Review posted of Sunday's 26.2 With Donna race in Jacksonville, FL

[halfmarathonsnet]

Really enjoyed this one -- check it out here:

http://blog.halfmarathons.net/2011/02/14/a-magical-race-running-13-1-with-donna/

-TJ

[TeachNC]

National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer Race Report

1.  Parking.  A fleet of commercial busses transported runners from their hotels and park n ride lots.  Given the number of runners involved and Jacksonville traffic, this was really well-organized.  JAX PD was everywhere and no bottlenecks.  A

2.  Expo.  This Expo beats much larger races!  There were lots of quality vendors (evidenced by how much stuff I left with), but the highlight was the runner workshops hosted by Jeff Galloway, Hal Higdon, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Bill Rodgers, and others.  The speakers were informative and they were only too happy to stick around, sign bibs, and take pictures.  A+

3.  Water Points.  Many half marathons I need to carry some water to drink between points, but not this one.  There were so many along the route, I found myself running through most of them.  Kudos also to the race for giving out so much Gu!  Kids were holding boxes of the stuff.  I left with far more than I came.    A

4.  Course.  The course featured one stretch that ran along the JAX beach.  I was a little reluctant about the idea of running in sand, but it was a sweet soft-pack beach.  I was also a little intimidated by "the bridge".  You hit the bridge in the first two and last two miles of the race.  Going out it was nothing extraordinary; coming back I felt it.   However, the course is flat, fast, and scenic!  Three minutes less and I would have had a new PR.  A+

6.  Entertainment.  There were good bands along the route and an even better band playing on the main stage in the runner's village after the race.  Also a massage tent and lots of vendor booths to browse after the race.  A

7.  Post-race.  The advertised bling was good.  The medal and shirt were nice, and the post-race festivities were awesome.

SUMMARY:  The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer is a must-run race on your bucket list.  It’s a great race for a good cause.  This race will always have special significance for me because a woman in our weekly pace group died of cancer on Monday and we ran the race in her honor on Sunday.  [RIP Susan]
 
 

[halfmarathonsnet]

Thanks again, TeachNC! I really loved this race too -- there was such a great, friendly vibe and energy to it, helped no doubt by the fact that it's for such a great cause. So sorry to hear about your friend's passing -- I'm sure the race was even that more special because of it, and it's wonderful that you guys took part in an effort like that, so that hopefully one day no one will have to go through that.