The LifeSouth Race Weekend this February will take place in scenic Gainesville, Florida! The event is an initiative of the LifeSouth Community Foundation (formerly Five Points of Life), which provides education to K-12 students about the need for blood donation. To meet the needs of patients, it’s imperative that we …
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The LifeSouth Race Weekend this February will take place in scenic Gainesville, Florida! The event is an initiative of the LifeSouth Community Foundation (formerly Five Points of Life), which provides education to K-12 students about the need for blood donation. To meet the needs of patients, it’s imperative that we raise a “Donation Generation” of young people who understand and are committed to giving the gift of life. There’s no substitute for human blood, and donations provide relief and hope for patients with life-threatening diseases and trauma victims. LifeSouth is YOUR community blood center, and we are the only provider of blood and blood products to the major hospitals in the Gainesville area and more than a hundred other hospitals throughout Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.
The 5K (USATF certification #FL19003JK) start is downtown, and the course takes you on a tour of the Bed and Breakfast district, the area south of Depot Park, and on the Hawthorne Connector trail and back to downtown. Runners will be treated to several post-race food options. Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each male/female age group and for the Fastest and Largest Teams.
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New Course
9th year in a row running this race. This is the second time they changed the course that I know of. I reviewed the new course last year, so thought … MORE
9th year in a row running this race. This is the second time they changed the course that I know of. I reviewed the new course last year, so thought it was appropriate to review again.
New race course is great, and possibly even better than the original course. You see a lot more sights, seems like more time is spent on UF’s campus, and you even run down the Solar Walk before the hills. The UF mascots and cheerleaders at the finish line downtown, along with free massages, were a welcomed return.
Seemed like less people running and cheering, though that might be due to eliminating the marathon course.
Some small ways to improve. Getting to the start line isn’t the easiest with the street closures; I was dropped off about 5 blocks away and had to run to the starting line. Mile markers should be on the race’s website especially so spectators can know where you are. Having the Expo during a busy time downtown with very limited parking was not ideal. Organizers ran out of correct t-shirts.
Definitely a nice improvement, would run this race again, and recommend it.
Five Points of Life Half Marathon
This race weekend was so much fun. They really kept it very well organized. I enjoyed the expo and a plus meeting Jeff Galloway! The swag was great, loved the … MORE
This race weekend was so much fun. They really kept it very well organized. I enjoyed the expo and a plus meeting Jeff Galloway! The swag was great, loved the medals and the performance long sleeve shirt I received for doing the challenge – 5K on Saturday, Half on Sunday. It was rather warm for Florida in February I was told – but this Minnesotan enjoyed it! Fun area to explore for the weekend too.
Nice small marathon
This was my first marathon. I liked that it was a smaller race, only about 125 in the marathon. The half marathon was much bigger, ~800. I liked that they … MORE
This was my first marathon. I liked that it was a smaller race, only about 125 in the marathon. The half marathon was much bigger, ~800. I liked that they split the starts, however it wasn’t clear initially which race stated where. Also, they started them 2 minutes apart but the marathoners ended up having to pass/weave through all of the half marathoners. I recommend starting the smaller marathon first, then having the half marathon start after. Also, it was supposed to start at 6am which I liked as it was HOT. But they pushed it back to 6:15am so more running in the heat. Nice women’s fit t-shirts.
Good frequent water stops, gatorade and water. Well marked course. Scenery a little boring. Not really hilly but not super flat – definite slight inclines and declines. I would recommend this race, biggest negative was the heat which you can’t control.
Five Points of Life 5K
Please see my review for the half marathon reviewing the whole weekend - the 5K was just an added extra the day before the half - part of the challenge … MORE
Please see my review for the half marathon reviewing the whole weekend – the 5K was just an added extra the day before the half – part of the challenge that I registered for. It was a pretty easy course and I placed! Loved the whole weekend. If looking for a weekend getaway with a destination race to Florida to escape whatever weather you normally experience in February – I highly recommend this race weekend in Gainesville, FL.
New course, less fun.
8th year running this event. The good: new course runs through Haile Plantation (a pretty, local section of Gainesville). Some may prefer this course since it was flatter. Local brewery … MORE
8th year running this event. The good: new course runs through Haile Plantation (a pretty, local section of Gainesville). Some may prefer this course since it was flatter. Local brewery post-race since finish line no longer on campus. Race director was responsive and offered to mail my packet if I couldn’t make the race. Five Points of Life is a GREAT cause.
The bad: no longer runs through UF’s campus or downtown, Archer Road isn’t the best to run down (gets tight in some areas), less festive finish line, cartoonish medal, much less cheerers along the course, only one band during the entire race, disorganized water stations.
The ugly: race seemed more geared to marathoners than half marathoners even though it appeared there were a lot more half runners. For example, handwritten, small signs for half marathoners that were easily missed but nice, tall markers for marathoners, directions along the course said “marathon course”, more amenities for marathoners at starting line, etc. Also, really poor organization at the split between courses (noticed many people asking which direction or whether they were on the half-marathon course). No representation of UF at the finish line anymore. Also, change of course wasn’t announced until about a month before the race, angering a lot of people.
If the course stays the same, I’d consider running this again but this is no longer a priority race.