get ready for one of the most gorgeous road courses you'll ever run...
|
The DAYTONA 100 course is North Florida's first point-to-point ultramarathon, spanning over a dozen cities, four counties, and stretching from Atlantic Beach (Jacksonville area) 100 miles south to Ponce Inlet, a gem of a town located on the southern tip of a secluded peninsula, just 10 miles south of Daytona.
From the eclectic feel of Jacksonville and Neptune Beaches, through the upscale communities of Ponte Vedra / Palm Valley, and into America's First City, St. Augustine, the first 36 miles of the DAYTONA 100 offer unparalleled views of the ocean, multi-million dollar estates and a large dose of history. The "middle section" of the course--from St. Augustine to Beverly Beach--features some true laid-back "Florida" beach towns, including St. Augustine Beach and the beaches of the Palm Coast. It also features the luxe community of Hammock Beach. Finally, the last 33-34 miles of the course pass you through Flagler Beach and Ormond Beach on your way to the finish. After running through Daytona Beach and Daytona Beach Shores, you'll reach Ponce Inlet and the finish line at world-famous Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. You will enter Davies Park at the foot of the lighthouse--also the location of the Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial--and pass under the finish line arch near the park pavilion where the celebration begins. |
|
Following is a brief recap of each of the sections of the revised 100-mile course.
1. start to mile 16
(JAX beach to ponte vedra/Mickler's Beach)
|
The new race start is in eclectic Jacksonville Beach, at Beach Blvd. and 1st Street, in front of the JAX Beach Lifeguard Station. You will cross the starting line and turn north for 3.5 miles. You'll run through Neptune Beach to Atlantic Beach and a pretty, quiet residential neighborhood before turning at 14th Street and returning south. (Monitors and signs will keep you on track at the turns, and a water stop will be available there.) At Beach Blvd. in JAX Beach where the race began, is Time Station #1 (TS #1) and a mini-aid station. Your crew will be waiting for you there; no moving race vehicles are allowed for the first 7 miles. For these first seven miles and more, the road is a runner-friendly side-street (popular with local runners/cyclists on the weekend) that sees very little vehicular traffic.
|
Upon returning to Jacksonville Beach, the city--and the sun--will be just waking up, and you will likely be treated to a gorgeous North Florida sunrise over the ocean and the Jacksonville Beach Pier!
Once you run through Jacksonville Beach, you will briefly make your way down Duval Road--right along the beach--until you reach your "home" for a few miles on Ponte Vedra Boulevard. This street is generally pristine, with minimal traffic and some of Florida's most expensive homes (which are more accurately described as "compounds" or "estates"), as you run south through Ponte Vedra Beach.
You will pass right by the famous "TPC at Sawgrass" golf course, that the PGA Tour visits in its "Florida swing" each February.
Once you run through Jacksonville Beach, you will briefly make your way down Duval Road--right along the beach--until you reach your "home" for a few miles on Ponte Vedra Boulevard. This street is generally pristine, with minimal traffic and some of Florida's most expensive homes (which are more accurately described as "compounds" or "estates"), as you run south through Ponte Vedra Beach.
You will pass right by the famous "TPC at Sawgrass" golf course, that the PGA Tour visits in its "Florida swing" each February.
2. ponte vedra / MICKLER'S to st. augustine
(miles 16-36)
Just beyond Mile 16, Ponte Vedra Blvd. bends inward to merge with A1A. Before that, however, you will reach Time Station #2 at Mickler's Landing Beach Park, where you will meet your crew, and where a mini-aid station will offer water, ice and gels primarily to un-crewed runners. At the turn, you will start running on A1A through beautiful Palm Valley / Guana Preserve. Another mini-aid station will be located on the ocean side just beyond Mile 26, across from the GTM Preserve Exxon station.
At Mile 34, you will turn right and pass over the Frances & Mary Usina (Vilano) Bridge, which deposits you in downtown Historic St. Augustine. Before making the left turn onto San Marco Avenue at the traffic circle, you will arrive at Church of the Nazarene, location of Time Station #3, and a mini-aid station.
At Mile 34, you will turn right and pass over the Frances & Mary Usina (Vilano) Bridge, which deposits you in downtown Historic St. Augustine. Before making the left turn onto San Marco Avenue at the traffic circle, you will arrive at Church of the Nazarene, location of Time Station #3, and a mini-aid station.
St. Augustine, founded in 1565, is recognized as America's Oldest City. The DAYTONA 100 course travels right past the historic fort, Castillo de San Marcos, and through part of the town center. This is a relatively short stretch, but a very busy one, loaded with tourists and is the most congested part of the course. No stopping to meet your crew here!
3. st. augustine to MATANZAS INLET AREA
(miles 36-60)
|
After briefly touring St. Augustine, you will head over the Bridge of Lions out of St. Augustine, and head back to the beach communities. You'll pass through St. Augustine Beach, which will host a mini aid station at Mile 43 (Publix/Anastasia Plaza), which is Time Station #4.
Just beyond Mile 51 near the entrance to Southeast Intracoastal Waterway Park, you'll find an additional mini-aid station. You will then pass Ft. Matanzas National Monument and begin crossing the picturesque Matanzas Inlet area. If we have a sunny day for the race (which is quite likely), this section will be run when the sun is at its most powerful. And while the temperature should be moderate, if there is going to be a "hot" section of the course, this stretch will likely be it. |
|
4. matanzas AREA to GAMBLE ROGERS
(miles 60-72)
As you continue to make your way south, you will run through Marineland and Florida's famed Palm Coast, including Hammock Dunes. In this section, you will run on the Flagler Beach to Marineland Trail, a paved pedestrian/cycling trail that mirrors A1A all the way past Flagler Beach, until roughly Mile 76. At Mile 60, near the Publix at Hammock Dunes, you'll find Time Station #5 and full aid station support, with drinks, ice and an assortment of "runner food".
Varn Park is located at Mile 64, right on the ocean. Bathroom facilities there will be open all night. You will cross through the traffic light at Route 100 in Flagler Beach. Just across the Intracoastal Waterway on Route 100 is Wadsworth Park, where the 50-mile and 50-kilometer races will begin. Flagler Beach is a quintessentially "Florida" laid-back beach town which offers unobstructed ocean views. Continue past the light at S.R. 100 for two miles to Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area, location of Time Station #6 and an aid station.
Varn Park is located at Mile 64, right on the ocean. Bathroom facilities there will be open all night. You will cross through the traffic light at Route 100 in Flagler Beach. Just across the Intracoastal Waterway on Route 100 is Wadsworth Park, where the 50-mile and 50-kilometer races will begin. Flagler Beach is a quintessentially "Florida" laid-back beach town which offers unobstructed ocean views. Continue past the light at S.R. 100 for two miles to Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area, location of Time Station #6 and an aid station.
5. GAMBLE ROGERS to ormond beach
(miles 72-83)
|
|
Once you've reached Flagler County, charging hard towards Ormond Beach, you will have most of the course in your rear-view mirror. In eleven miles you will reach the light at E. Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach and the Mile 83 aid station on your right.
6. ormond beach to ponce inlet--THE FINISH!
(miles 84-100)
Shortly after Ormond Beach, you arrive in the race's namesake, Daytona Beach, a very active urban area. The route continues through Daytona Beach Shores and very laid-back Wilbur-by-the-Sea to Ponce Inlet, a pretty and quiet town, and home to the tallest lighthouse in Florida at 175 feet--the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse! You will remain on the ocean road (S. Atlantic Avenue) until turning right on Lighthouse Drive and right again on S. Peninsula Drive. Then, just 1/4 mile away, at the base of the Lighthouse, is the "Kay and Ayres Davies Lighthouse Park"--your finish line. Let the celebration begin.
