Runners, on your marks! St. Pete Run Fest returns to the Sunshine City from November 15-17, showcasing the city’s resilience following recent hurricanes. This year’s festival is bigger than ever, with a three-day schedule featuring half a dozen races and a wide array of activities.
Main events include the Regenexx St. Pete Half Marathon, the Rollin’ Oats St. Pete Run Fest 10K, and the Duke Clean Energy Connection St. Pete Run Fest 5K. To make it even healthier for the city, St. Pete Run Fest will be an ocean-friendly event with no single-use plastics.
The festival isn’t just about races; there’s something for the whole family. This year’s First Horizon bank Pelikids Youth Runs offers kids three race experiences, with options for ages 1-13. The Lil’ Shrimp Fun Runs feature a 0.05K run for 1-2-year-olds and a 0.1K for preschoolers aged 3-4. The PeliKids One Miler, designed for kids 5-13, takes them along the scenic downtown St. Pete waterfront.
For furry family members, the Veg Pelipaws Dog Walk will benefit Pet Pal Animal Shelter. This half-mile walk/run begins at Albert Whitted Park and ends at the St. Pete Run Fest finish line on Bayshore Drive.
New this year is the Body Electric Team Tailgate Zone, where running groups of 20 or more can tailgate with snacks and drinks in their own tent and compete for prizes.
Enjoy the Sunshine City while supporting locals in need
A portion of proceeds from every mile run will go to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic to support their We Help FRESH Pantry and Mobile Pantry, providing nutritious food to 20,000 Pinellas County neighbors each month. Registration for all events can be found here.
In addition to the races, the Regenexx Good Sweat Festival at Albert Whitted Park will take place Friday through Sunday. This celebratory event will feature local artists, live music, food, and drink, along with vendors offering the latest in fitness, training, nutrition, and sports apparel.
Pick your favorite race, or go for all three
Each race offers scenic waterfront views, with varying distances and routes, so runners may want to add a second or third race to their itinerary. St. Pete Run Fest shared descriptions of each race course:
Regenexx St. Pete Half Marathon: “Your run starts on Bayshore Drive next to the world-renowned Salvador Dali Museum, overlooking the waters of Tampa Bay. From there head up 1st Avenue South past the USFSP campus. Then take a tour through the Grand Central District, EDGE District, The Deuces, and Warehouse Arts District as you head back on Central Avenue, with its unique shops and restaurants.
“Once back on the scenic waterfront, run through the historic Old Northeast and Snell Isle neighborhoods, before a photo finish on Bayshore Drive next to the Mahaffey Theater Plaza.”
Rollin’ Oats 10K: “Experience the heart of St. Pete with this 6.2 mile course through downtown, the scenic waterfront, and the spectacular St Pete Pier. Your run starts on Bayshore Drive next to the world-renowned Salvador Dali Museum, overlooking the waters of Tampa Bay. From there head downtown onto Central Avenue, with its unique shops and restaurants, then back to the waterfront, featuring a run on the spectacular St. Pete Pier, before finishing on Bayshore Drive in front of the Mahaffey Theater.
Duke Clean Energy Connection 5K: “Known as the ‘Sunshine City,’ St. Pete holds the Guinness record for most consecutive sunny days – 768 to be exact. Join in the Run Fest weekend on Saturday with a 3.1 mile run/walk along St. Pete’s beautiful waterfront, including the spectacular St Pete Pier. Set a PR on this flat and fast course, or run/walk just for fun with your family and friends.”
Veg PeliPaws Dog Walk: “Bring your favorite pooch and join our PeliPAWS Dog Walk/Run to benefit Pet Pal Animal Shelter. If you have a dog/people-friendly dog who enjoys walking on a leash, and wants to feel like they’re part of a BIG pack, then this fun event is for you!”
PeliKids Youth Runs: Saturday’s kids runs take place on Bayshore Boulevard, letting little runners cross the finish line at The Mahaffey. Events include Lil’ Shrimp Fun Runs, the PeliKids One Miler, and the PeliKids Marathon Challenge.
Full course maps and registration are available at stpeterunfest.org.
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