Tallahassee Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay
Tallahassee, FL
Feb 2, 2025
- Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Tallahassee Marathon began in 1975 with just two participants. From there, it has grown to a first-class event showcasing Florida’s capital city like no other race. The Tallahassee Marathon is an all-volunteer event organized by the Gulf Winds Track Club, a local non-profit dedicated to advancing the sport of … MORE
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Great First Marathon
This course is moderately hilly. Race production is EXCELLENT. I was able to BQ my first marathon with a buffer of just over 8 minutes. Aid Stations were very well … MORE
This course is moderately hilly. Race production is EXCELLENT. I was able to BQ my first marathon with a buffer of just over 8 minutes. Aid Stations were very well run, so I would feel very comfortable running this race again without carrying my own water. GU was plentiful, but I use Maurtens on race day. Race Director provided excellent communication. Volunteers and medical assistance were top notch – I finished on wobblier legs than I would have liked!
Well organized race that started on time
Good race support with lots of staff direction. Water booths were run by local groups and were very encouraging. Lots of local support and cheering from the community. Mimosas, bacon … MORE
Good race support with lots of staff direction. Water booths were run by local groups and were very encouraging. Lots of local support and cheering from the community. Mimosas, bacon and beer and fireball shots offerred along the way.
I will be back in 2024
Small marathon, USTAF and BQ qualifier. Fun "tour" of Tallahassee on foot. Loved the rolling hills through the city, neighborhoods and parks. I qualfied for Boston with a 6:13 buffer … MORE
Small marathon, USTAF and BQ qualifier. Fun “tour” of Tallahassee on foot. Loved the rolling hills through the city, neighborhoods and parks. I qualfied for Boston with a 6:13 buffer on this course. I love the rolling hills start before it flattens out for the back half of the race. I find it easier on my legs to mix up muscles vs pounding on all flat roads for 26.2 miles so I didn’t seek out a 100% flat marathon for that reason to BQ. I pace myself so don’t worry about pacers on course for this distance. I think Tallahassee is super cute, love the hospitality at FSU as well! I will be back in 2024! Well organized race as well. College Town is super cute x
Tour Tallahassee
I have participated in this event in one form or another for 5 years. It was my first half (2014) and my first full (2015). Through that time, the race … MORE
I have participated in this event in one form or another for 5 years. It was my first half (2014) and my first full (2015). Through that time, the race has gone through several changes — from starting/finishing at Florida State University to running a hilly route with a painted finish line to this year’s course, which started downtown and ended near FSU, rolling through various parts of the city along the way.
I ran the half marathon this year and found the new course to be a great way to experience the city, even as a resident. Runners passed Lake Ella in the early morning, rolled along through Cascades Park and Myers Park – across the pedestrian bridge and along FAMU Way, which is where the half and full marathons split. While marathon runners continued along the St. Marks Trail, the half marathon participants continued on to FSU’s campus and the new finish area in College Town.
Aid stations were placed about every 2 miles and stocked with fluids and Honey Stinger gels, all of which helped runners make it to the finish line. In addition to portable toilets at aid stations, the route ran through a couple of parks, which also had real restrooms.
Runners were announced by timers as we approached the finish and cheered in by spectators in College Town. At the finish, there was water, Gatorade, bagels, and fruit. In previous years, there had also been pizza or some other food and beer, but that was not the case this year. Food and beverages were available at the restaurants near the finish, but that’s not helpful if you don’t run with money.
This year, organizers arranged for Meb Keflezighi to come run the half marathon, as well as participate in a community shakeout run & expo time on Saturday and visits to local schools on Friday. That was a very cool experience.
All in all, it was a great day. There were shuttles taking runners from the finish area to the start and/or host hotel from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., which made it easier to get from one place to the other.
** While I did not experience this myself, I have heard from runners who were at the back of the pack who were instructed onto the sidewalks less than 2 miles into the race and had no help crossing busy streets at a couple of points (within the first 4-ish miles).
* Ease into the first 7 miles or so, which is where the hills are. Roll the flatter back half.
If you like hills...
I like to run this race for variety. Most races in FL are flat or on bridges or overpasses so it's a nice change up. Even though there were less … MORE
I like to run this race for variety. Most races in FL are flat or on bridges or overpasses so it’s a nice change up.
Even though there were less numbers of hills this year as compared to the 2017 course they seemed more challenging and elevation tracking on my GPS reflected that including the half mile uphill to the finish! Yikes!
The 2017 race support was way better than this year, but maybe that had to do with the weather. The water stops were sufficient, but last year they were every mile or 1.5 miles and every stop was excited! Not only that they had more bands, cheer leaders, etc out on the course that helped make those last miles more manageable. I can’t speak to the full marathon, but I will probably do this again just for the variety.
The interaction on social media was superb last year building up to the race to promote and provide another avenue of communication. This year it was bare minimum.
I agree with another reviewer here about the hotel. The Doubletree was definitely sufficient, but noise level was odd. Many times it sounded as if others were in the room with us! Of least importance but worth noting for some humor was the hotel decor…if Disney did Vegas this would probably be the end result. A little bizarre. One example being the gold speckled round couch outside the lobby level elevators. I believe they remodeled just a few years ago so they might want to try a new decorator next time, Hahaha!
2018 Course was much better this year
I plan on making the annual trip to Tallahassee each year for this race. The hills really give you a good work out and can help you in your training … MORE
I plan on making the annual trip to Tallahassee each year for this race. The hills really give you a good work out and can help you in your training if you have a target February/March race. Quiet little town and the run was just as quiet which is wonderful. I really enjoyed running by FAMU and going between the FSU baseball and football stadiums. Wish we could have run up Jefferson street instead and through more of the campus. Hope the 45th Anniversary is a great medal and an adult beverage at the finish line would be awesome!
Treading in Tallahassee
Tallahassee is a small race, maybe 250 marathon runners, 750 half runners. The expo reflected the size, held outside in Kleman plaza. A few freebies (doubletree cookies, yum), sunglasses and … MORE
Tallahassee is a small race, maybe 250 marathon runners, 750 half runners. The expo reflected the size, held outside in Kleman plaza. A few freebies (doubletree cookies, yum), sunglasses and other sundries. Mostly local business, not necessarily having anything to do with running. The host hotel, Doubletree by Marriott, was adequate. A little loud, you can hear doors slamming throughout the hallway. They have a restaurant on premises, but although they have posted hours, they were rarely open.
The marathon was run on a nice course. Some roads, some paved trails, lots of parks, ponds and natural areas. The first half was marked with a lot of rolling hills. Nothing too extreme, but enough to wear on you and keep you thinking. I personally like this type of course, so good reviews. The second half was run predominantly on paved trails, and was flat. That is until mile 26, where you run up a long steady hill. Again, not steep, just long.
Not a lot of spectators after the first 5 miles. This could have been due to the rain, but for this small of race I would not expect a lot.
The finish area had tons of food. Pizza, pasta and more. I am usually not hungry after running so did not sample, but it looked good and ample.
T-shirt was a nice tech shirt. The medal quite nice and the center spun around displaying 2 logos. No other swag.
Definitely a race I would recommend.