Disclaimer: I received an entry into the Mount Dora Double Dora Race to evaluate as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews!”

One of my favorite things to do is to end my racing season in my home state. This year was special since I haven't run any in person races since the Publix Half Marathon on March 1. It was only fitting to conclude this year's in person racing in Mount Dora, FL, a nice small town in Central Florida. This year was my second time running the Mount Dora Half Marathon. I decided to get the most out of the weekend and take on the Double Dora Challenge. The Double Dora consisted of a 5k on Saturday (Dec 19) and the half marathon on Sunday (Dec 20).

Expo
Similar to last year, packet pick up was super easy. Since I ran the double Double Dora, I received one bib to wear to both races. I also picked up two tee-shirts, one for each race, and a reusable tote bag. A few vendors had race products for sale. Everyone was wearing a mask to practice safety protocols.

Half Marathon
The half marathon was held Sunday at 7 am. Last year I had a cold and it was raining. This year I was healthy and the weather was perfect. Since I was in a haze last year, I don't remember hardly anything about the course and if it changed. The course had a mixture of rolling hills and lakefront running. The water stops for the half marathon had small bottles of water that were given out by the volunteers.

The runners started in pace waves. I finished the race in 2:40 which was a 16 minute improvement from last year. I ran intervals so that I could keep my pace as even as possible. When I saw Santa as I approached the finish line, I was able to hightail it to the end. The post race items were bagged for grab and go. We also received a race branded towel.

My only criticism of the race is that at mile 9-11 there were trucks driving on the course. While the trucks were driving slowly, they could have easily run over a fallen runner. I wish they would have just closed off the course completely or had the truck ride on the shoulder.