Runners participating in the 12th annual DONNA Marathon Weekend Feb. 8-10, 2019 can expect a new flatter and faster course with start and finish lines at the Beaches Town Center.
“We believe The Beaches Town Center, with its eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and entertainment will provide runners with a unique beach destination experience,” said event founder Donna Deegan. “This is what runners are telling us they want. A beautiful running venue and one that also offers a welcoming fan experience and exciting post-race celebration.”
The 12th year’s weekend events including the 5K, marathon, half marathon and race expo will take place on the island, and participants will continue to enjoy Jacksonville’s four beach communities of Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach with scenic views and an outpouring of crowd support. The shift means the Intracoastal Bridge is no longer a part of the route. That makes the Boston Marathon-qualifying course, already one of Florida’s fastest, an even greater opportunity for some new personal records, according to the foundation. The exact route of the course will be announced soon.
“We are truly thrilled to welcome this amazing event to Neptune Beach,” said Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown. “Our community already embraces these runners with open arms, and I know our neighborhoods and our business community will go all out to support them and the wonderful cause they represent.”
DONNA Marathon Weekend is the signature event for The DONNA Foundation, providing financial assistance to families facing breast cancer, and breast cancer research at Mayo Clinic. Finishing breast cancer remains at the heart of this 26.2-mile beach block party.
Registration for the DONNA Marathon Weekend is open. For more information or to register, visit www.breastcancermarathon.com.
