TJ Patrice's Staging Area

I did the half marathon option for the first time (in 2026), and loved the course. There was a variety of neighborhoods, people on the course throughout – despite record cold temperatures- and there is plenty of aid / fuel throughout. The medal is also pretty good – and of course, the race is for a good cause – to raise funds for Breast Cancer, and that is at the forefront from start to end.

This is a smallish race that’s part of a race weekend so make it a racecation. There’s a 5K Saturday evening and then a 12K and Half Marathon Sunday morning. I did the 5K and 12K. I did this.race first in 2023, it was canceled in 2024 due to a hurricane and back with new owners in 2025. This is a solid race that takes you through the streets of Amelia Island and then through the main road in the state park where both sides of the street and lined with trees draped in Spanish moss. The organization is top notch as is the nutrition on the course which was about every 2 miles.- Gatorade and water. You get a tech shirt and a stemless wine glass (plastic) fled with mimosa (if you widh) at the finish. I hope this race gets bigger and bigger each year as theres lots to do on the island during the weekend. It truly does feel like a getaway.

Production: excellent. This is a well attended race – about a thousand entries. There’s a bunch of vendors set up by the start, pre-race water, bananas, tangerines.
Venue: Lots of parking options, start/finish is by a park (in a neighbourhood of gorgeous homes) overlooking the beautiful Ortega river.
Course: typical – meanders through neighbourhoods and trafficked streets. There is 1 long, sloping bridge! This is NE Florida so we expect and like it flat … but this is also Jacksonville where there’s a gazillion bridges. Important to note because bridges sap energy.
Support: A few water stops. It was helpful at the last one someone was shouting that it was.
Medal – nice! You can slide the little runner along the length. Nice touch.
Overall vibes: Great energy.

I ran the 10K, and did not go to the expo. I did packet pickup the morning of the race and it was quick and easy (you get a cotton long-sleeve shirt). The race is scenic with views of the ocean coming back. It was a cold morning, in the low 30s but it was sunny, clear and warmed up over time. There was 1 aid station (for the 10K) which you passed at the 2 mile mark going and the 4-ish mile mark coming back. There was something weird about the distance – most people (including myself) thought the course was 0.4 miles longer. There were a few people out to support and it was especially nice coming back. After the race – snacks, bananas and water. No coffee – but it’s right outside the hotel where you can buy coffee. The medal is pretty sweet. Great race for a first timer, walkers and slower runners. Be mindful of parking on race day – it was difficult (but not impossible), and it’s quite a bit of a walk from the hotel to the start of the race (but that does give you time to get acclimatized (somewhat) to the cold).

I would do this race again and plan on it. Jekyll Island itself is absolutely beautiful and worth spending some time there after the race.