This is a race in Jacksonville Beach that raises money for the Donna Foundation which is a wonderful charity that funds breast cancer research and provides financial support to people … MORE
This is a race in Jacksonville Beach that raises money for the Donna Foundation which is a wonderful charity that funds breast cancer research and provides financial support to people with breast cancer who are in need. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and I have quite a few friends who are fighting or affected by breast cancer so this was a race I have wanted to do. I had this weekend off and it was one of the easier options for races to fly to. I had also never been to Jacksonville so thought it’d be good to go somewhere different. I’m really glad I made the trip as I thought this was an excellent race. I don’t know why the rating is so low. While I wouldn’t put this in the absolute top tier of half marathons I’ve done, it was definitely in the top 25% and somewhere between a 4 and a 5 sneaker race. I rounded up because of the charity. I think the lower score may be related to the full marathon being 2 loops but the 1 loop half was excellent. For the race I flew in Saturday morning. One thing a bit annoying as another reviewer pointed out is packet pick-up is nowhere near Jacksonville Beach. Saturday there are shorter races and the expo at Jaguar’s stadium. This is a cool venue for the expo but it is about a 25 minute drive from the beach area. Another downside is the expo closes at 2pm. There is the option for later packet pick-up closer to the start but you need to pay extra. I was initially not going to rent a car but after looking at the logistics I decided to as it would be easier and not cost much more to rent one. My flight arrived on time and everything went smooth but the 2pm end time of the expo made me a bit nervous if my flight were to be delayed. I thought the expo was pretty good for a race this size. It had packet pick-up and lots of booth and running shops though there wasn’t as much merch specific to the race as other expos. Packet pick-up went smoothly and you got a long sleeve tech shirt. It is purple and design is fine. It did run a bit large which I heard a runner complain about. I prefer shirts that run large to shirts that run small so I didn’t mind. You also got a bag with some coupons, samples and smaller items. It was solid swag for a half marathon. For my hotel I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Jacksonville Beach. This hotel is a little over 1/2 mile from the start. It is not right on the beach but it is close and it is the perfect place to stay if you need to leave Sunday after the race as it is close enough to walk but far enough to not be affect by road closures. If you are leaving later than Sunday you may want a closer hotel at the beach. Getting to the start was easy as I just walked there. There is also a shuttle from Jacksonville if you are staying or live in the city and not near the beach. There is a nice athlete village type area. It had gear check and a heated tent which was way too hot for me and lots of porta potties. For the start there are signs to line up by pace and there are lots of pacers doing the Galloway method including at slower paces which is appreciated. There are announcements and the anthem and then the race starts. It went in waves and it spread people out nicely. The only issue is the pace groups were huge and a bit annoying to maneuver around. I wasn’t really looking for a goal pace this race as it has a 7 hour time limit for the half and full so just wanted to go at a comfortable pace so I didn’t use the pacers but had to maneuver around a few. I wish they figured out how to take up less space. Otherwise the race went very smooth. It is a medium sized race with about 2000-3000 for the half and 500 for the full. There are lots of back of packers. The course is almost completely flat. No hills. A few minor inclines and declines. Very fast and easy. Florida weather is never very good but this race had nice weather until the last couple miles where there was a headwind. It did start to downpour a bit after I finished so the marathoners probably felt that. The course was well marked and very easy to follow. It is not the most interesting course in the world and there are very little waterfront views. It is mostly though neighborhoods. However they were very pretty neighborhoods and I loved the tropical vegetation. I could see how this could get boring for 2 loops which is where I think the lower rating came from. However there was so much support that this race was a blast. The whole community was out supporting the race. I think this is the most spectators I’ve seen for a race this small. There were tons of cheer stations and unofficial aid stations. Lots of people handing out food and booze if you drink. Even if the scenery was a bit boring I was never bored. There were also plenty of official aid stations and mile markers. I ended up walking a few miles with a member of one of my running clubs so my actual running time was a bit slower than I expected but the miles I ran by myself were the pace I was aiming for. The finish line is nice and you are cheered on and given your medal. I liked the medal a lot it is a nice stain glassed design and has dolphins and is very “Florida.” There is a nice after party but the post race food was odd. I didn’t see any typical granola bar, fruit, chips anywhere. I had to leave pretty quickly to check out of my hotel so maybe they were there but hard to find. They did have quesadillas and cookies but the ones labeled “veggie” actually had chicken in them so I only ended up eating a cookie for the post race food. I think the mislabeled quesadillas may have been a catering issue and I do think the race intended to have a veggie options so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Luckily I wasn’t that hungry since there were so many snacks on the course. I know not everyone wants a big food item like a quesadilla after a race so I do think having smaller snack items as well (or if they did have them making their location more obvious) would be better. There was also a beer garden and area for massage. I had to leave right away so didn’t hang out too much. Overall I thought this was a very fun, supportive race that raises money for a great cause. There were a few minor things I think could have been done better such as closer and later packet pick-up and better finish line food but it is still a race I would run again and definitely one that I would highly recommend. Of the 3 races I have done in Florida (the other 2 are Publix Florida Half in Melbourne and Miami half), this one is probably the least scenic but had the most spectators and most supportive environment and is definitely a great choice for Florida especially if you are affected by breast cancer or like to run races that support charity.
So Much Support for a Great Cause
This is a race in Jacksonville Beach that raises money for the Donna Foundation which is a wonderful charity that funds breast cancer research and provides financial support to people … MORE
This is a race in Jacksonville Beach that raises money for the Donna Foundation which is a wonderful charity that funds breast cancer research and provides financial support to people with breast cancer who are in need. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and I have quite a few friends who are fighting or affected by breast cancer so this was a race I have wanted to do. I had this weekend off and it was one of the easier options for races to fly to. I had also never been to Jacksonville so thought it’d be good to go somewhere different. I’m really glad I made the trip as I thought this was an excellent race. I don’t know why the rating is so low. While I wouldn’t put this in the absolute top tier of half marathons I’ve done, it was definitely in the top 25% and somewhere between a 4 and a 5 sneaker race. I rounded up because of the charity. I think the lower score may be related to the full marathon being 2 loops but the 1 loop half was excellent. For the race I flew in Saturday morning. One thing a bit annoying as another reviewer pointed out is packet pick-up is nowhere near Jacksonville Beach. Saturday there are shorter races and the expo at Jaguar’s stadium. This is a cool venue for the expo but it is about a 25 minute drive from the beach area. Another downside is the expo closes at 2pm. There is the option for later packet pick-up closer to the start but you need to pay extra. I was initially not going to rent a car but after looking at the logistics I decided to as it would be easier and not cost much more to rent one. My flight arrived on time and everything went smooth but the 2pm end time of the expo made me a bit nervous if my flight were to be delayed. I thought the expo was pretty good for a race this size. It had packet pick-up and lots of booth and running shops though there wasn’t as much merch specific to the race as other expos. Packet pick-up went smoothly and you got a long sleeve tech shirt. It is purple and design is fine. It did run a bit large which I heard a runner complain about. I prefer shirts that run large to shirts that run small so I didn’t mind. You also got a bag with some coupons, samples and smaller items. It was solid swag for a half marathon. For my hotel I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Jacksonville Beach. This hotel is a little over 1/2 mile from the start. It is not right on the beach but it is close and it is the perfect place to stay if you need to leave Sunday after the race as it is close enough to walk but far enough to not be affect by road closures. If you are leaving later than Sunday you may want a closer hotel at the beach. Getting to the start was easy as I just walked there. There is also a shuttle from Jacksonville if you are staying or live in the city and not near the beach. There is a nice athlete village type area. It had gear check and a heated tent which was way too hot for me and lots of porta potties. For the start there are signs to line up by pace and there are lots of pacers doing the Galloway method including at slower paces which is appreciated. There are announcements and the anthem and then the race starts. It went in waves and it spread people out nicely. The only issue is the pace groups were huge and a bit annoying to maneuver around. I wasn’t really looking for a goal pace this race as it has a 7 hour time limit for the half and full so just wanted to go at a comfortable pace so I didn’t use the pacers but had to maneuver around a few. I wish they figured out how to take up less space. Otherwise the race went very smooth. It is a medium sized race with about 2000-3000 for the half and 500 for the full. There are lots of back of packers. The course is almost completely flat. No hills. A few minor inclines and declines. Very fast and easy. Florida weather is never very good but this race had nice weather until the last couple miles where there was a headwind. It did start to downpour a bit after I finished so the marathoners probably felt that. The course was well marked and very easy to follow. It is not the most interesting course in the world and there are very little waterfront views. It is mostly though neighborhoods. However they were very pretty neighborhoods and I loved the tropical vegetation. I could see how this could get boring for 2 loops which is where I think the lower rating came from. However there was so much support that this race was a blast. The whole community was out supporting the race. I think this is the most spectators I’ve seen for a race this small. There were tons of cheer stations and unofficial aid stations. Lots of people handing out food and booze if you drink. Even if the scenery was a bit boring I was never bored. There were also plenty of official aid stations and mile markers. I ended up walking a few miles with a member of one of my running clubs so my actual running time was a bit slower than I expected but the miles I ran by myself were the pace I was aiming for. The finish line is nice and you are cheered on and given your medal. I liked the medal a lot it is a nice stain glassed design and has dolphins and is very “Florida.” There is a nice after party but the post race food was odd. I didn’t see any typical granola bar, fruit, chips anywhere. I had to leave pretty quickly to check out of my hotel so maybe they were there but hard to find. They did have quesadillas and cookies but the ones labeled “veggie” actually had chicken in them so I only ended up eating a cookie for the post race food. I think the mislabeled quesadillas may have been a catering issue and I do think the race intended to have a veggie options so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Luckily I wasn’t that hungry since there were so many snacks on the course. I know not everyone wants a big food item like a quesadilla after a race so I do think having smaller snack items as well (or if they did have them making their location more obvious) would be better. There was also a beer garden and area for massage. I had to leave right away so didn’t hang out too much. Overall I thought this was a very fun, supportive race that raises money for a great cause. There were a few minor things I think could have been done better such as closer and later packet pick-up and better finish line food but it is still a race I would run again and definitely one that I would highly recommend. Of the 3 races I have done in Florida (the other 2 are Publix Florida Half in Melbourne and Miami half), this one is probably the least scenic but had the most spectators and most supportive environment and is definitely a great choice for Florida especially if you are affected by breast cancer or like to run races that support charity.
2 Loop Marathon
This was my 9th time running the race. Over the years the race has changed and become much less complex. Long ago we started at Bolles and ended at the … MORE
This was my 9th time running the race. Over the years the race has changed and become much less complex. Long ago we started at Bolles and ended at the Mayo Clinic– at one point we ran on the beach– we used to run around in both Jax Beach and PV Beach… now it is just two loops in Jax Beach. Not bad, I do not miss the bridge to get to the Mayo Clinic– and it was good. The course allows you to run faster… and no busses back to the start is awesome… it is just interesting to have run this race so many times and to experience all of the changes.
Flat and fast course
FYI, review only applies to the half marathon/marathon part of the weekend (Sunday). There is a 5K/10K/kids mile the day before (Saturday) at a different venue. Nerd stuff: Its popular … MORE
FYI, review only applies to the half marathon/marathon part of the weekend (Sunday). There is a 5K/10K/kids mile the day before (Saturday) at a different venue.
Nerd stuff: Its popular name is the Donna Marathon, but the “official name” is the National Breast Cancer Marathon. It’s purpose is to support breast cancer research and patients of breast cancer during treatment. Why Donna? Her foundation started this charity race in 2008. Donna Deegan is a 3-time breast cancer survivor, and recently elected first female Jacksonville Mayor. BTW, she runs it every year!.
Now the race: It is a medium size race (2-3K runners). This is the second most popular race of the area (Gate River Run 15K in March holds the title). After several course changes over the years, the present course (since 2021) has become one of my favorites. It is flat (for real), fast, and has great support. It starts and ends in the same place. Parking is limited, but they provide free buses all-day to bring and return runners from the larger parking at Univ. of North Florida. The course goes thru the neighborhoods of Jacksonville Beach (and they come alive !!). However, you don’t actually get to run near or see the beach (not exactly bad in February). It is all in paved roads. There are a few areas where the road narrows quite a bit, but mostly is comfortable. Aid stations every 2 miles w water/Gatorade. They have gels every other station. And of course, the neighbors bring out lots of stuff (yes, adult beverages as well !). The half and full marathon run together. The marathon route is the half route twice. Medal and long sleeve race shirt are very nice. They have the usual bananas/bars/chips and water at the end. Nothing special. The runner’s finish area have tents with food and beer for sale.
A major negative. Bib/package pickup is mandatory at their expo. It is average for a race of its size, so is OK. Unfortunately, is very far away from the race area, in Downtown Jax. It is at the Jaguars (NFL) covered practice field, which is kind of cool. But if coming from out of town and staying near the race, without a car or ride, it will be a big problem. They have an option for “out-of-towners” only, to pick the package in a hotel near the race. But is not free. No pick up on race day.
I’ve been running it since 2009. I guess it goes without saying that I recommend this race.
Great race for great cause!
If you're running the full or half marathon, you have to pick up your race packet at the expo the day prior. If you're traveling, the expo is only open … MORE
If you’re running the full or half marathon, you have to pick up your race packet at the expo the day prior. If you’re traveling, the expo is only open from 10-2. Most of the course is through the neighborhoods and the crowd support was really nice. The course is right off the beach and the after party was really nice!
Not for back of the packers
Overall this was a good race, but double loops are boring. Solid race support on course. Expo was lack-luster, minimal race weekend merch. Aid stations all had gaterade, water, and … MORE
Overall this was a good race, but double loops are boring. Solid race support on course. Expo was lack-luster, minimal race weekend merch. Aid stations all had gaterade, water, and gels, some had solid food like oranges and bananas too. Plenty of local folks came out for the first few hours with their own “aid” stations. However, this marathon is not for back of the packers. Once we got to the second loop, most of the locals had left or gone back inside. We managed to stay ahead of the last pace group until we hit mile 26, and finished just behind them. However, after we finished, everything in the “runner’s village” was shut down including food, which sucked to see they didn’t even support their own last pace group. Aid stations were still open when we passed them on course thankfully, but were almost done breaking down.
Consistent Regional Marathon
I run the Donna Marathon every year because it is a easy are for me to run relative to where I live. I do the Galloway run/walk and one of … MORE
I run the Donna Marathon every year because it is a easy are for me to run relative to where I live. I do the Galloway run/walk and one of my favorite things about this race is that they have pacers who use the run/walk method.
Great weather!
This race was a great time of year in Florida. Coming from colder climates it was a nice break, and was even a bit warm. Very flat course with lots … MORE
This race was a great time of year in Florida. Coming from colder climates it was a nice break, and was even a bit warm. Very flat course with lots of turns. Shady for the most part.
The most challenging aspect was the run-walk pace groups. I’m all for run-walk if that’s your jam, but the pace group would take up the entire road and then stop right in front of you. Same for other running groups doing run-walk.
Course is getting better...
I have run the Donna Marathon 8 times...the race is a solid regional race and the Donna team works hard to make it special. The route changes just about every … MORE
I have run the Donna Marathon 8 times…the race is a solid regional race and the Donna team works hard to make it special. The route changes just about every year, but the race officials seem to make it better each year. It is always in Jax Beach– but it used to also be in Ponte Vedra. It is a Jeff Gallaway race, so there is interval runners– which is helpful to me!
Very noce
Nice flat course, perfect temperature, the other runners were great and a lot of fun. The neighborhoods did a fantastic job decorating their street for it.... a lot of fun. MORE
Nice flat course, perfect temperature, the other runners were great and a lot of fun. The neighborhoods did a fantastic job decorating their street for it…. a lot of fun.
Thought i was going to see some beach
This race while it is for a good cause was not a favorite. I thought there would be some running along the beach but the only water I saw was … MORE
This race while it is for a good cause was not a favorite. I thought there would be some running along the beach but the only water I saw was in between 2 houses. Water stops were ok but they didn’t have Gatorade at every stop. Also some stops had water on one side and Gatorade on the other which lead to crossing over in front of people. Crowd cheering was good
Good Regional Race
The Donna Marathon is not a destination marathon-- like NYC or Big Sur, but it is a good solid regional race with good support and a course that continues to … MORE
The Donna Marathon is not a destination marathon– like NYC or Big Sur, but it is a good solid regional race with good support and a course that continues to be refined to make it better. It is a race that I run most years as it is close to my house and the weather is typically nice.
Beautiful Beach Communities
The 26.2 with Donna, as the race is more informally called is a fast flat course running through 3 beach communities (Ponte Vedra, Atlantic, and Neptune Beach). The communities really … MORE
The 26.2 with Donna, as the race is more informally called is a fast flat course running through 3 beach communities (Ponte Vedra, Atlantic, and Neptune Beach). The communities really come together to make this such a fun race experience, with spectators cheering you all the way to the finish line. Some people even decorate their homes and lawns specially for the event, which gives us runners something cool to look at as we run by. The race is well organized and has plenty of aid stations, water stations, and Porto-potties at every mile. If you are looking to make a PR this is a great course to attempt it on; the course is pretty flat and the weather is usually cool(sometimes windy with a sea breeze) since the race is held in the beginning of February along the beach. Once crossing the finish line they’ll hand you a “beachy” themed medal which is always my favorite part of racing…getting the bling!! Some of my favorite medals I’ve ever received were given to me after running the 26.2 with Donna races! It’s a beautiful course with a special cause to help cure breast cancer through medical research and a wonderful experience if you choose to run it, which I hope some of you do! You won’t regret it!
Keeps Getting Better.
I have run the Donna Marathon at least a half a dozen times and the race organizers keep getting better at the course. There use to be a beach run … MORE
I have run the Donna Marathon at least a half a dozen times and the race organizers keep getting better at the course. There use to be a beach run and bridge at the end, but those challenges are gone! My favorite part of the run is that at some point you run by Beaches Chapel and they have volunteers out there serving Communion.
A good local Marathon
The Donna Marathon is close to home as I live in North Florida. It is not a destination marathon, but if you live near North Florida, and want to run … MORE
The Donna Marathon is close to home as I live in North Florida. It is not a destination marathon, but if you live near North Florida, and want to run a race that is good– you should run this one. Over the years they have made the route better. I have run this race about 6 times and I would say it gets better every year.
Bridge at the end...
The Donna is such a fun race and mostly flat, but at the end of the race back in 2014 you ended with a bridge that is completely exposed to … MORE
The Donna is such a fun race and mostly flat, but at the end of the race back in 2014 you ended with a bridge that is completely exposed to the sun and very hard to do. It was discouraging to see my time get so much worse due to my inability to keep up the pace at the end. Fortunately, they have rewritten the course and in the early 2020’s this was no longer the case.
Bridge at the end was tough
It was a cold February day in FL to run this race. I ran fast and was on pace to break 4 hours, but at the end of this race … MORE
It was a cold February day in FL to run this race. I ran fast and was on pace to break 4 hours, but at the end of this race there was a huge bridge you had to cross. The race officials have since taken it out, but it really slowed me down at the end.
The bridge at the end was tough
The Donna Marathon used to end at the Mayo Clinic which required you running over a large bridge at the end of the marathon. There used to also be a … MORE
The Donna Marathon used to end at the Mayo Clinic which required you running over a large bridge at the end of the marathon. There used to also be a beach run. This was always hard and made the race tough. They have since gotten rid of this and the race is faster and much more enjoyable.