Ameris Bank Jacksonville Marathon
Jacksonville, United States · December · Independent
Why people love it
- Flat: about 45 m (148 ft) of gain; certified Boston qualifier.
- About 85 percent shaded per the organiser, in a mild December.
- Gym staging with real restrooms and a finish lap on a school track.
- Large custom medal; one runner called the fee very low.
- Water, Gatorade and gels about every 3.2 km (2 mi).
Watch out for
- Mostly residential streets and little crowd support for a field of about 700.
- Open neighbourhood traffic reported late in the race.
- Humidity or headwinds can cost time even in December.
- The start is a drive from downtown; no walk-to-start hotels.
- The 2025 marathon sold out, so register early.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
RaceRaves 3.9 of 5 from 10 ratings. Repeat runners like the flat shaded course, gym staging and big medal; · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
RaceRaves production 4.0 from only 10 ratings. Signage, water and parking praised; open neighbourhood traffic late and limited food are the complaints. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Flat (45 m (148 ft), 148 ft of gain), a 6 hour limit, a small field and a gym for shelter. Few crowds to carry a first-timer. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.0
Flat and 85 percent shaded in a cool December; 15.5 percent of 692 finishers qualified for Boston in 2025. Humidity or headwinds can cost time. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.1
RaceRaves scenery 3.3. Neighbourhoods with oaks and some river sections; one runner found it entirely residential and away from the water. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.8
About 700 finishers on roads one 2025 runner called wide. Out-and-back sections in older editions. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Paved neighbourhood roads; no problems reported, but runners rarely comment either way. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.7
One 2022 runner faulted open neighbourhood traffic later in the race; cones on residential roads. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.5
Gain of 45 m (148 ft) per Marathon-Index and up to 67 m (220 ft) per another page; flat either way. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop from and to the same school, so no net drop. Boston qualifier. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth4.1
Indoor gym staging with real restrooms, easy parking and a shuttle from the overflow lot. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
Pace groups exist and use run/walk per one runner; timing is certified. Pace range not described. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.4
Local and residential with a small field of about 700; reviewers talk about volunteers, not crowds, and singing aid-station volunteers. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Aid about every 3.2 km (2 mi) with water and Gatorade, gels at later stops; one 2022 runner wanted more nutrition. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
A forecast showed headwinds for miles 3 to 11 (5 to 18 km) in one year; shade shelters part of the course. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Typical 7 to 18 °C (45 to 64 °F), in the ideal band most years; warm years reach 21 °C (70 °F) and humid. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Rain is common in December and temperatures swing from 4 to 21 °C (40 to 70 °F) across recent years. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Start and finish at Bolles School and the return passes the 5K start; the rest is dispersed residential roads. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 5 m (16 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Large city with many hotels, though none right at the school. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
December is off-peak for Florida beach areas; Jacksonville hotels are generally moderate. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.3
The San Jose venue is a drive from downtown; the overflow shuttle suggests car travel. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.9
Jacksonville airport is about 35 km (22 mi) away and driving is easy. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.9
Pickup at a running store the day before or on race day, easy parking and a bag area in the gym. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Riverside and downtown dining are a short drive; one runner recommends a Florida winter trip. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early3.3
Open entry, but the 2025 marathon reportedly sold out, so register early. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
One runner called the cost very low; RaceRaves swag 4.3. Large custom medal, tech shirt and post-race food. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Jacksonville, Duval County, United States
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 12 December 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 700 athletes
- First held
- 1984
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 45 m (150 ft)
- Start time
- 08:00
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved neighbourhood roads, finish lap on a school track
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 7–18 °C (45–64 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate to humid; about 65% typical December estimate
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Jacksonville International (JAX), 35 km (22 mi) away
- Where to stay
- San Jose / Southside, Riverside / Avondale, Downtown
- Booking
- Car needed: Bolles School is in the San Jose area south of downtown. Hotels along Southside/Baymeadows or downtown.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
10 ratings, 3.9 overall; difficulty 1.7, scenery 3.3, production 4.0, swag 4.3. Runners agree it is flat, fast and shaded with plentiful hydration and a track finish. Complaints are a residential course, open traffic late, limited nutrition and humidity.
“Flat, fast, and wide; plenty of water and Gatorade.”
- BibRaveaggregator · Positive
A short-notice half marathon runner called it no frills but very cheap, praised the free overflow-lot shuttle and post-race food, and would run it again.
“Would run this again for sure.”
- RunnersConnect athlete recapsRaced 2016 · blog · Mixed
Recaps from the earlier Jacksonville Bank Marathon era (about 450 marathon entrants, dark rainy start). Runners called it flat, with rain nearly every year and a stretch off the beach that traded views for headwinds and soft footing.
“It rains nearly every year for this race.”
Raced Ameris Bank Jacksonville Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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