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Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run Runner Comments
Back to Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 3.5
Number of comments: 85 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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G. S. from Bradenton, Florida
(3/5/2008)
"Improvements made to make a good event better" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Runs
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 My third year running the marathon. Noticeable changes for the better. The new shirt and fabric is a big improvement. I feel the change in course direction was a good move to facilitate a smoother flow. More water stops vs. '07, with cheerful, friendly volunteers. However, some restrictions to spectators in the last 1/4 mile would have been good. All in all, a great race that's getting better.... The organizers are recognizing opportunity for improvement and taking action. I'll be back and would recommend to others. | |
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H. V. from Orlando, FL
(3/4/2008)
"What a great race!" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran the 1/2. There are so many great things about this race! - Early start time of 6:00 a.m. Getting several miles in before the heat of the sun was very welcome! - The course itself was great. Flat except for the bridge crossing twice. Great views the whole way, including the water and some beautiful neighborhoods - Pacers for the half marathon as well as the full. A nice touch that is rarely seen. - great food at the finish (bagels with peanut butter or cream cheese, muffins, smoothies, etc.) Areas to improve: - ??? My only other comment is that my Garmin, which is always very, very accurate, showed that I ran 13.65 miles. Either the course was a bit long, or my Garmin had a bad day. Will be back next year! | |
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K. S. from Chicago, IL
(3/4/2008)
"Well-organized, low-stress race" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I participated in the Grouper 1/2 Marathon. For unpredictable Florida temps, I loved the early start time. It also is a fun mix to run in the dark for a part of the race and the light. One thing to note: It is pretty dark in some parts of the course in the early miles. There were some traffic cones set up in the middle of course in the early miles to denote uneven terrain. Unfortunately, some people did not see them and tripped over them. I heard a large thud behind me around mile 2 or 3. Maybe some flashing cones would help with this. I wore my Garmin for the race and it showed the half marathon to be 13.3 miles. I checked with some others wearing Garmins, and they seemed to have around the same distance. Other than the items noted above... it was a great race course, and a well organized operation. There were very supportive spectators on the course. The expo was nothing to write home about (race day packet pick up would be helpful). The race had nice medals and good looking dry-fit souvenir shirts. I would consider doing this race again. | |
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Howard McLaren from Savannah, GA
(3/4/2008)
"Attractive location with subtle flaws" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 An easy-to-read constructive criticism bullet list: * Start area was badly organized - safety was jeopardized due to lack of adequate lighting. No horn start; just some weird noise, which confused many runners. We just seemed to surge forward until it occurred to some of us the race had actually started! * Lack of trash cans - bag check operated almost in the dark! * Once the race started it became very apparent some bozo had placed plastic cones down the center of the roadway causing people to trip and stumble in the dark. VERY DANGEROUS!! * Additionally, the back streets were littered with speed bumps and some bad potholes. Again, dangerous in the dark. * Spectators were in short supply. I heard one woman cheer. Police motorcycles seemed to enjoy hitting their annoying (and deafening) horns for some bizarre reason known only to them. * Half-marathon turnaround under the Ringling Bridge is way too tricky. Why not run farther along the causeway then turn around? * Water and Gatorade stations had no GU. Some of the stations were chaotic. * Food was very good but way too close to the finish line (and before chip removal). * Lots of friendly helpers. * Parking at Dolphin Aviation was a free-for-all. Helpers were only armed with pencil thin flashlights and simply gave up. Many cars were two or three deep with no hope of getting out. Watch crossing this field in the dark; it's full of deep ruts just waiting to take out an ankle (or your car suspension - or both). * Medals were great! T-shirts were great! Course scenery was great! Expo disappointing. * Overall, a nice, pleasant event - albeit somewhat expensive for the lack of organization and amenities. * I ran a PR * Will be back next year. | |
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O. G. from Sarasota
(3/3/2008)
"Fine-Tuning Would Make This A Great Marathon" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Third time I have run the half marathon. Overall, a good event but needs a little more detail to make it great. Consensus was that the course was long by up to .5 mile. Final road to the finish line was used by spectators/strollers, etc. This needs to be cordoned off for runners only. Bizarre placement of food tent - immediately after the finish line prior to the chip removal area. I will return next year for sure. | |
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E. L. from New York City
(3/3/2008)
"Great Race!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a great course and very well organized race. The people are great, the course is fast and the scenery is a big plus! Good race for veteran marathoners who are looking to escape the crowds and hassle of the big races and just run a marathon for the pure pleasure of running a marathon. I expect to make this an annual event! | |
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Bill (slow twin) Zulas from Clearwater, Florida
(3/3/2008)
"Fantastic Event" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Runs
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Everything this year was great. Small expo with interesting vendors. Good list of speakers with informative topics. Packet pick up went flawlessly and quickly. Race morning was organized, course was well marked, and volunteers were the best. They changed the course a bit, plus added 2 aid stations. This was done because of runner feedback from last year's race. An amazing race director that not only listens to the runners, but cares enough to make this a first-class event. An excellent, fun marathon. | |
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B. P. from Florida
(3/3/2008)
"Too many turns" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Ran the half and found my experience mixed. While running near water is always a wonderful experience, this course has too many switchback turns under the bridge and winding turns through neighborhoods. Also, I appreciate ANY and ALL volunteers at races, but this race had people on bicycles riding towards me during the second half and while they were polite, they didn't always yield and several times I had to move left so they could pass. Finally, I was not crazy about the 6 a.m. start time that kept me in the dark for 45 minutes or more dodging orange cones at the last second. Not sure if I will repeat this race next year. | |
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S. K. from Chicago, IL
(3/3/2008)
"Very well done event!" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I did the half. It was my 10th half over the last 3 years, along with 3 fulls. The organization, course and volunteers were outstanding. There may have been more volunteers than runners. Traffic control was outstanding. Loved everything about this one. The Ringling grounds, which host the start and finish, were beautiful. The out-and-back over the Ringling Causeway was breathtaking. The fans that were out were enthusiastic. A very well done smaller race. I'd heartily recommend this one. | |
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R. S. from Florida, USA
(3/3/2008)
"DANGEROUS 1st 3 MILES" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Sarasota Marathon The Grouper Run
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I have run over 40 full and half marathons and approximately 200 road races in total, so I am not a newcomer at this. The race looked like it was going to be very well organized. The expo was good and the website for this 3rd year race was informative. BUT the first three miles of this race were the MOST DANGEROUS of any road race in which I have ever run. In typical Florida fashion, the race started in the dark at 6 a.m. (which was very good considering the definite strength of the sun once it rose and potential heat hazard in this part of the country) and there were lots of lights right at the start and for the corral. However within 50 yards we entered a virtual darkness with very few street lights as we wound through old, heavily-treed neighborhoods for 3 miles. The organizers also, for some inexplicable reason, had placed cones down the middle of the street, which were almost impossible to see in the darkness and with typical early-race crowding. Many runners tripped over them (or the potholes or the rippled road surface) and fell down. Making us run the first 3 miles in virtual darkness on narrow winding roads was terrible race planning. I hope that this will get fixed for 2009. Otherwise I suggest that runners bring a flashlight, increase your health insurance or find another race. A couple of other comments: Probably the fewest fans I have ever seen on a marathon course; the age group awards are better at most local 5K races; still not enough porta-potties at the start, and one very 2 miles is not enough on the course either; and the post-race affair was pretty good, although the MC needs to be told the protocol of announcing award winners. And as always, many thanks to all the super volunteers, without whom none of these races for us could ever happen. |
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