Additional Information
We are proud to introduce The Inaugural Florida Beach Halfathon & 5K Race, scheduled for Sunday, March 21, at our nation's favorite beach: Fort De Soto Park, just south of St. Petersburg.
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.
Our area's weather in mid-March: average low is 61, average high is 76, 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
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
• Eight aid stations stocked with Gatorade, water, oranges and friendly volunteers
• Running 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 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 Beach 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
FLORIDA 52.4 MILE ENDURATHON
This race is also the final opportunity to complete the newly created Florida 52.4 Mile Endurathon. In addition to competing for overall and age group awards, athletes' finishing times will be tracked as they accumulate their mileage to complete the 52.4 Mile Endurathon, with additional rewards for overall and age-group series' champions.
Athletes can complete their 52.4 miles by:
- finishing all four of our Halfathons
- finishing two of our Halfathons and our full Marathon
- finishing three of our Halfathons and our full Marathon - we will drop your slowest Halfathon
- finishing four of our Halfathons and our full Marathon - we will drop your two slowest Halfathons OR your full marathon
The Florida Gulf Beaches Road Races Schedule
Saturday, October 31: Inaugural Florida Halloween Halfathon & 5K, Ft. De Soto Park
Sunday, December 13: 8th Annual Florida Holiday Halfathon, Madeira Beach to Largo
Saturday, January 23: 4th Annual Clearwater 5-Miler, Clearwater
Saturday, January 23: 5th Annual Clearwater Halfathon, Clearwater
Sunday, January 24: 7th Annual Clearwater Marathon, Clearwater to Indian Shores to Clearwater
Sunday, January 24: Inaugural Clearwater 5K Fitness Walk, Clearwater
Sunday, March 21: Inaugural Florida Beach Halfathon & 5K, 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
$30 online for the first 100 entrants or July 31, 2009
$35 online for the next 100 entrants or August 30, 2009
$40 postmarked/online until November 8, 2009
$45 postmarked/online until January 3, 2010
$50 postmarked/online until February 14, 2010
$60 postmarked until March 13, 2010
$60 online only until March 17, 2010
$70 on-site registration, March 20-21, 2010
HALFATHON ENTRY FEES
$20 postmarked/online until November 8, 2009
$25 postmarked/online until February 14, 2010
$30 postmarked until March 13, 2010
$30 online only until March 17, 2010
$35 on-site registration, March 20-21, 2010
Refund Policy
There are no refunds, transfers or credits, unless you register by November 8, 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's Beach Halfathon on or about April 1, 2010.
