ECHO Half Marathon-June 5, 2016





This was the 3rd Annual ECHO half marathon and 5k in Central Florida benefiting the East Coast Regional Rail Trail, managed by Final Mile and sponsored by Florida Hospital.

COURSE
This is a point to point course with shuttle service from finish to start. We started at Beck Ranch in Osteen, ran a couple miles on the large sidewalk of a main road until we hit the paved trail for about 6 miles from Green Springs Park to State Rd 415 where we were back on a large sidewalk on a main road, then through Gemini Springs finishing up at Oak Tree Park.

I have to say I am a little disappointed in the large sidewalk/main street stretches (especially the 3 miles in the sun) as the website promoted "13.1 canopied miles." They warned us in an email a couple days before the race as the heat was rising throughout the week that the last couple of miles were in direct sun, but that was a little too late.

The 5k  starts and finishes at Gemini Springs (the half marathon finish)

There is not an elevation map on the website, but consensus at the finish was that a majority of the rail trail is on a slight incline. If the course was reversed, we would have been going downhill, which would have been a lot easier in the heat. 

CAUSE
I couldn't figure out the reasoning of the name of this race until it dawned on me driving home. ECHO=to be repeated. What you put into the world will come right back to you. This race benefits the trail system which will one day extend 52 miles from Enterprise to Edgewater FL. Runners, bikers, walkers, even dogs enjoy this shaded and paved trail so why wouldn't there be a race focused on giving back to preserve and enhance this system? I love it!

COMMUNICATION
There wasn't much communication from the event until the couple of days before the race. With that said, I felt like I had all the vital information needed to participate, without all the extra bells and whistles. There is a Facebook page and website which has all your information as well.

PACKET PICK UP
One slight fail with this race was the packet pick up. We were told several time on website that there would not be a race day packet pick up. 2 days before the race, we received an email that because of the holiday, they would not be ready for a Friday packet pick up service, so you were now able to do so on race morning. That is fine, but shouldn't they have known about the holiday and its impact ahead of time? Coming from out of town, this really impacted me as I had to get a hotel. By the tine this communication came out, I was already within cancellation policy. I would have much rather been able to drive in on race morning than pay for a hotel.

In the packet they provided a phone armband which was a first for me, but I later found out that not everyone received one of these.

HOTELS
With the race being held in a small country town, there are not many hotel options in the area. I ended up staying in Orlando (because I had an agent stay available to me) which was about 45 minutes south.  They did have 2 basic hosts hotels that offered shuttles to start/from finish.

WEATHER
You have to search pretty hard to find a long distance race in the summer anywhere in Florida, and you should be fully aware of what you are getting into by registering for this or any other Florida summer race. It will be hot and it will be humid. As long as you are experienced in this and take the proper precautions (from the runners side as well as the race directors side) then everything will run smoothly (pun intended). After the sun rose, the temps were in the 80s, with the humidity starting high, but amazingly dropping through the day. The only way to keep Florida summer races cool (besides consistently dousing yourself in water) is for the course to be shaded and near water and this race provided all of the above!

START
At the Starting Line was a DJ pumping us up as we waited to start. The race promptly started right before sunrise. There were plenty of porta potties with minimal lines. There were pacers to get you to your PR. The bag drop was quick and painless. Although they did have someone writing your bib number on a post it, then pinning it on each bag. If there were more runners, or more showed up at the same time, this could have become a problem.

RESULTS
Yes I live in Florida. But yes I absolutely hate running in the heat. It is amazing to me how many people I meet that actually prefer running in over 80 degree weather. Its been long enough and I really need to start to embrace it more. I know that heat running actually helps you in training later down the road. And I know I am doing two southern Florida races this winter so this won't be the last of this weather for me this year.

I went into the race without my pacer and just wanted to try to run slowly and walk the water stations. That lasted for about 4 miles and then it was all downhill from there. The good thing is, I never felt dehydrated or overheated. It was definitely hot and humid and right now I am probably the most out of shape of the year. I have run very little since the DONNA, Gasparilla Ultra and Treasure Coast half in February and March. There wasn't much going on with the course scenery or entertainment wise, so this was purely just another 13 miles to get through.



FUEL STATIONS
The stations were fully stocked with water and Gatorade and there were plenty of them.
 A lot of people carried their own Camelpak or water supply. This was the first time for me running with one, as I did not want to take a chance. However, I would have been perfectly fine with the amount of fluids they were passing out at the stations. Because I had my own water, I took a cup of water at each station and dumped it on my head to cool my body.

GU was provided a little over halfway.

On the second half, each station seemed to have more and more goodies. Pickle pops were given, as well as jellybeans, starburst, skittles, and watermelon.


Volunteers had spray bottles to mist your face. And at the finish line a wet cold towel was waiting for you. I wish they would have utilized a similar idea on the route (sponges, smaller towels?)

VOLUNTEERS
You could tell everyone was genuinely concerned about our well being while running in the heat. People were repeatedly asking if we were okay, asking if they can soak us with a water soaker gun, and asking multiple times if were hydrating enough. Thank you to everyone for volunteering!

SPECATATORS
With the course being in a small town and majority of it on a trail system, there are not spectators. I think I saw a total of 2. The volunteers manning the water stations were basically your cheerleaders as well!

FINISH
Thankfully the finish area had shade and picnic tables. Beer and BBQ from a local restaurant was provided. Strawberries, bananas, and granola bars were also available. There was a gear check where they brought your bag from start to the finish line for you, but unfortunately there was not a changing area, not even a real bathroom to change into dry clothes. This left us packing the bus full of sweaty, smelly runners for about a 20 minute ride back.

SHUTTLES
Coach buses were available to shuttle us back to the Start. I didn't have a wait to get on, but they did pack the bus with people standing.


SHIRT
The gender specific shirt design is consistent with the overall race design. I would have liked the colors to also be consistent with the medal instead of a bright red.


MEDAL
The medal is a lot prettier in person. The glass is almost like a stained glass that the light reflects through.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
If you like running in the heat, this is definitely a race to consider. I love the fact that it supports the rail trail system and that we get to run on it as well. Being centrally located in Florida, you can easily access this race for a quick overnighter to experience something different.


HM#63
13.1- 2:52

I am currently running a half marathon a month and also running a half marathon in each state all to show support and raise awareness for breast cancer via The Donna. Please consider showing your support by making a donation today! DONATE

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