Jenny and I decided to run the Lake Minneola Race Around the Lake back in December. This race was put on by Sommer Sports, who run many Triathlons throughout the region. They had a choice of a Half Marathon, 12k or 5k race. We decided to run the Half Marathon because they advertised it as a "Fast Flat Course" and we thought it would be a good last Half to run this spring.
About a month or so before the race we were checking the Sommer Sports Website for more information about the race. They hadn't released a race map or packet pickup location yet. We also were checking the Facebook page about the race. Other people were also asking for this information on Facebook, but we were getting no response from Sommer Sports. Finally on the Wednesday before the race they announced that the race map was available and on Thursday before the race they sent an email out with details about packet pick up details.
We drove from Clearwater to Clermont, FL on Friday evening to pick up out packets and "Tech" shirts. The shirts we received were 70% cotton shirts. Not exactly what I call a tech shirt, but at least the logo was cool. We then drove to Orlando where we were staying for a couple of nights at the Grande Villas Resort which we got for a great price with a Groupon. The drive to the race was only going to be about 35 minutes so we planned to be there by 6AM on race day.
On Saturday morning we got up and got to Clermont at about 6:05 and found a decent parking spot about a half mile from the start line. We went over to the bathrooms and got in line. After about 40 minutes we both made it out of the bathroom and found out the start line was bout 1/4 mile away. we jogged there and got in place at about 6:55 for the 7:00 start time.
Once we got in line we stretched a little and kept watching the time. We were still waiting to start at 7:05 and nobody told us why we hadn't started. At about 7:15 a guy with a bullhorn said we'd be getting underway "shortly" and they were waiting for the course to be secured. At 7:25, he said we're going to do something "fun" and have a moment of silence for Boston, and then the race would start. I don't consider a moment of silence to be much fun and I don't think most people heard him anyway. We had the moment of silence and then rather than a National Anthem the bullhorn guy suggested we recite the Pledge of Allegiance, which was done in a half-hearted manner.
Finally, at about 7:35 or so we actually started the race. I had a race plan and a hope to PR based on the idea that this was a flat course. I went out pretty well at the pace I wanted and then we took our first turn, straight up a steep hill... I made it up the hill and then it flattened for a moment. During this time we knew there was another road we needed to turn back down to complete the first of the two spurs before we ran around the lake. Since I was back in the back I followed everyone in front of me. I never saw anyone directing the runners on the corners.
We looped back past the start line where the 12k runners were waiting to start. I was far enough in the pack that was able to get past the 12k runners before they started, but Jenny was caught in the 12k runners as they started. which made it difficult for her to maneuver through then and the faster 12k runners had to maneuver around her and other Half Marathon runners... Not good organization preparing for this.
After looping past the start line we had to take another spur before running around the lake. There was nobody directing people where to go for this spur, but since I had studied the course map I was able to determine where to go. This was an out and back before looping onto the main trail. I went out and we came across an UNMANNED water station. We had to pull out a cup and dip it in the bucket to get water. They didn't even bother to have water already in cups for us. I then finished the out portion and came back down the trail. There were several intersections with no police stopping the cars, and no volunteers telling runners where to go. Several runners took wrong turns and ended up running too short including the "Winner" of the race.
I then started on the loop around the lake. Thankfully this was somewhat flat. This loop started at about mile 6. At about mile 8 I was partway around the lake and facing traffic coming from both directions, which was quite uncomfortable since we were told the road would be closed.
I will give the race credit for having great volunteers for the water stops. They had enough water stops and with the exception of the unmanned one they were all well staffed and the volunteers were very encouraging. The big problem was that other than at the water stops there was no other support on the course. There were a few police officers around that were supposed to be securing the course and keeping traffic under control, but they apparently weren't doing a good job because there were too many vehicles and bicycles going by us very closely.
I finished the race and the announcer was calling names out. I finished in 2:26:17, which was my slowest Half Marathon yet. I got my medal at the end and went up to where the food was located. They had a good spread out so I grabbed a couple cookies, a banana and a hot dog. I then went down the course a bit to cheer Jenny on when she came in.
When Jenny finished they were no longer announcing people crossing the finish line and she came into the finisher's area to find out that they had run out of medals. This was quite discouraging. We then went to go and get some food and found that all they had left were some cookies and hot dogs. They were out of everything else.
All in all I would not run this race again. Sommer Sports mis-managed the race pretty badly and I would avoid races through them at all costs.
For me the only positives of the race were that the volunteers were very good, and the medals were actually quite nice for the people that received them.
As another note to the race the person who crossed the finish line first was disqualified because they didn't run the course properly. He was following the bicycle pacer and the pacer took a wrong turn at one of the many unmarked and unmanned intersections and he was consequently disqualified.
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