it wasn't clear at what point in the water station they were serving water versus Gatorade. If I were running this as a full for time, I can't see how I could have navigated this to get the Gatorade I needed without losing time. I highly recommend this race as a fun event, but not for competitive purposes.

The race was great from start to finish. The fact that Donna runs with you just makes it that much better. The people along the course were very good at saying the right things at the right time. The beach part was very well done. The volunteers and other involved with the race were some of the best ever! Only two negatives: not enough buses from the beach - early morning should be for runners only. Also, the last two miles are UPHILL over a bridge. At mile 24 the last thing you need is to run uphill.

Overall I enjoyed the race and echo many of the prior comments regarding the organization, execution, and course support. The spectators were great, especially the kids! They were thoroughly engaged and I felt compelled to high-five them, take their oranges/bananas, and thank them individually (none of which I'm typically prone to do). I didn't have any logistical issues with the bus ride to or from, but I don't really like having to ride buses in both directions. The "to" part wasn't horrible but the "back" portion sucked. The course has some good points... like the beach and the shady neighborhood around the halfway point. That being said, it has A LOT of turns. The overpass at mile one and mile twenty-five is also unfortunate. It's a non-issue on the way out, but holy smokes, it's a killer on the way back. JAX Airport was easy to get into and out of. Several from our group flew in and out in 23 hours and 55 minutes, so we put that to the test. If you're looking to do a race in Florida, this is a good one.

This was my first marathon and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Flat, scenic course, and amazing crowd support. Can't beat running 2 miles on the beach. 100% of the proceeds are donated to funding breast cancer research at the Mayo Clinic.

The race weekend kicked off with lots of free goodies at the expo. Runner's village was well stocked with plenty of food and port-a-potties. They herded runners to the starting corrals unnecessarily early, leaving runners standing around for almost an hour. Not crazy about courses that overlap but the spectators were so incredibly enthusiastic that I barely noticed running the same sections on the way back. Didn't have timed checkpoints, which makes it very friendly to first-time marathoners or the slower runners/walkers. It was relatively flat with the exception of the bridge on mile 25. Finisher's village had enough free beer to reward even the last finisher. All in all, one of the best events!