Additional Information
Join us for a howling good time at The 3rd Annual Halloween Halfathon & 5K Race, scheduled for Sunday, October 30, at our nation's favorite beach: Fort De Soto Park, just south of St. Petersburg. Costumes are encouraged!
Fort De Soto Park was recently named America’s Top Beach for the second consecutive year by TripAdvisory.
Citing a “spectacular combination of soft white sand, calm, clear water and a laid-back atmosphere,” the popular online travel network put the park’s North Beach at the top of its annual best-of list, based on TripAdvisor's Popularity Index.
This marks the third time in four years the pristine Pinellas County beach has received top honors on an annual “best-of” list. In 2005, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a.k.a. “Dr. Beach,” named Fort De Soto the nation’s #1 Beach.
GENERAL INFO
The halfathon course starts with a loop for the first 5K before an out-and-back 10 mile tour of Ft. De Soto Park. The aforementioned 5K loop comprises the 5K race.
Both courses are located entirely in Ft. De Soto Park and run on paved trails and access roads. These are extremely flat and fast courses with no bridges, overpasses, or discernible inclines. They will be accurately measured and certified by the USATF.
All Halfathon finishers earn unique, Halloween Starfish gold medals. In both the Halfathon and the 5k Race, awards are up for grabs 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 for the halfathon and 1 for the 5K, with enthusiastic volunteers, water and Gatorade, and fresh Florida oranges starting at the midpoint of the half marathon.
Our area's weather on Halloween: average low is 62, average high is 82, perhaps a tad warmer than preferred for running, but we will be starting the race 40 minutes before sunrise. Of course, the mild temperatures will be welcome while relaxing on our nation's #1 Beach after the race
Halloween Costumes are encouraged, but not mandatory. While we don't anticipate any athletes in gorilla costumes completing 13.1 miles, we do hope athletes will create costumes that will not adversely affect their running. That's our challenge to you. Or simply wear mismatched uniforms. Or orange and black. Celebrate this unique holiday tradition!
Walkers are welcome to join these races. Course support is based on a 3:30 pace. Due to our staging of this race entirely within a park and primarily on nature trails, we will NOT be offering an early walker's start. All athletes will start at the same time.
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 excellent traffic control, including cones and police
• Accurate mile markers; Computerized timing / scoring
• Seven aid stations stocked with Gatorade, water, oranges and friendly volunteers
• Halloween Starfish gold medals for all Halfathon finishers
• Awards for the top three in standard age groups
• Overall, Masters (40+), and Grandmasters (50+) plaques for the top three males and females
• A complete web-site (coming soon) for easily accessible information:
- 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 Halloween theme
• Finish-line celebration our nation's #1 Beach:
- An assortment of fruits, bagels, and pastries
- Freshly prepared homemade pasta
- Ice-cold Michelob Ultra on tap
- Live entertainment
3RD ANNUAL FLORIDA HALFATHON CHALLENGE
This race is also the first opportunity to run the first 13.1 miles of our 3rd Annual Florida Halfathon Challenge. In addition to competing for overall and age group awards each week, athletes' finishing times will be tracked to determine overall and age-group series' champions.
Athletes are ranked based on completing three Halfathons. For those athletes who complete all four Halfathons, we will drop your slowest race.
The Florida Gulf Beaches Road Races Schedule
Sunday, October 30: 3rd Annual Florida Halloween Halfathon & 5K Race, Ft. De Soto Park
Sunday, December 11: 10th Annual Florida Holiday Halfathon, Madeira Beach to Largo
Sunday, January 22: 7th Annual Clearwater Halfathon, 5-Miler, and 5K Fitness Walk, Clearwater
Sunday, March 18: 3rd Annual Florida Beach Halfathon & 5K Race, Ft. De Soto Park
For information about our complete schedule of races, please visit www.FloridaRoadRaces.com.
Run on our roads, relax on our award-winning beaches!
HALFATHON ENTRY FEES
$45 online ONLY for the first 50 entrants - SOLD OUT
$50 postmarked / online before July 3, 2011
$60 postmarked/online before September 11, 2011
$70 postmarked/online before October 23, 2011
$70 online only before October 26, 2011
$80 on-site registration, October 29-30, 2011
5K RACE ENTRY FEES
$20 postmarked / online before July 3, 2011
$25 postmarked/online before September 11, 2011
$30 postmarked/online before October 23, 2011
$30 online only before October 26, 2011
$35 on-site registration, October 29-30, 2011
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.
Refund Policy
There are no refunds, transfers or credits, unless you register by July 31, 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.
