Frequently Asked Questions

Can I register on race morning?

No, there will be no race day registration, online registration only. Since we are mailing bibs, we ask local athletes to please register by Friday, Oct. 22; our last day of mailing bibs to local runners is Saturday, Oct. 23.

What is the race refund policy?

Early entrants who register by July 31, 2021 (3 months prior to the race) are eligible for refunds of entry fees or deferral to another upcoming race – athlete’s choice. To receive a refund, transfer or credit, you must register by July 31, 2021 for the Florida Halloween Halfathon, 10K & 5K Race and notify the race director by e-mail (not Facebook) at least 3 weeks before the race or by October 10, 2021. This date is when we order your personalized bib and start preparing your packet.

There are no refunds due to cancellations due to an Act of God, such as weather, fire, natural disasters. No deferral or transfer is available if you do not show up for the race. All refunds will be issued after the last race of the series, the Shamrock Distance Classic, on or about April 1, 2022. If, in the meantime, you decide to register for one of our other 3 races, you can use your refund credit and not incur additional Active.com processing fees.

COVID-19 POLICY
If our race permit is withdrawn due to COVID-19 and this race is cancelled, you may defer your entry to any of our future races (we have 5 races per season), including this year or any following year. There is no expiration date, no transfer fee, nor processing fee.

If you have already signed up for all our races this season, you may transfer to the following year. Should our entry fees increase, you will be locked in at the price you already paid. See our race schedule at: http://floridaroadraces.com.

THERE ARE NO TRANSFERS OF BIBS TO OTHER ATHLETES. Non-registered runners will NOT be covered by USATF insurance and will be disqualified if caught.

Can I transfer my bib to another runner?

Sorry but no. You may not give or sell your bib to another individual. The other individual will not be covered by USATF race insurance if there should be an injury. The other individual’s results may compromise scoring as they may be in a different age bracket than yourself. They will be disqualified. You and the other individual will be prohibited from running in our races for 3 years.

Is there online confirmation?

Athletes who register online receive immediate confirmation from Active.com. Mail-in registrations also get auto-confirmation once the information is entered into the system.

What do I do if I cannot find my registration?

Email us [email protected]. In the subject line please put “Missing Registration.” Be sure to include your first and last name that you registered under (maiden name, etc.). Please note, if you registered for the series (Challenge or Triple Crown) your name will not appear in the search results for the individual race. Do a search under the series that you registered for.

Packet Pickup & Registration

Are there packet pickups before the race?

See Packet Pickup Page

Is there race day registration?

Sorry, there won’t be any race day registration

Can I pickup my packet on race day?

Limited packet pickup on race morning is for out-of-area athletes and those who registered late. All other registrants will have their bibs with chip mailed to them.

Directions and Parking

How do I get to Fort De Soto?

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.

Is there parking?

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

Do we have to pay the $5 parking fee?

No. We have paid for you to prevent a traffic jam at the entrance. Just drive right past the pay booth.

The Courses

Are the courses certified?

Yes. The Half marathon, 10K & 5K courses are accurately measured and certified by the USATF. To view the course maps click here.

Is the Half Marathon, 10K & 5k a loop course?

Yes, the races start and finish at Ft. De Soto Park’s North Beach. The course is extremely flat — parking lots, access roads, and paved recreational trails — an out-and-back tour of Fort De Soto Park. You will not be running on the beach.

Do we run on the beach?

No, you will be running on paved recreational trails and access roads with the beach, dunes, or woods in sight.

Is there a time limit?

We require that runners and walkers be properly prepared and trained to finish the Halfathon within 4 hours (18 minute/mile pace). Please note that 4 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.

Are strollers, dogs or bicycles allowed on the course during the race?

Sorry but no. Since this is a USATF certified course, and due to our insurance restrictions and liability concerns, only runners, joggers and walkers are allowed.

Will you have aid stations and portalets on the course?

There are 7 aid stations with 8 oz. bottled water and volunteers starting at about mile 2.2. There is a combination of permanent facilities and portalets available along the courses. Click here to see map.

Is there medical support?

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.

Where can I find race results?

Results will be posted at the Results page a few hours after the race.

I have a question about my finishing time. Whom can I contact?

For timing and scoring questions please e-mail us at [email protected]. Our chief scorer will get back to you within 24 hours.

Virtual Run

Is there a virtual run for this race?

Yes. Please go the Virtual Runs page for information.

Costumes

Are costumes mandatory?

Not at all. Please run in whatever you are comfortable in!

Volunteers

I would like to volunteer. How can I do this?

Thank you for your inquiry! Come be a part of the support system for your running community, and the out of towners who join us. Your time, energy and support are invaluable to all of us! Please go to the Volunteers page to sign up.

What is the Volunteer Fundraising Opportunity?

In an effort to give back to our community, we invite small groups to adopt an aid station during each of our races. Registered non-profit group of eight volunteers will receive a post-race donation. This is a fun way for running clubs, youth athletic teams, school groups, and other charities to participate in our community events while earning funds for your organization. If your group would like to participate, please register NOW!

Please note that registering does not guarantee you a spot. Our volunteer coordinator will be in touch with your group assignment.

On behalf of our athletes, many thanks to all in the Tampa Bay community for all your continued support.

Charities

What charities are you affiliated with?

Florida Road Races is a family-owned and operated business, with most of the revenue covering expenses, and hopefully some profit so we may continue to operate. Earning our living in this sport allows us to give back to our community in a variety of ways: 1) Unlike some other singular-cause events like “Komen Race for the Cure” where all the proceeds go to one non-profit, we donate cash to a number of local, micro non-profits such as running clubs, youth athletic teams, etc. that support our races with their volunteers. 2) We offer direct support to athletes in financial need through our Entry Fee Assistance program. We also invite local elite athletes to participate so they can continue to improve. 3) We encourage small non-profits to use our Clearwater 5K Walkathon as a fundraiser. In a nutshell, any non-profit that registers with us and recruits athletes to participate in the walk, receives $20 of the $30 entry fee. We have all the infrastructure, permits, etc. in place. All a non-profit needs to do is recruit its supporters. 4) We often provide comp entries as raffle items for auctions at churches, schools, fundraisers, etc., and we donate modest amounts of cash when our athletes are raising funds for their pet projects. 5) Through our races, we provide exposure to other fundraising events via Facebook post, emails, and our goody bags. 6) Our biggest area of charitable endeavor is to provide our race management services, equipment and time, pro bono or partial pro-bono, to non-profits that stage races. In prior years, we did this for the Partners For Life Police Appreciation Run. Recently, we helped the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation increase participation by 50% for its One Step Closer to the Cure 5K / 10K / 1 Miler. On September 27, we are helping a fellow race director stage her Sunrise Run. We also offer our time or equipment when applicable, such as volunteering at Gasparilla and the St. Pete Road Runners 5K Beach Series. 7) The absolute most satisfying charitable endeavor last season was to create and stage the “Tampa Bay for Boston Memorial Run.” Just about 3 weeks after the Boston Marathon bombing, we hosted 800 athletes in St. Pete for a candlelight vigil and memorial run, raising $15,000 for the victims through The One Fund Boston. As you can see, we LOVE being a part of the Tampa Bay running community and thoroughly enjoy being in a position where we can help in so many diverse ways. We don’t think we’ll ever have a hospital wing named after us, but we take great joy in helping people on a more direct, personal level.

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