My opportunity to run the Clearwater Distance Classic Marathon came about when my boss knocked on my office door and announced “Do I have an opportunity for you, and it includes some travel.” After accepting the “opportunity” my runners mind set kicked into high gear.

Did I familiarize myself on the topic of the opportunity? Nooooooooo

Did I make travel arrangements? That could wait!

Did I tell my wife, DUH, I’m a runner I’m not crazy, I told my wife then I did the next best thing. I scoured the internet looking for an “opportunity” to race while away on business.

2018 Clearwater Distance Classic

The Clearwater Distance Classic provided a few race options, the Ultra 50k, the Marathon, a Half-marathon, a 5-miler and a 5k. I choose to run the marathon for a number of reasons. Namely, I didn’t want to beat myself up prior 2 weeks prior “the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse 50-mile race” in the Outer Banks. The marathon seemed liked the perfect compromise for me.

Arriving in Tampa I hot footed it from the airport over to the Expo to pick up my race package. The expo was located at Coachman Park in Clearwater on Saturday and Sunday morning before the race. Most races do not offer race day packet pick up and I was thankful this race did just in case I was faced with some travel issues.

After surviving the winter blues the last few weeks in Virginia and North Carolina it was very nice to have race morning temps hovering in the mid 50s. I arrived on site early to get settled into my racing mood, listen to some old school rock & roll (“summer breeze makes me feel fine….”) and watch the race day crowd gather. When it was time to line up for the start of the race I positioned myself among a pack of runners behind the 4-hour pacer. I had no real goal in mind for this race. I didn’t taper, I didn’t eat all that well prior to the race and I really had no agenda in mind. I viewed this race as an opportunity to check “the run a marathon in Florida box” and have some fun along the way.

To read the rest of this review check out http://briansrunningadventures.com/clearwater-distance-classic-marathon/

Overall I enjoyed the course and the atmosphere.

T-shirts/Swag were nice...for the price thought there could have been a finisher item, hat, glass or something most races in the price point provide that extra.

Aid stations were plentiful but NO gel/fuel supplement in the later miles???

Expo was small but nice... I would recommend the race.

Brian
briansrunningadventures.com