Space Coast is a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to anyone. It is a well run event with great communication, great voluteers and huge medals. The expo was … MORE
Space Coast is a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to anyone. It is a well run event with great communication, great voluteers and huge medals. The expo was outside with a few vendors. Packet pickup was quick and very easy. Plenty of shuttles from various pick up locations provided transportation to and from the race. I did the South course which has no limit. It is basically a flat course with a couple of inclines. It runs along the water and sometimes dolphins are spotted. The course is lined with beautiful trees and large houses. There was plenty of course support, volunteers, and water stations. There could have been a few more port-o-potties on the course. The course leading up to the finish line chute was changed. It now makes several turns that make finishline seem further away, like you will never get there. It is frustrating. In spite that, I will continue to do this race and recommend it.
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One of my Favorite Races
Space Coast is a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to anyone. It is a well run event with great communication, great voluteers and huge medals. The expo was … MORE
Space Coast is a wonderful experience and I would recommend it to anyone. It is a well run event with great communication, great voluteers and huge medals. The expo was outside with a few vendors. Packet pickup was quick and very easy. Plenty of shuttles from various pick up locations provided transportation to and from the race. I did the South course which has no limit. It is basically a flat course with a couple of inclines. It runs along the water and sometimes dolphins are spotted. The course is lined with beautiful trees and large houses. There was plenty of course support, volunteers, and water stations. There could have been a few more port-o-potties on the course. The course leading up to the finish line chute was changed. It now makes several turns that make finishline seem further away, like you will never get there. It is frustrating. In spite that, I will continue to do this race and recommend it.
Heat really got to me but it’s Florida
Course is very scenic running along the water and beautiful neighborhoods. Medal is top notch. I ran the full but it was in the 80’s so the heat drained me … MORE
Course is very scenic running along the water and beautiful neighborhoods. Medal is top notch. I ran the full but it was in the 80’s so the heat drained me early…wish I did the half instead. I believe you could do the front or back half’s, I recommend the back half
Fun race great swag!
The expo and packet pick up was very well organized and easy to get in and out of. We utilized the shuttles to get to the start line and back … MORE
The expo and packet pick up was very well organized and easy to get in and out of. We utilized the shuttles to get to the start line and back and that also was a very smooth operation. It is a VERY early start as we had to be at the shuttle pick up at 4am, but that gave us plenty of time to warm up and use the porta-johns prior to race start at 6am. There were plenty of porta-johns at both the start and along the course. Since we were there so early we were able to use them without waiting. The course itself was nice I did the north course which the race info said went past the NASA assembly building or something like that. I never saw it. The course to me seemed to be out and back on one long residential street that ran along the Indian River. It started out very dark. Once we got out of the starting area and onto the main course it was surprisingly dark. I was surprised by that but there were some street lights etc so it wasn’t pitch black and the sun came up within the fist 30 minutes. The sunrise was on our backs which I couldn’t help but think might have been planned that way. There was plenty to see on the water between the birds, boats, and people. A lot of the homes along the course had people out cheering and some had set up makeshift aid stands with freeze pops water and even one had mimosas! The crowd support was great! The aid stations were frequent and well manned. I did not like the 6am start, but considering it is Flordia and was 70 and 90% humidity at 6am I was grateful that it started early enough to finish before the heat and humidity became too much. The after party was also amazing they had scrambled eggs, mac and cheese, chocolate milk and beer in addition to regular stuff like bananas and water. Overall, I would highly recommend this race. It is run like a well oiled machine, and since the race is Thanksgiving weekend it’s a perfect opportunity for a “Race-cation” lots of stuff to see and do in the area. Oh and I almost forgot the medal is HUGE and awesome and the shirt is very cool.
Fun race
I have run this race several times and always enjoy it. It's well organized, good communication, great swag, and amazing medals. Challenge medals for consecutive years are a big incentive … MORE
I have run this race several times and always enjoy it. It’s well organized, good communication, great swag, and amazing medals. Challenge medals for consecutive years are a big incentive to come back. For the half marathon there are two course options; If you want to take it easy then south and if you want to run and not dodge walkers go north.
Nice Race!
I signed up to run this just a few weeks ahead of the race, too late to take advantage of the partner hotel discounts which were very good compared to … MORE
I signed up to run this just a few weeks ahead of the race, too late to take advantage of the partner hotel discounts which were very good compared to what I paid. I went to the running store to pick up my bib, shirt, and medal once I arrived in town, so cannot comment on the expo. I didn’t have any goal in mind other than to finish the race.
There were ample school buses that picked up and dropped off at host hotels. (I didn’t stay at a host hotel but walked over to one.) I road the 4 am bus which was a bit early for the 6am start. I and many others sat in a park near the start for over an hour waiting for the events to get started. Music played to keep us entertained. Water was available and portaloos were plentiful. Skies were overcast, temps low 50s at the start and mid 60s at the end, humidity high but at that temp not as impactful to me.
The course is broken into 2 half marathons, a north half and a south half and each is an out-and-back. The marathon started at 6am before the sunrise. The first 30-40 minutes or so were running in the dark on the north course. House lights and the occasional street light were sufficient to see with: I didn’t think a headlamp was necessary. We had a beautiful sunrise but needed to turn 120 degrees to see it. Tt was the first time I’ve raced in the dark. We ran along mostly tree-lined asphalt roads in view of the water most of the way. Lovely scenery. Though the hills were manageable, I was expecting a flatter course that close to the water. I thought the 13th mile contained a bit of a cruel hill as you transitioned from the north route to the south route. The south route wasn’t any less hilly. Mind you these aren’t large hills like Big Sur, but undulating enough that I noticed them. I noticed the side slope of the road moreso in the south route than the north, so ran more in the middle of the road. Another reviewer commented about catching up to the walkers and needing to run around them: Yes, that’s true. In that last half mile the finish line seemed to take forever to reach with a few turns thrown in. Crossing the finish line yielded a finisher towel.
There weren’t many out for fan support, but there were some. Water stations were sufficiently stocked with supplies and enthusiastic volunteers. Post race recovery food and drink were nice but I didn’t stay long. During these Covid times I find myself missing the ceremony of someone awarding you a medal around your neck once you finish. Overall I thought this was a well run race and one I’d recommend.
Lots of Walkers In the Way
There are actually three races going on simultaneously with this event: a full marathon, and two half marathons (north course and south course). The full marathon runners and the north … MORE
There are actually three races going on simultaneously with this event: a full marathon, and two half marathons (north course and south course). The full marathon runners and the north course runners start together with the full marathon joining the south course halfway into the race.
There is, unfortunately, one huge issue with this arrangement. Full marathon runners must dodge several thousand walkers on the south course. Many of these individuals are wearing headphones and have no idea of basic race etiquette.
In my case, I caught the back of the south course half marathon around mile 16 or so and spent the remainder of the race dodging people who were walking 4 or 5 abreast as well as a lot of folks who were walking/jogging down the middle of the road with headphones on and couldn’t hear anyone coming up behind them.
I guess this race is supposed to be more of a party than a serious run. As such, I cannot recommend the full marathon to anyone that wants to save the partying for after the race.
Well organized, fun event!
Very nice race shirt! Really good after party with plenty of food, beer, and music! All finishers also received a commemorative beach towel. MORE
Very nice race shirt! Really good after party with plenty of food, beer, and music! All finishers also received a commemorative beach towel.
Beautiful
Great swag flat out and back and shaded on south half , great food, if you a under 1.40 half runnner plan getting up front at the start or you … MORE
Great swag flat out and back and shaded on south half , great food, if you a under 1.40 half runnner plan getting up front at the start or you will held back a little
1st live race after the pandemic
I was so tankful to run this race after not running any races for 6 plus months. I really appreciate the extra effort that the race production team did to … MORE
I was so tankful to run this race after not running any races for 6 plus months. I really appreciate the extra effort that the race production team did to put on a safe race!
A very nicely done marathon.
This was my first marathon attempt and I did not finish. And it was on my 50th birthday. I did get to mile 24 so I covered a lot of … MORE
This was my first marathon attempt and I did not finish. And it was on my 50th birthday. I did get to mile 24 so I covered a lot of it. This is a very scenic marathon. Super nice area with great views of the bay. Downside, there were not enough aid stations, in my opinion. Also, it was very hot and humid for the end of November but hey it’s Florida. Nice medal!
2020 1st Live Race since Covid
This was my 1st live race since the whole Covid shutdowns. With all the unexpected, I never felt unsafe or concerned with anything. They did a great job of doing … MORE
This was my 1st live race since the whole Covid shutdowns. With all the unexpected, I never felt unsafe or concerned with anything. They did a great job of doing everything possible to space all runners out. And as always the medal is AMAZING!!
Great race experience during COVID-19
This was my third marathon during COVID-19, but by far the largest, with about 3,000 runners between the marathon and two half marathons. COVID-19 protocols were in place. Runners were … MORE
This was my third marathon during COVID-19, but by far the largest, with about 3,000 runners between the marathon and two half marathons. COVID-19 protocols were in place. Runners were masked at the start and finish. We were placed in corrals based on expected finish times. There were supposed to be staggered starts, but it ended up just being a crowd to the start.
The course was gorgeous; I loved seeing the sunrise over the water (even though it was behind me so I kept craning my neck for the view!). Normally I can’t stand out-and-back courses, but this one is great! Perhaps because the scenery is so beautiful–you run along the water the entire time. The weather was hot and humid, but I live in FL so am used to that. Otherwise, dress appropriately for the heat. Aid stations were plentiful with bottled water and Powerade.
Great race, great weather, lots of fun.
Well run race with lots of perks. I particularly liked being able to use the race pacers that were made available and the real time tracking. Nice people running the … MORE
Well run race with lots of perks. I particularly liked being able to use the race pacers that were made available and the real time tracking. Nice people running the race and great for all skill levels.
Great Race Day
This is an amazing race with a breathtaking course. There are aid stations every mile, and the for a there and back course, it is the most beautiful i have … MORE
This is an amazing race with a breathtaking course. There are aid stations every mile, and the for a there and back course, it is the most beautiful i have seen. The Shirt is top notch, and the medal is beautiful. The only issue with the race is the days before the race day. The pre-race party that was listed was not known to the hotel it was supposed to be at, and the expo was fairly plain.
Great Support and Bling, transport issue
Heard good things about this race and had to try it. There were many positives with a few glitches in the experience. Expo was good - be careful to watch … MORE
Heard good things about this race and had to try it. There were many positives with a few glitches in the experience.
Expo was good – be careful to watch for volunteers directing traffic to parking across the street. This was challenging for a first timer. There are no real choices for hotels near course start, but many hotels are locations with shuttle service. It is an early race so shuttles are earlier. Be prepared and set expectations accordingly.
There are two options for the Half, and I chose the South course. Route is mostly flat through quaint homes along the River with decent support from locals for our and back course. Watch for faster runners in left lane on their return. Some runner bunching can occur as a result. Gatorade and water stations every mile to mile and a half which was welcome. Temps warmed as the sun came up, but December can be variable.
The medal was heavy and unique with space theme which is big part of the draw. Finishers also got space themed beach towel. Appreciated the post race food including bananas and hot pizza!
Path back to buses was not very clear and it was hard to find them for me. When I did find them, runners were waiting for about a half an hour until several showed up to return to the host hotels. Still not sure what happened there.
Overall was a fun race with great bling and support, but had logistical challenges with transportation. I know some folks who love the race, so I’ll temper my opinion on those challenges. The race shirt, finisher medal, and beach towel are all great mementos of the race.
My first time half marathon..
So great race.. I had great experience ~ Great view and most of all great weather... Many people come down encouraged our runners.. So hard to run but finally I … MORE
So great race.. I had great experience ~
Great view and most of all great weather…
Many people come down encouraged our runners.. So hard to run but finally I finished it.. Medal is so amazing..
One of the best races in Florida
Space Coast is such a well put on race. Packet pickup is fun, organized, and strict, which is a good thing to protect participants and not allow cheating. The race … MORE
Space Coast is such a well put on race. Packet pickup is fun, organized, and strict, which is a good thing to protect participants and not allow cheating. The race is a huge community event. Neighbors and locals come out to cheer on the runners with signs, food, refreshments and smiles. This and the awesome after party are my favorite aspects of this race. I will be back this year for round 3 and year 2 of the new series. I cannot wait!
Very well organized from race to awards
The race management of this race is always excellent. Registration is easy. Changes can be made to distances, but not at the last minute. The expo has a lot of … MORE
The race management of this race is always excellent. Registration is easy. Changes can be made to distances, but not at the last minute. The expo has a lot of good offers on future races and gear. The after party includes free massage!
Best half in Florida
1. Shuttles run a little late, but they get there. 2. Expo is cool, but separated (like many) 3. Love the south half marathon course and public participation! Pluto's Orbit … MORE
1. Shuttles run a little late, but they get there.
2. Expo is cool, but separated (like many)
3. Love the south half marathon course and public participation! Pluto’s Orbit runs south along the Banana River (watch for the dolphins and the sunrise!), then through lovely neighborhoods where the residents come out, grill kleibasa, and hand out candy and drinks like there’s no tomorrow.
4. Finish line festival was fantastic! Pancakes AND Pizza, if you want it. Beer (and tasty beer at that), drinks. other food for purchase, entertainment.
5. Outstanding swag! Medals are huge, shirts are beyond good-looking and technical, AND the beach towel is actually a beach towel!.
Great Event at the Space Coast
As a general rule, I try to avoid races that go there and back again. I find them to be psychologically more challenging than going on a loop, or from … MORE
As a general rule, I try to avoid races that go there and back again. I find them to be psychologically more challenging than going on a loop, or from point A to point B. Either way, I decided to participate in this event because it is after all the oldest race in the state of Florida, it is close by and I really like the space exploration theme. Also, this year begins a three to four year challenge, the so-called Big Bang Series. I do not regret being part of this beautiful celebration of manned space flight. This year’s theme was the Mercury Project, the first human spaceflight program. The organization was nothing short of perfect with buses circulating regularly to and from the start-finish line, great support with fantastic volunteers and lots of aid stations. The weather cooperated as it was a cool and overcast morning and the route enchanted us with the picturesque vistas of the Indian River Lagoon. There were two half-marathon routes this year, the slightly slower south route and the faster north route. I was on the north route. The after race support was fantastic with lots of fruits, drinks, delicious muffins and even fried eggs with pancakes for those with bigger appetites. I intend to participate in the four year challenge.