Race Information

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.

Parking

Parking is free. There is ample parking at North Beach in Ft. De Soto Park.

Course Highlights

Both the 15K and 5K courses start at North Beach and are pure out-and-back 9.3 mile and 3.1 mile tours of Ft. De Soto Park run on paved trails and access roads. You will NOT be running on the sand.

These are extremely flat and fast courses with no bridges, overpasses, or discernible inclines. They are accurately measured and will be certified by the USATF.

Course Time Limits

We require that runners and walkers be properly prepared and trained to finish the 15K within 3 hours (18 minute/mile pace). Please note that 3 hours after the start, course support (i.e. aid/water stations, volunteers, course marshals, clocks, etc.) is not guaranteed.

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 in their respective races.

No Strollers, Bicycles, or Dogs

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.

USATF Certification

Both courses have been 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. Chip times will be posted for our athletes’ review, but NOT used for scoring.

Weather Info

Our area’s weather in early October: average low is 62, average high is 82. Of course, the mild temperatures will be welcome while relaxing on our nation’s #1 Beach after the race.

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“The team DeMaio family have been running Chris and Rya’s races for ten years. Not only are these races fun, well organized, safe with the best post race parties, but we have come to love Chris and Rya as friends. They treat their athletes as family, always going that extra mile. These are our favorite races and look forward to running them for many years to come.”
– Kim & Bob DeMaio, Seminole, FL