First off, I loved the race! I think the masters of terrain crew did an awesome job, and a big thanks to them!! We had perfect weather in Jan 2018 … MORE
First off, I loved the race! I think the masters of terrain crew did an awesome job, and a big thanks to them!!
We had perfect weather in Jan 2018 (race day temps between about 53 and 57, mostly cloudy). The 50k course was a five mile loop (which was basically all part of the half marathon course) and then two loops of the half marathon course. The race was chip-timed. It was very nice to pass through the start/finish area two times, and running the second loop of the half marathon course you knew basically how far things were apart from each other. There were mile markers every 2 miles on the half marathon course. There were only port-a-pottys at the start/finish area, but there were plenty there which was great for the start.
Small race, only 17 in the 50k and about 150 together in all the distances I believe.
The terrain was mostly grassy wide trails, a little soft and definitely requires more leg muscles than just running on roads for miles 0-5 of the half marathon. Notably, the first half mile was SUPER muddy and basically impossible not to get your shoes quite wet — all part of the fun (it had rained the day before I believe!). If you want a change of shoes (once or even twice!), it would be easy to grab them at the start/finish area and then carry them through the half mile of wet/muddy trails and change after that. Then miles 5-10 were on well-packed easy trails. Miles 10-12 back on grassy wide trails, and then the last mile of the half-marathon loop had some more challenging terrain (sort of mud mogul bumps for one section, trees down, soft trails that you sink into a little). Made you feel like a real master of all terrain 🙂 They got rid of the sugar sand section which one review from a few years ago talks about (which was a welcome surprise for me on race morning!).
On the half marathon loop there were aid stations just before mile 2, mile 6ish, mile 8, mile 10, and then in the start/finish area. For the 50k, the course they run this ends up being aid station at approx mile 2*, 5 (start/finish area), 7*, 11*, 13, 15, 18 (start/finish area), 20*, 24*, 26, 28. The starred stops here are actually all the same aid station. they had gatorade/water and snack options (goldfish, pretzels, gummy bears, oranges). The start/finish area had gatorade/water and snack options (bananas are what I remember). The other stations only had water. Definitely would recommend carrying your camel back – the starred stop and start/finish area had easy places to fill them up.
It is basically totally flat, as you would expect in Florida. Although heat could make the course a challenge of course (you never know in the sunshine state!), I think it is a VERY welcoming course for doing your first 50k, or setting a PR especially if you get a cooler day!
As for swag, we got a very nice tech short sleeve t-shirt, two rubber bracelets that say masters of all terrain, a neck/headband thing, and high quality medals with nice ribbon! If you won your age group you also got a gold version of the medal – fun feature!!
The only thing that could have been better from my perspective was having gatorade at all stops and throwing one port a potty out around mile 6ish of the half marathon loop. Very minor complaints.
loved the event, thanks again to the masters of all terrain team!!!
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Great 50k race for first timer
First off, I loved the race! I think the masters of terrain crew did an awesome job, and a big thanks to them!! We had perfect weather in Jan 2018 … MORE
First off, I loved the race! I think the masters of terrain crew did an awesome job, and a big thanks to them!!
We had perfect weather in Jan 2018 (race day temps between about 53 and 57, mostly cloudy). The 50k course was a five mile loop (which was basically all part of the half marathon course) and then two loops of the half marathon course. The race was chip-timed. It was very nice to pass through the start/finish area two times, and running the second loop of the half marathon course you knew basically how far things were apart from each other. There were mile markers every 2 miles on the half marathon course. There were only port-a-pottys at the start/finish area, but there were plenty there which was great for the start.
Small race, only 17 in the 50k and about 150 together in all the distances I believe.
The terrain was mostly grassy wide trails, a little soft and definitely requires more leg muscles than just running on roads for miles 0-5 of the half marathon. Notably, the first half mile was SUPER muddy and basically impossible not to get your shoes quite wet — all part of the fun (it had rained the day before I believe!). If you want a change of shoes (once or even twice!), it would be easy to grab them at the start/finish area and then carry them through the half mile of wet/muddy trails and change after that. Then miles 5-10 were on well-packed easy trails. Miles 10-12 back on grassy wide trails, and then the last mile of the half-marathon loop had some more challenging terrain (sort of mud mogul bumps for one section, trees down, soft trails that you sink into a little). Made you feel like a real master of all terrain 🙂 They got rid of the sugar sand section which one review from a few years ago talks about (which was a welcome surprise for me on race morning!).
On the half marathon loop there were aid stations just before mile 2, mile 6ish, mile 8, mile 10, and then in the start/finish area. For the 50k, the course they run this ends up being aid station at approx mile 2*, 5 (start/finish area), 7*, 11*, 13, 15, 18 (start/finish area), 20*, 24*, 26, 28. The starred stops here are actually all the same aid station. they had gatorade/water and snack options (goldfish, pretzels, gummy bears, oranges). The start/finish area had gatorade/water and snack options (bananas are what I remember). The other stations only had water. Definitely would recommend carrying your camel back – the starred stop and start/finish area had easy places to fill them up.
It is basically totally flat, as you would expect in Florida. Although heat could make the course a challenge of course (you never know in the sunshine state!), I think it is a VERY welcoming course for doing your first 50k, or setting a PR especially if you get a cooler day!
As for swag, we got a very nice tech short sleeve t-shirt, two rubber bracelets that say masters of all terrain, a neck/headband thing, and high quality medals with nice ribbon! If you won your age group you also got a gold version of the medal – fun feature!!
The only thing that could have been better from my perspective was having gatorade at all stops and throwing one port a potty out around mile 6ish of the half marathon loop. Very minor complaints.
loved the event, thanks again to the masters of all terrain team!!!