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Gasparilla Distance Classic Runner Comments
Back to Gasparilla Distance Classic Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 182 [displaying comments 71 to 81]
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R. H. from London, On
(10/12/2006)
"Pretty Good, If you Ignored the Weather" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Gasparilla Distance Classic
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the marathon last February and thought that overall (despite the weather complications) it was a very good experience. I found the course to be very nice; however, I didn't like it when the marathon course merged into the back side of the half marathon course. If there was a way to separate the marathoners from those in the half, it would be beneficial for that two to three mile stretch on the way out to the turnaround. I finished in around 2:50 and found that runner traffic was very thick when I merged. From a race perspective I could no longer see the runner ahead of me and it was very difficult to pick my way through the crowd. If there was something that could be done to alleviate this congestion it would be nice. The expo was very good for a smaller marathon. I liked the technical shirt and agree with some other comments regarding the stitching being rather large. However I've found it to be very usable for running so it's all good. I had great difficulty finding the awards ceremony as I received conflicting directions about where they were being held. I would recommend this races for runners of all abilities. The course is pretty much dead flat and the set up allows family to see their runners three to four times on the course if they can move quickly enough. The shirt, medal and finisher's certificates are all nicely done. In this game we are always servant to the weather, so we adjust our goals and move on. I'm still not sure how much I like the lap of the track during the race. It is a beautiful, soft surface, but it just didn't feel right. | |
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T. H. from Naples, Florida
(9/7/2006)
"Once was enough." (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Gasparilla Distance Classic
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Like others, the weather played into the overall negative experience, but the lack of contingency planning was the real problem. Waiting in the starting area for nearly 45 minutes without any information was frustrating. A single volunteer with a bullhorn could have solved the problem, but the effort simply was not there. The lack of mid-course mile markers made me question if I had taken a wrong turn and some aid stations were poorly manned. A couple streets were poorly maintained and should have been avoided. Thanks to the handful of diehards who cheered the runners on toward the end - you were appreciated. I will not be running this event in the future - there are too many well-run marathons in Florida to waste training time for this one. | |
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Troy Hamon from King Salmon, AK
(4/23/2006)
"I'd love to do it again" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Gasparilla Distance Classic
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I enjoyed this marathon thoroughly and would love to return. The course was a little bit of a maze in the middle section going through downtown. Luckily it was well-marked so it worked out fine. The organization was challenged with a serious weather front that probably created a bunch of issues they weren't entirely prepared for. With the lightning, they seriously considered cancelling the race, but I'm glad they didn't as it had moved on by race time anyway. The race itself was thoroughly enjoyable. There were some stations that did not have enough Gatorade, which was a point of irritation for many of my fellow runners. On the other hand, there were so many aid stations that I was only stopping at every other one, so it didn't seem like a big issue since it only happened at a couple. I am always intrigued by the comments regarding spectators. I haven't run in a Chicago or New York or Boston... so I'm not sure what people expect. The folks that came out to watch were very supportive, but in the rain and the wind the course was certainly not lined with people. But it had way more people than any of the races I've run before (all of them smaller), and they were fun and, for me, energizing. The course is flat and fast - I wish I'd been in shape to try for a fast time. I'd like to come back and give it a go. | |
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R. M. from Alabama
(3/13/2006)
"Try this one next year!!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Gasparilla Distance Classics
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Don't let any of the negative comments you might read about this marathon in 2006 deter you from trying it next year. The disorganization that some imagined was completely from a pretty strong weather band that rolled through early that morning. I drove through some terrible rain and yes, lightning, while on my way and was delayed because of it. I wouldn't have started on time if the race hadn't been delayed. I also heard the PA announcements so I was able to pass on the information to my fellow runners waiting towards the back. This is my third year participating in one race or another and it's starting to be a very enjoyable tradition. I ran the half this year. I love the course and the support is superb. It's big enough to feel like an event but small enough not to be too huge. The wind was really strong when I finished and a very nice volunteer practically forced a Mylar blanket on me saying that I would need it. I was so warm at the time that I hesitated but I was thanking her over and over in my mind as I was walking to my car in wet clothes and 30 mph wind gusts! Whoever you were, thank you!!!!! | |
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M. F. from Pennsylvania
(3/12/2006)
"mark this one on your calendar" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Gasparilla Distance Classic
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first Bank of America Marathon and I loved it! First off, the expo was terrific. The start of the race was a little hairy but the rest of the run was beautiful. The specatators were few in number but great in their support. Coming from the Northeast, the warm weather was incredible. THE COURSE WAS UNBELIEVABLE!! Running right next to the bay was BREATHTAKING. Water, Gatorade, and porta-lavs were plentiful. The medals and t-shirts are the best so far that I have gotten. Plus, if this was your "maiden voyage," you received a medal for that too!! WILL RUN THIS MARATHON AGAIN AND AGAIN! | |
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M. W. from Florida
(3/12/2006)
"Overall - A really nice marathon." (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Gasparilla Distance Classic
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Overall, a very good race. Like the saying goes, "Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it." I found the expo to be great. I stopped by later on Saturday afternoon; it was very easy to get in and out of the place, and there was lots of room to browse around looking at the deals. My only disappointment was that they did not have the shirt size I requested. I had registered weeks in advance, and would hope with the entry fees that race management would have this covered. I was offered a different size, and that was about it. But I will say that the shirt itself was GREAT!! Super job on the shirt! A+++! As others stated, the race start was really confusing. We were all standing in the rain waiting for the race to start. If there was a PA system in use, I didn't hear it when actually in the corals. After the delay, which we didn't know the reason behind, all of the sudden people just started running and that is how the race started. It was strange. The course was nice and flat just like described. There was one time that you ran right next to the start/finish line, which I thought was kind of a tease when you had another 12-14 miles to go. Also, later in the race when the half marathoners and marathoners merged on the same course, I heard a lot of confusion by some of the halfers thinking they were not on the right course. A sign informing everyone of what is going on at this point would be great. The chip timing was off. There is no way I ran the time stated for the half marathon time. Around mile 18-19, they call out your name and where you are from. Post-race food was great!! Super job having Columbia Restaurant serving up some excellent stuff. Plenty of water and other stuff. Just GREAT!! Fans were sparse, but what do you expect with bad weather. The support on the course was great though, for the folks out there. Plenty of water stops to be found. | |
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Robert Lopez from Seattle
(3/9/2006)
"ok course, bad weather, fun time" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Gasparilla Distance Classics
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 First off... yes, the "half" times are wrong. This is because although it is listed as our half split, I'm pretty sure the mat was around the 10-mile mark. And as a 10-mile time, it makes a lot more sense... for me at least. I enjoyed this race and the previous day's 15K + 5K a lot more than when I did the Hops Marathon in 2003. The weather was awful this year, but that happens. The course is fairly scenic, although the out-and-back between 14 and 26 can be kind of boring. But at least it is next to the water - that's nice. Tons of aid stations. And lots of golf carts going back and forth ready to aid injured/tired runners. Actually, while I think that this was a cool thing to have, the golf carts got a bit annoying too. They kept zipping by me... sometimes coming up RIGHT behind me... and sometimes made big u-turns right in front of me. Kind of distracting. But I know why they were there, and it shows that the race was being extra considerate of runners in need. Not all races are like this. A fair number of porta-potties throughout the course. Food at the end was so-so, but it worked. Good medal and really nice shirt. Alas, the patch/stitchwork is so massive that I can't use the technical fiber shirt for running... but I do like it a lot. Staying at the host hotel or another downtown hotel was very convenient. There seemed to be bad traffic issues for both the Saturday and Sunday races. I'm glad I didn't have to worry about it. | |
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B. A. from Clinton, michigan
(3/6/2006)
"This race was great, but the weather was horrible." (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Gasparilla Distance Classic
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really liked this race; it had great scenery and the crowd and fans were wonderful. The weather was okay for the first 20 miles, but when I turned the corner, the wind was horrible. It felt like I was running and not moving. I would definitely suggest that people run this marathon. | |
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P. A. from New York
(3/5/2006)
"Not My Favorite" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Gasparilla Distance Classic
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was my fourth marathon and I must say I was very disappointed. I looked forward to this race for some time because I saw all the positive comments from previous years. The expo was fine and I was encouraged. Going into race morning I knew that the weather would be a challenge but I was still excited. The 30+-minute delay at the beginning of the race with little to no information was frustrating. The day is long enough without having to stand around in the drizzle for 45 minutes before the race. After the race started, I settled in and I do think the course has PR potential. The water stops were regular and well stocked, this part was very well done. The thing that really bothered me was that there was not a single mile marker between 11 and 14 on the marathon. No halfway point marker at all! The chip time for the half split was way off. Other mile markers were clearly misplaced and one clock was off by minutes. This boggles my mind. The weather was terrible so I can understand the little fan support, but there were maybe 200-300 people at the finish and the rain had at least stopped at that point. Very disappointing. Then the water and bananas after the race were at the top of an overpass. That is just adding insult to injury. Overall, I was very disappointed. I hope they read these boards and improve in the future. | |
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J. S. from Chicago
(3/4/2006)
"half times are wrong" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I feel like the half times were wrong. Did everyone run a 1/2 PR or were the times for the half split way off? |
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