This beautiful out-and-back course is FAST and is a Boston Qualifier. In our first year, the marathon course men's record was set at 2:33 by Matt Taddeo and women's at 2:48 by Katie Nelson! The half-course men's record is 1:09 by Alejandro Rivera for the men (2021) and the women's is 1:24 by Haley Hasty (2022.) Do you think you can make history this year?
Both the Full and Half marathons will start at 8 am from the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trailhead at 21815 SE 71st Ave. in Hawthorne, FL.
The race will be capped at 160 total runners between the two events so be sure to sign up ASAP before prices increase.
Like last year, we added the opportunity to race as a 4-person relay team with your friends! Each person will run one length of the course and will share and exchange one bib belt along the way. An important note: When registering as a team, the first person who signs up will be prompted to create the team and will pay the total amount. The following team members will be able to sign up and join the team by finding it in the list of created teams. Be sure to sign up ASAP before prices increase.
Registration for the full and half races will be available online until 1 hour prior to the race start. (No race day registration for relay teams)
Volunteers are NEEDED for this race, please go to the "Volunteer" tab on the menu bar at the top of this page and sign up. This event is being operated at cost and is volunteer-led so please help us make this event successful for our local runners!
Mary grew up in Gainesville and returned to town after graduating from Liberty University. Mary was a long-time member of the local running community and the Florida Track Club. Mary was incredibly funny and brightened every run she joined. Mary was a friend to all who knew her and was a caring and gentle soul who was loved by so many. She cherished her family, friends, and cats and had a passion for running and fitness.
Over the years, she completed multiple ultra-marathons, marathons, half-ironman triathlons, and numerous other road and mountain trail races. She qualified multiple times for the Boston Marathon. Mary ran the first running of the FTC Marathon in March of 2021. Shortly after running the race, Mary was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and passed away at the age of 44 later in the year. The FTC Marathon was Mary's last race in our community, and we hold it each year in her memory.
Please join us and celebrate Mary and her love for running!
The FTC Marathon will start at the Hawthorne Trail Head of the Gainesville/Hawthorne State Trail. The course follows the flat and fast paved bike bath out for 3.27 miles and then turns around and comes back. Each loop will be 1/4 of a Marathon making it easy for family and friends to view the race. The tree canopy on both sides of the trail will provide both shade and low wind conditions for optimal running!
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