Music Half Marathons raises the volume on race experience

Before the end of the inaugural Sarasota Music Half Marathon in February an estimated 300 runners had already signed up for the 2016 race. 

“I don’t know how they did it,” said John Korff, event organizer.“Maybe they were running with phones.”

This year the Sarasota Music Half Marathon hopes to build more anticipation for the Feb. 7 race with the announcement of more music added to the route.

“We always wanted to have more music,” Korff said. “But how do you have more music without having a band every 300 yards?”

On the 2015 route participants passed music acts 28 times. This year the route is designed for runners to hear more music and pass bands a total of 42 times. A total of twenty bands and music acts have been booked to allow for music at every turn in the course. 

“We put the bands in locations so the runners can pass the bands a maximum number of times,” Korff said. 

Korff likens the experience to putting an iPod on shuffle. As runners make their way across the John Ringling Causeway they will have the support of the Sarasota High School Mighty Sailor Band to set the soundtrack for the dramatic incline. When they make their way down US-41 near Gulfstream the band Jah Movement will provide a reggae backdrop along the Sarasota Bayfront. 

Spectators and residents in the neighborhoods along the route can still anticipate to make some noise themselves. Kits with information and a courtesy cowbell will be delivered to homes along the route on Orange Avenue, McClellan Parkway and Osprey Avenue. 

“What pleasantly surprised us was how many people came to a point on the course to cheer [runners] on,” Korff said 

To accomodate the demand for the event there has been an increase in participation slots from 2,000 to 3,000 runners. Although the event isn't until February Korff predicts that the race will sell out a month in advance.