Space Coast Half Marathon

Cocoa, Florida

Sunday, December 1, 2019



When I completed the Space Coast Half Marathon in Cocoa, Florida on Sunday, December 1, 2019, I completed my one hundredth half marathon in Florida.  The temperature varied from 64 to 72 degrees with sunny skies and a light breeze.  It was a nice day for the event which consisted of a full marathon and two separate half marathons, one on each out and back half of the full marathon.  I completed the one that was on the south half of the full marathon which is the second half of the full marathon.  All three races begin together and split right past the start.  There is a large screen television where a video of an actual rocket launch in the Gemini program played with the race starting at lift-off.  All of the courses are relatively flat on the west side of the Indian River.  The course is not closed to traffic as some of the residents living on the route need to exit and leave their homes; however, the residents are very accommodating and very few are actually on the course during the event which lasts from 6 AM until Noon.  There are police officers at each intersection making sure that only residents are allowed on the shortest route between their home and the nearest intersection.  During the event I only saw 2 cars on the course.  Water/Gatorade stations were located every mile and had plenty of friendly efficient volunteers taking care of the needs of the finishers: 1244 North Half, 2969 South Half, and 911 Full.  The event is always very well organized and fun with plenty of post-race food and extremely nice finisher’s medals.  I have done this event 17 straight years: 7 full marathons followed by 10 half marathons.

Packet Pick-up

Before The Race

After The Race

Don Nelson

Chester Kalb

Don Nelson

Gerda Kalb

Chester Kalb

Helen Kwait

Chester Kalb

Don Nelson

Maryann Nelson