calendar icon Nov 14, 2024

Marathon Details - Space Coast Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > FL > Cocoa > Space Coast Marathon

Space Coast Marathon

Publix Space Coast Marathon & Half Marathon

location icon Cocoa, FL USA

calendar icon December 1, 2024

calendar icon http://www.spacecoastmarathon.com

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Race Details

Running Zone Foundation and Space Coast Runners welcome you to the 47th Anniversary of the Space Coast Marathon and Half-Marathon, the oldest marathon in Florida. We invite runners and walkers alike to experience one of the most beautiful waterfront courses on the east coast.

The start and finish of the race takes place in the historic and quaint Cocoa Village, just minutes away from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Since this is the celebrated 'Space Coast', our marathon and half revolve around a space theme sure to delight and energize our participants. We are extremely excited to announce the start of The Next Generation of the Big Bang Series! In 2018 we honor space Project and all those involved. The NEXT GENERATION Series that honors the NASA's Human Space Exploration Program with an awesome space medal for each program (2018 - Mercury; 2019 - Gemini; 2020 - Apollo; 2021- Space Shuttle) Participate in the 3 year Moonwalk Challenge or the 4 year Astronaut Challenge.

5-4-3-2-1! Blast off for this year's Full & Half Marathon 6:00 am start of the Space Coast Marathon!

Contact Information

Name: Denise Piercy
Address: Running Zone Foundation, Inc.
3696 N. Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32935
Phone Number:  321-751-8890
Fax Number: 321-751-8891
Email: Email the organizers

Race Organizer

A UNIQUE "SPACE" THEMED RACE!!! JOIN THE MISSION (4/6/17)


Running Zone and Space Coast Runners welcome you to the 46th Anniversary of the Space Coast Marathon, Marathon Relay and Half-Marathon, the oldest marathon in Florida. We invite runners and walkers alike to experience one of the most beautiful waterfront courses on the east coast. The start and finish of the race takes place in the historic and quaint Cocoa Village, just minutes away from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Since this is the celebrated 'Space Coast', our marathon and half revolve around a space theme sure to delight and energize our participants. 5-4-3-2-1!
The race honors the NASA's Shuttle Program with an awesome space shuttle medal for each shuttles inaugural flight, for 2017 we are honoring Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Blast off for this year's Half Marathon 6:00 am, Full Marathon 6:30 am, Marathon Relay 7:15 am start!

As part of the celebration of the Space Coast, here are some of the amenities planned this year:
All finishers receive a Space-themed Medal and a Space Certificate to recognize and commemorate their accomplishment
Start of Race Countdown with a shuttle launch on a Jumbotron
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex admission discounts to participants
Space Props along course and at finish line area
Space Themed Water/Aid Stations all along course
Volunteers in NASA-like uniforms and hats
"Space" Photo opportunity with astronauts walking around the pre-race dinner and race site.
A chance to win a prize package to the "One Day Space Adventure Package".
Best "Space" Costume Contest!
In addition, we will have two best "Space" themed costume contests with the top two costumes winning $50 and $25 respectively. If you want to participate, please make sure that your costume is safe to others, you can see clearly, can run easily and your costume will not get too hot. There will be a costume contest after the half marathon awards presentation and another immediately after the marathon awards presentation. Any finisher of either race is eligible for either contest, but not both.
PARTICIPANT PERKS!
" Official technical (moisture wicking non cotton) long sleeved shirt
" Large Beach towels for all finishers (instead of mylar blankets)
" Pace Teams -
" This year we are serving a full Pancake and Egg breakfast and Pizza for all Finishers. BEER for participants 21 years and older!
" An awesome post-race celebration complete with food, drink and music

For more information, visit www.spacecoastmarathon.com

Runner Reviews (90)

Course Rating Course 4.5 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.7 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.6 
 
 
Number of comments: 90 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]

 

T. B. from Fort Myers FL (12/1/2019)
"Worth a visit" (about: 2019)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Space Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


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.

 

Bayou Bengal from Florida (1/9/2019)
"Great race, awful aid stations" (about: 2018)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Space Coast Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 1


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.

 

N. S. from Schaumburg, Illinois (11/27/2018)
"Great mostly flat course. Space theme - Good Kick" (about: 2018)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Space Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


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.

 

A. B. from Florida USA (4/24/2017)
"This race is awesome!!!" (about: 2016)

6-10 previous marathons | 4-5 Space Coast Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


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

 

R. H. from Florida (12/13/2016)
"Harsh Policies Take Away From Fun" (about: 2016)

1 previous marathon | 1 Space Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 5


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.

 

D. J. from Tampa, FL (12/10/2015)
"Great marathon course and well organized" (about: 2015)

11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


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.

 

Seth Elsheimer from Winter Park FL (12/3/2015)
"A former favorite but ..." (about: 2015)

50+ previous marathons | 6+ Space Coast Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 5


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.

 

A. J. from Florida (11/30/2015)
"Outstanding Volunteers" (about: 2015)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Space Coast Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 5


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.

 

C. Y. from Texas (1/9/2015)
"Great marathon" (about: 2014)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Space Coast Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 4


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.

 

J. K. from Scranton, PA (12/18/2014)
"Nice race. Worth the medal!!!!" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Space Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


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!

 

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