26.2 with DONNA: Pacing & Race-Day Strategy
A flat, fast Boston-qualifying coastal course — and the only U.S. marathon devoted entirely to finishing breast cancer.
- Where:
- Jacksonville Beach, Florida
- When:
- February
- Course:
- Flat · coastal · beach section
- Best run as:
- Even pace
Course & elevation
The Donna is flat and coastal, run along A1A through Jacksonville’s beach communities with only a gentle Intracoastal Waterway bridge for elevation. A signature stretch of roughly two miles is run on the hard-packed sand of the beach itself, which can feel softer underfoot than pavement. It finishes near the Mayo Clinic campus.
- Start → Finish
- 12 → 12 ft
- Net
- +0 ft
- Total gain
- ≈ 40 ft
Key moments
- Mile 1–10Flat A1A miles through the beach communities — settle into goal pace early.
- Mile 11–13The beach section on hard-packed sand — shorten your stride and run by effort.
- Mile 16Intracoastal Waterway bridge — the one gentle rise on an otherwise flat course.
- Mile 25–26.2Toward the Mayo Clinic finish, carried by famous crowd support.
Pacing strategy
A genuine PR and Boston-qualifying course — pace evenly and trust the flat profile. Ease your effort and stride on the sand section so it doesn’t cost you rhythm, then resume goal pace once you’re back on pavement.
Plan your mile splits
Enter your goal time to get a mile-by-mile pacing band for 26.2 with DONNA. The even pace option is pre-selected to suit this course.
| Mile | Pace | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:09/mi | 9:09 |
| 2 | 9:09/mi | 18:18 |
| 3 | 9:09/mi | 27:28 |
| 4 | 9:09/mi | 36:37 |
| 5 | 9:09/mi | 45:46 |
| 6 | 9:09/mi | 54:55 |
| 7 | 9:09/mi | 1:04:05 |
| 8 | 9:09/mi | 1:13:14 |
| 9 | 9:09/mi | 1:22:23 |
| 10 | 9:09/mi | 1:31:32 |
| 11 | 9:09/mi | 1:40:41 |
| 12 | 9:09/mi | 1:49:51 |
| 13 | 9:09/mi | 1:59:00 |
| 14 | 9:09/mi | 2:08:09 |
| 15 | 9:09/mi | 2:17:18 |
| 16 | 9:09/mi | 2:26:28 |
| 17 | 9:09/mi | 2:35:37 |
| 18 | 9:09/mi | 2:44:46 |
| 19 | 9:09/mi | 2:53:55 |
| 20 | 9:09/mi | 3:03:05 |
| 21 | 9:09/mi | 3:12:14 |
| 22 | 9:09/mi | 3:21:23 |
| 23 | 9:09/mi | 3:30:32 |
| 24 | 9:09/mi | 3:39:41 |
| 25 | 9:09/mi | 3:48:51 |
| 26 | 9:09/mi | 3:58:00 |
| 26.22 | 9:09/mi | 4:00:00 |
Fueling & hydration
Aid stations roughly every 1.5–2 miles with water and sports drink. The coastal warmth and the energy cost of the sand mile raise fluid needs — drink steadily and keep gels on schedule.
Weather
Early-February northeast Florida is usually cool and pleasant for racing (40s–50s), though a warmer, humid morning or a sea breeze on the beach can both factor in.
Train for 26.2 with DONNA
Build a free, personalized marathon plan that progresses you safely to race day — with paces tuned to your goal.
Create your free plan