What the Runners Say…
On Facebook
Leanne Browne Feldman: Great job–best run of the 8 halves I have done (including Disney!!). Definitely going to do again 2/17/14
Keith N Missie: This was my first time running a half marathon (I tri) and from start to finish this was an amazing event. I was impressed with how smoothly it went, how well managed and staffed it was and all of the hard work you guys put into it. Thank you. I will see you again next year! 2/17/14
Paula Hinson: This was our first half and I think this was a great choice we made. I enjoyed every minute of it and the view of the sunrise on the beach was incredible. The race was very organized from start to finish! Paola 2/16/14
Rebeca Diaz Rodriguez: Best event in South Florida. Everything top notch! My favorite race. 2/16/14
Nicole Zengen: Amazing race!!!! Thanks for a great race and Post race goodies the chocolate milk hit the spot 2/16/14
Kelly Cassidy: I live here and this is the first time I’ve run this race after running Miami, 13.1 series, halloween half… Hat’s off to you guys! This is the race I want to do every year. Great job from beginning to end. Thank you! 2/16/14
A great race if you don’t mind running in the heat
Course: 4 Organization: 5 Fans: 3
A. G. from Toronto, Canada (2/21/11)
The course was really well organized, plenty of water at every mile and lots of mile markers along the way. The course is quite nice (pretty and flat). The people were super nice – after the race people were shouting their congratulations to me from their car windows! It was a great race.
A very well organized race
Course: 4 Organization: 5 Fans: 3
D. H. from Minnesota (2/21/11)
I was impressed with the race organization. With packet picket, you get a race program that includes maps of the start and finish areas. The aid stations were plentiful and well run. The course is well marked. There were digital clocks at every mile. In the last mile, there were banners every quarter-mile. Finish area had a wide variety of foods and beverages. The course is flat (except for one bridge in the early miles). Most of the course follows A1A, and there are views of the ocean.
This race gets better every year
Course: 4 Organization: 5 Fans: 3
L. K. from Miami, Fl (2/20/11)
Apparently the race organizers listened. The course is improved with water/Gatorade stops every mile. Water stops were well stocked and well manned. There was ice on several of the stops in the full marathon and, as the temperature was well into the 70s, it was greatly appreciated. Volunteers were fantastic! Traffic control was good. The course is flat and fast with only 1 bridge to contend with early in the race. Porta-potties at every water stop. The race remains small and I hope it stays that way. I will definitely run this race again. Thank you, race organizers, for listening and responding!
Great half-marathon – very fun!
Course: 5 Organization: 4 Fans: 4
G. S. from South Florida (2/22/10)
After reading harsh comments from years’ past here, I felt this run deserved some good press. This really was a fun run and done very well. Parking was not a problem, but I did get there before 5 a.m., like we were told. The race started very smoothly. While there weren’t thousands of spectators, there weren’t thousands of runners either and the spectators that were on the course were great. There were refreshments at every mile and music every few miles. The run through the park was really a nice break from the ocean run (which was fantastic!). The after party was great. Lots of happy people, lots of food (including Mexican food!) and free beer! The medals were awesome. The only bad thing was the shuttle back to the start line. Took forever! However, all in all, a great experience. Highly recommend for those wanting fun (vs. I guess a challenging course). And the beautiful weather didn’t hurt… P.S. There were almost no drivers anywhere on the course as others posted for years past.
A Great Race!!
Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 3
Lyn Connelly from Rochester Hills Mi. (3/25/09)
I loved the race course. Running along the ocean was beautiful. I’ll be back next year. The medals were great. Thanks to all of you who made this a great half-marathon! The temperature at race time was perfect. I trained in snow.
A1A says it all!
Course: 4 Organization: 5 Fans: 4
John Reed from Parma, Michigan (2/24/09)
Ft. Lauderdale is a beautiful and friendly city in which to run a marathon along the Atlantic Ocean. The race is the right size, with a total of 3,000 runners. Ft. Lauderdale has a great running group called the “Road Warriors.” The expo at the mall was small, but nice; and packet pickup was organized and quick. The new bamboo shirts are great. There was lots of parking near the start line. The medals are really nice. There was plenty of food and refreshments afterward, and the entertainment was excellent. The course was nice and shaded until the last six miles, and those are always hard anyway. I paced the 4:00 hour group and had a great time. The bus ride back to the start was so nice, with comfortable, roomy seats and air conditioning. The hardest part was getting back up out of the seats. I will return next year if I am able.
Many Improvements Add Up For Great Race
Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 4
J. P. from Fort Lauderdale (2/24/09)
The course change this year made the race much more enjoyable. The park is now what it was intended to be – a pleasant diversion, not a torturous delay. There were more fans this year, and the move to the Galleria for the expo was a brilliant idea. The smaller space gave it much more energy than it has had before. Top to bottom, everything was greatly improved. It is inevitable that people will complaint that the crowds are too small; however, they don’t seem to understand that this is a small, local race. I, personally, hope it stays that way. If you want Chicago- or NYC-size crowds, run those races. This is loads of fun with one of the most beautiful settings you’ll ever find. Lots of water/PowerAde, and a GU station. They did miss the winner coming across the line (how did he pass his escort without the escort noticing?), but it is always a learning curve when you put on any event. Good job!
Lots of Fun Again
Course: 4 Organization: 5 Fans: 3
J. P. from Fort Lauderdale, FL (2/18/08)
I ran the half this year as opposed to the full last year. It was still a lot of fun and a beautiful run. The one comment I heard from a lot of runners this year was that the park at the end has got to go. I didn’t hear one positive comment from all the people I spoke with. The other problem was the finish line was a bit crowded for the number of people that decided to stay and have fun. All and all, though, I think the rest of the race was great. It is turning into a great event for locals and the out-of-towners who want to get away from the cold. I just hope they keep their cap at 6,000. I know they haven’t reached it, but I think that is plenty of runners for this event.
Fun celebration of local running spirit!
Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 5
J. B. from Ft. Lauderdale (2/18/08)
I ran the half-marathon and totally enjoyed the course especially seeing the sun rise as we arrived at the beach and local spectators along the way! Great medal, organization and support. Thank you to the many, many volunteers who helped make the event a success! Only negative: T-shirt.
Great first run
Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 5
G. Y. from Miami, Florida (2/17/08)
This was my very first run and I have to say it was a delight – the weather was beautiful, the course was nice and the runners were respectful of everybody’s space. See you next year!