Additional Information
Welcome!
Thanks for your interest in our 10TH ANNUAL Florida Holiday Halfathon.
We invite you to join the holiday fun on our point-to-point course, which is fast, flat, scenic and aesthetically varied: just one small bridge (Park Boulevard Bridge, four miles into the course) and two overpasses, with the rest of the course 10 - 25 feet above sea level.
The course is accurately measured and USATF certified, starting in Madeira Beach, heading north on Gulf Boulevard through exclusive residential and commercial communities to Indian Shores, before heading inland to Seminole, north along the smoothly paved Pinellas Trail into shaded and scenic Taylor Park, to the lakefront finish line, the perfect place to relax, recover, listen to live music, eat our homemade hot food, and enjoy some ice-cold Michelob Ultra.
Afterwards, shuttle buses are available to return you to your vehicles near the start line.
All finishers earn unique, running starfish gold medals.
Awards for M/F Open, Masters (40+) and Grand Masters (50+), three deep; age group awards offered three deep in 5 year increments.
7 Aid stations with enthusiastic volunteers, water and Gatorade, and fresh Florida oranges starting at the midpoint.
Florida's weather in December can't be beat: average low is 52, average high is 72, perfect for running and an early-winter vacation on our award-winning beaches!
This will be a great race for runners training for Disney, Gasparilla, Miami, and Ocala, and for endurance athletes seeking a final race before the holidays.
Walkers are welcome. We offer an early start at 7:05 am and course support based on a 3:30 pace. This allows you to arrive earlier to our finish line celebration in Taylor Park, while also reducing the duration of road closing and volunteer commitments.
ENTRY FEES
$45 online for the first 50 entrants - SOLD OUT
$50 postmarked/online until July 11, 2011
$60 postmarked/online until November 6, 2011
$70 postmarked/online until December 4, 2011
$70 online only until December 7, 2011
$80 race weekend, on-site registration, December 7-11, 2011
REFUND POLICY
There are no refunds, transfers or credits, unless you register by August 11, AND notify the race director of your withdrawal at least two weeks prior to the race. There are NO transfers to other athletes. ALL refunds from ALL races will be issued at the same time - after our Florida Beach Halfathon on or about April 1, 2012.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Florida's weather in January can't be beat: average low is 51, average high is 71, perfect for long distance running and a mid-winter vacation on our award-winning beaches!
Since we started in January, 2000, our races have attracted athletes from nearly every state in the USA and about 20 different countries.
FITNESS WALKERS
Are welcome in all of our events and encouraged to participate. Walkers in our Halfathon expecting to finish slower than a 15-minute per mile pace are required to start early at 6:35 am, allowing them to reach the finish line by the 10:05 am cut-off for the Halfathon. This early start also allows our road restrictions to expire earlier, keeping residents and city officials happy with our event.
USATF SANCTIONED
All our races are sanctioned and insured through USATF for runners, joggers, and walkers ONLY. Strollers, skaters, skateboards and bicycles are NOT allowed on the course during our races.
HEADPHONES AND IPODS
Headphones of any type are now allowed at USATF sanctioned events, but are discouraged due to safety concerns, not only during the actual race, but as importantly, while athletes are training in an uncontrolled environment. Individual races may impose their own regulations, but we don’t, as it would be nearly impossible to enforce.
HALFATHON AWARDS
All finishers will earn unique, Running Starfish gold medals.
Custom plaques for M/F overall, masters (40+) and grandmasters (50+), three deep
Age group awards offered three deep in standard 5 year increments.
ATHLETES ENJOY
• Deep discounts on registration fees for early entrants - see below
• A fair refund policy for early entrants – see below
• Accurately measured, USATF certified course
• Extremely safe courses with substantial traffic control including cones and police
• Accurate mile markers; Computerized timing / scoring
• Early start for our fitness walkers
• Multiple aid stations stocked with Gatorade, water, and friendly volunteers
• Fresh Florida oranges available after mile 4
• Running Starfish gold medals for all halfathon and marathon finishers
• Awards for the top three in standard age groups
• Halfathon Overall, Masters (40+), and Grandmasters (50+) plaques for the top three males and females
• A complete web-site for easily accessible information:
- Course maps and photos
- Race Records page for overall and all age groups
- On-line registration
- On-line confirmation frequently updated
• Regular e-mails, providing updated information
• Opportunity to pick up bib numbers on race day
• Colorful t-shirt highlighting the Holiday theme
• Finish-line celebration in beautiful Taylor Park:
- An assortment of fruits, bagels, and pastries
- Freshly prepared homemade pasta
- Ice-cold Michelob Ultra on tap
- Live entertainment
3RD ANNUAL FLORIDA HALFATHON SERIES
• October 30, 2011 Florida Halloween Halfathon & 5K Race
• December 11, 2011 Florida Holiday Halfathon
• January 22, 2012 Clearwater Halfathon, 5 Miler, and 5K Fitness Walk
• March 18, 2012 Florida Beach Halfathon & 5k Race
In addition to offering finisher awards and event overall awards after each race, we also track each athlete's finishing times and add them together to determine Champions of the Florida Halfathon Series.
Athletes accumulate their total finishing time by completing any three of our four halfathons during each season from Halloween through March. Those athletes who complete all four of our halfathons will have their slowest time dropped automatically.
To recognize our fastest and most consistent halfathon athletes, we offer special overall and age-group rewards based on three halfathons. We also recognize athletes who complete all four of our halfathons with exclusive finisher medals and shirts.
For information, please visit our website at: www.FloridaRoadRaces.com.
Our simple goal is to exceed your expectations.
Run on our roads, relax on our award-winning beaches!
