Saturday, March 17, 2012
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Registration and bib pick-up at the Alden Beach Resort, Gulf Blvd., St. Pete BeachSunday, March 18, 2012
6:00 a.m. Race-day registration and packet pick-up starts7:00 a.m. Wheelchair athletes start
7:05 a.m. Florida Beach & 5K Race start
8:45 a.m. Florida Beach 5K Race overall / age group awards
9:45 a.m. Florida Beach Halfathon overall awards
10:00 a.m. Florida Beach Halfathon age group awards
Start / Finish
Both races start and finish at Ft. De Soto Park's North Beach.Distances
Halfathon (13.1 miles)5K Race (3.1 miles)
Directions
Fort De Soto Park is located at the southern end of Pinellas County and easily accessible from any direction.From Interstate 275, watch for signs for the Bayway, which connects St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. Head west towards the beaches, turning south to Fort De Soto Park.
From the beaches, head south to St. Pete Beach, turning left at the Don CeSar Beach Resort onto the Bayway, turning south to Fort De Soto Park.
Once you reach Fort De Soto Park, turn right and follow the bend in the road to North Beach all the way at the road's end.
Course Limits
Since these races are being staged on recreational trails and access roads with minimal vehicular traffic, there is no course limit. Regardless of when you finish, we will be there awaiting your arrival.Course Highlights
Both races are staged entirely in Fort De Soto Park, recognized as one of the best beaches in the nation.
The course features a loop for the first 3.1 miles of the race, bringing athletes back through the start line.
The rest of the course is an extremely flat, out-and-back tour of Fort De Soto Park, mostly on paved recreational trails.
With a start time about 30 minutes before sunrise to avoid warm weather, the first portion of the race will take place in the dawn.
Sunrise should be directly ahead of our athletes before the turn-around at East Beach.
Check out our course map for the precise route.
USATF Certification
Both courses will be precisely measured and documentation provided according to USATF requirements, certifying our courses as accurately measured.Timing
All official results will be based on "Gun Time" as per USATF rules.Support
We offer Gatorade and water at 7 aid stations along the halfathon course, with the first located near mile 2, which will serve as the only aid station for the 5K.
Fresh Florida oranges will be available at six aid stations, starting near mile 4.
Medical support is available from ambulances stationed along the course, and at the finish line. If you need medical assistance, the ambulances will be mobile and ready to respond.
Weather Info
Average Low: 61 °Average High: 76 °
Average Monthly Rainfall: 3.29"
Sunrise: 7:34 a.m.
Halfathon Entry Fees
$45 online only first 50 entrants
$50 postmarked/online until Oct 30
$60 postmarked/online until Feb 5
$70 postmarked until March 11
$80 online only until March 14
$80 on-site registration, March 17-18
5K Entry Fees
$25 postmarked/online until Feb 5
$30 postmarked until March 11
$30 online only until March 14
$35 on-site registration, March 17-18
Please make checks or money order payable to:
Florida Gulf Beaches Road Races
Refund Policy
There are no refunds, transfers or credits, unless you register by November 19, 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, 2012.Confirmation
Click here for online confirmation. Entrants who register online receive confirmation via Active.com auto-responder. Entrants who register by mail, your cancelled check will serve as your confirmation. Athletes will not receive confirmation via regular mail.E-mail Address
Please enter your e-mail address on your entry form so that we can forward race updates to you. As this is our primary source of communication to our athletes, please add FLRoadRaces@aol.com to your address book, so that our updates do not get trapped in your spam filters.Packet Pickup
Saturday, March 17 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Alden Beach Resort, Gulf Blvd., St. Pete BeachParking
There is ample parking at North Beach in Ft. De Soto Park.Post-Race Celebration
Treats including food, beverage and live entertainment provided by local supporters.Halfathon Awards
- Unique gold running starfish medals for all Halfathon finishers
- Age Group Awards - 3 deep in standard 5 year age groups
- Overall Male & Female Awards - 3 deep
- Masters (40+) Male & Female Awards - 3 deep
- Grandmasters (50+) Male & Female Awards - 3 deep
5K Race Awards
- Age Group Awards - 3 deep in standard 5 year age groups
- Overall Male & Female Awards - 3 deep
- Masters (40+) Male & Female Awards - 3 deep
- Grandmasters (50+) Male & Female Awards - 3 deep
Lodging Partner
To be determined ...Learn more by visiting our Travel page.
Information
Chris Lauber, Race DirectorFlorida Gulf Beaches Road Races
P.O. Box 47774
St. Petersburg, FL 33743-7774
(727) 347-4440 (Voicemail)
E-mail: FLRoadRaces@aol.com
Web Site: www.FloridaBeachHalfathon.com
Additional information regarding race logistics will be posted here as it becomes available.
In addition to offering finisher awards and event overall awards after each race, we will also track each athlete's finishing times and add them together to determine Champions of the Florida Halfathon Challenge.
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 will offer special overall and age-group rewards based on three halfathons. We will also recognize athletes who complete all four of our halfathons in a special way, yet to be determined.
