Meredith Neale's Staging Area

I’m trying to review this race as if I wasn’t sick with a horrible stomach bug and probably shouldn’t have done it but I didn’t die so here we go!

The expo was huge and busy. It was a little hard to find parking with the traffic but could have been worse!

I had to get out and walk a mile to the star line bc we were stuck in traffic. I think it was mostly the half marathoners but we definitely thought it was going to be plenty of time to get there 45min ahead…wrong. No time for a prerace bathroom stop.

The corrals were hard to get into in the back. I was supposed to be the last of 4 marathon corrals and the half marathoners were to stop 5 minutes after us. But they’re were a ton of half marathoners all around me (supposed to be D corrals and had e-k or whatever all around). Bit of a mess there….

First half of the race was SO WEL SUPPORTED by locals, probably one of the best, if not best, I’ve experienced. Music every where and a ton of energy to help you through the hills. Back half…not so much. Would definitely recommend running the half!

This was by far my worst marathon, again I had a stomach bug x 2 days, that sucked for the race obviously. Spent more time in the port-a-potties then EVER before. To that I will say I was pleasantly surprised at the state of them throughout the race. Toilet paper was in all of them so I think that speaks to the organization and prep for such a large race. Yay!

Logistics are easy! Swag is great! Good time of year for Florida. Cute city to explore. Marathon is double loop, I don’t love that. I’d rather do multi loop mainly marathons. I don’t know how to explain that.

Whiskey Hill is no joke. The first half is rolling hills with Whiskey Hill as well but the back half is mostly downhill to flat. Jackets were nice but they didn’t have them all delivered in time so MANY had to be mailed to individuals later.

1st half was better than the 2nd. You’re more exposed to the winds and it was in our face for several miles. The bridge at mile 22/23 that you literally turn around at and hit twice with no relief was a real buzz kill. Overall course wasn’t really flat I had just under 450ft in ascent. I would run Jekyll Island GA again b/c it was more quaint, pretty, and truly flat. I’m not unhappy by any means though for doing it. I still think it was a good NC option. The medal is as big as my head which I didn’t expect, 🤣

Weather was in our favor this year but October in Florida is very touchy with temperatures and hurricanes. Expo was out of race specific shirts after the first day and I find this to be the case with most RNRs. This is disappointing because I always like the expo shirts more than the registration shirts. You run 3 overpass/bridges and some other hills which are no fun but the view over the water is nice. Also the medal was cute but little.

Local race for me. Good town support. Pretty flat. Unfortunately, the 2022 race was said to be the final by the current race director. Hopefully, someone will save it.

Not a ton of crowd support at least from a back of the pack perspective so mental preparation is huge. Basic short sleeve t-shirt but benefit was they were distance specific! Minimal expo.