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Florida > Ocala Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
Ocala, FL
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Date
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Event
Details
Nice and easy, gently rolling hills along central Florida's horse
breeding country is the setting for the Ocala Marathon, Half Marathon
& 5K, which takes runners on a route that's as friendly to
beginners as it is enjoyable to experienced runners, along an
out-and-back loop course that starts in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart
Store but quickly turns into a course run along rural highways within
just a few minutes of
leaving the starting line.
From the starting line at Boyd Marketplace near Paddock Mall on Ocala's
Southwest 19th Avenue Road, the course takes runners southward along
Southwest 34th Street and then turns onto Southwest 27th Avenue, which
is also Florida Highway 475A. The course then continues making turns,
taking runners along alternating straightaway stretches along Southwest
66th, 19th and 60th Avenues, running past local sights and landmarks
like the Country Club of Ocala.
The course reaches its turnaround point
on Southeast 7th Avenue Road, and then heads back up in reverse along
the same route toward the intersection with Southwest 63rd Street Road,
which begins the final few miles of the race that take runners all the
way to the finish line back at the Wal-Mart. The midway point of the
race includes a brief out-and-back stretch to the turnaround point,
after which the rest of the course has runners heading all in one
direction: back to the finish.
Though the race is a smaller one by most standards -- the 2009 running
of the race saw about a few hundred runners cross the finish line -- it
is well-organized, according to many past participants. Organizers add
that there is a six-hour time limit for the event (which also includes
a full 26.2-mile marathon), so runners must be able to keep a pace of
13 minutes, 45 seconds per mile or better.
Race
Weather & Climate
Set in the central part of Florida, just over an hour's drive northwest
of Orlando, the city of Ocala typically experiences mild to moderately
cool weather in the late winter season, with relatively low
precipitation compared to the spring and summer months. In February,
average monthly temperatures range between 73°F and
47°F, while rainfall totals average about 3.11 inches for the
month.
Fees
$30 for the half marathon, if registered before October 1, 2009
$40 between Oct. 1 - November 30
$50 between Dec. 1 - January 24, 2010
$70 on the day of the race
Registration
To reserve your place in the winter 2010 running of the Ocala Marathon
or Half Marathon, register online at the event website
or print out and mail in this downloadable entry form.
Website
www.citrusroadrunners.org
Half
Marathon Course Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in Ocala's annual Ocala Marathon or Half
Marathon? Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Ocala Half
Marathon
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