- December 6, 2025
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Debbie Rice and Mike Mason remembered skating laps around Nathan Benderson Park when it was known as Cooper Creek Park back in the early 2010s.
The two still look back fondly on those outings, even if there were no medals or points at stake. They just shared an obsession with the sport.
Both of them had the same thought — why not create a race of their own?
“It would be perfect to have a marathon here. It was like a dream we had,” said Rice, a 58-year-old Palmetto resident.
For a while, that was merely an idea. But when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and brought about a resurgence in outdoor roller-blading, Lakewood Ranch's Mason knew the time was right.
The Bont Florida Inline Skating Marathon was born, and five years later, it’s still here. Set for Nov. 8 at Nathan Benderson Park, the marathon — the largest of its kind in the state — will commence at 8 a.m., followed by age class, 25K and 13K races starting at 9:30 am.
All ages and skill levels are welcomed to register, but the marathon itself attracts skaters from over 30 countries. It represents the final event of the country’s inline marathon season following Sept. 27’s NYC Skate in Brooklyn, New York and Sept. 13’s NorthShore in Duluth, Minnesota.
“This is one of the most fun races to have," said Gregory Mallek, a 57-year-old Lakewood Ranch resident. "Everybody seems to enjoy it — the ones who are doing world-class and the ones who are doing it just as recreational. There’s no pressure in that space, other than if you want to put it on yourself.”
It mirrors a runner’s marathon — just on rollerblades. Races are 26.2 miles long and can be grueling for even the most experienced distance skaters. But there’s also similarities to cycling, since skaters get in draft lines and use slipstream to boost their speed.
Inlines (rollerblades) are commonly used for both speed skating and marathon skating as opposed to recreation-friendly quads (roller skates). Speed skating is mostly indoors on banked-wall circuits, where marathons are exclusively outdoors on a point-to-point route or closed loop.
Mason, the founder/president of FISM, targeted 2021 for the inaugural event. He was involved in triathlons at that time and, through his connections with race directors, gained an understanding of what it took to build an event from the ground up.
“We offer something that nobody can in the United States. We’re at UTC,” Mason said. “You can watch (the marathon with) a 360-degree view at Nathan Benderson tower. You have the shopping, dining, fun stuff for the family. It’s a one-stop shop for this area.”
An obstacle he’s faced since the very beginning is finding promoters. In a niche sport where popularity has fluctuated, there simply aren’t any.
The World Inline Cup offers a helping hand in that department. FISM is an associate race in the circuit — the highest-level international marathon series for inline skaters — but not a points race. Their results won’t count in the year-end standings of the four-stage 2025 WIC season.
Mason would’ve had to dish out a hefty $20,000 buy-in to be a points race. Instead, he paid $2,500 in return for associated status and the ever-valuable advertising that comes with it.
“I promote the living (heck) out of this event. I’ve traveled literally all over the world promoting it,” Mason said. “South America, Germany, England… making connections.”
With the exception of 2022’s iteration, which was cancelled because of a hurricane, FISM has steadily grown into a skating destination with international appeal. Several competitors are flying in from Europe and South America, and there’s even a team making the trek from Mongolia.
But the marathon also respects its roots. The biggest advocates for its success hail from within the state, and have continued to show out accordingly.
Rice — a USA Roller Sports Hall of Famer and 30-plus-time national champion — has been a crucial voice since the start. Fitting for such an age-friendly sport, though, there’s been outspoken representatives for generations after her.
FISM was the first marathon Brooke Pavek ever did.
“I’ve been skating since I was really little, but I’ve always loved distance. It clears my mind,” said the 23-year-old Gainesville resident. “(There’s also) the thrill of going super fast.”
She was on the scene at July’s 24-Hour Rollers of Le Mans in France, recruiting and promoting right alongside Mason.
He gave up the sport entirely at 16 years old and didn’t strap on a pair of inline skates again until he was 33. It was the simple decision to plop down on the couch with his daughter and tune in to the Olympics which spurred him to compete again.
And he’s so glad that he did.
“It's knowing that people are filled with love and bringing their love for skating here and having a good time,” Mason said. “Hey, it’s a win-win for everybody.”
