Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Registration is at the Halfathon race site at Madeira Beach City Hall from 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.

Yes, we accept all credit cards.

Early entrants who register by September 8, 2019 are eligible for refunds of entry fees or deferral to another upcoming race – athlete’s choice. To receive a refund, deferral, or credit, you must register by September 8, 2019 for the Florida Holiday Halfathon & 10K and notify the race director by email (not Facebook) at least 3 weeks before the race or by November 17, 2019.  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. 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 (Shamrock Distance Classic), on or about April 1, 2020.

No. You may not give or sell your bib to another individual. The other individual’s results may compromise scoring as they may be in a different age/gender bracket than yourself.The other individual will not be covered by USATF race insurance if there should be an injury. They will be disqualified.

Canadians may register online or by printing the entry form, with check payable in U.S. Dollars. All other international participants MUST register online using a major credit card. International participants requiring invitations to secure visas must request letter by September 1. You must include in your request your full mailing address as well as the address of the U.S. Consulate in your area. Letters of invitation will be sent by mail only.

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.).

Yes. There will be 2 packet pickups before the race, as well as on race morning.

There will be no packet pickup at Taylor Park, nor Seminole City Park, on race morning for the 10K participants. You MUST pick up your packets prior to race day, or at Madeira Beach City Hall early on race morning, or have friends pick them up prior to race day.

Click here for packet pickup schedule.

Yes. You can register for the race at the packet pickups before the race, as well as on race morning at Madeira Beach City Hall.
Click here for packet pickup schedule.

If someone else picks up your race packet for you, they MUST have a copy of your confirmation sheet.

If you are picking up for a group, it helps us tremendously if you have all the names written on a sheet of paper. This will expedite the process and keep the line moving. Extra points if they are in alphabetical order!

Yes, there will be packet pickup at the race site at Madeira Beach City Hall from 5:00 – 7:00 a.m. Please come early so you have plenty of time to prepare for the start of the race.
There will be no packet pickup at Taylor Park, nor Seminole City Park, on race morning for the 10K participants. You MUST pick up your packets prior to race day, or at Madeira Beach City Hall early on race morning, or have friends pick them up prior to race day.

Address: 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, Florida.

Get driving directions from Google Maps.

• From Clearwater (north): South on Seminole Boulevard to Bay Pines, west over causeway to Madeira Beach, turn right on Madeira Way, first right onto Municipal Drive, to Madeira Beach City Hall.
• From St. Petersburg (south): West on Tyrone Boulevard onto Bay Pines, continue west over causeway to Madeira Beach, turn right on Madeira Way, first right onto Municipal Drive, to Madeira Beach City Hall.
• From Tampa (east): I-275 south to Park Boulevard (Gandy exit), west to Seminole Boulevard, south to Bay Pines, west over causeway to Madeira Beach, turn right on Madeira Way, first right onto Municipal Drive, to Madeira Beach City Hall.

Free parking is available:

• Behind City Hall
• In the library parking lot, next to City Hall
• Adjacent to the baseball fields

Metered parking is available at Archibald Park.

The 10K Start line is on Pinellas Trail next to:
Seminole City Park
7464 Ridge Road
Seminole 33772

Athletes may be dropped off at Seminole City Park prior to the race start, but there is NO PARKING at the start line. Please park at Taylor Park, Largo, and take the free shuttle bus to the start line at 6:30, 6:45 and 7:00 a.m.

Free parking will be available at Taylor Park starting at 6:15 a.m.
1100 8th Ave SW
Largo, 33770

We will have free Shuttle Buses to take you to the 10K Start Line before the race.
Buses will leave at 6:30, 6:45, and 7:00 a.m.

Free shuttle buses will leave at 6:30, 6:45 and 7:00 a.m., transporting 10K athletes from Taylor Park to the start line on the Pinellas Trail next to Seminole City Park.

Taylor Park is located at:
1100 8th Ave. S.W., Largo FL 33770

Get directions from Google Maps

Yes, there is plenty of parking throughout the park. Park opens at 6:15 a.m.

Free shuttle buses will operate from 9:15 a.m. – 11:30 noon, transporting finishers from the finish line at Taylor Park back to the start at Madeira Beach City Hall.

Yes, at Madeira Beach City Hall. Use your packet pickup bag, which has a label for your name and race number on it for your non-valuable items (jacket, gloves, hats, etc.). The bags will be transported to the finish line at Taylor Park. No wallets, cell phones, or other valuables should be put in the bags as we cannot be responsible for missing items.

Yes. The Holiday Halfathon and 10K course is accurately measured and certified by the USATF. To view the course maps click here.

Yes, our point-to-point Halfathon course starts at Madeira Beach City Hall and heads north through five, unique beach communities to Indian Shores, before heading inland to Seminole, and north along the Pinellas Trail to the lakefront finish line at Taylor Park.

The 10K course starts on the Pinellas Trail near Seminole City Hall and continues with the Halfathon course to the lakefront finish line at Taylor Park.

The course is fast and flat. The highest point (Park Boulevard Bridge, four miles into the course) is just 25 feet above sea level, with the rest of the course 10 – 25 feet above sea level.

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.

Walkers expecting to finish slower than 4 hours will be required to start 30 minutes earlier, at 6:35 am. This will give walkers adequate time to arrive at the finish line and will enable us to open the course to traffic earlier, which will keep residents and city officials happy.

No. Due to insurance restrictions and liability concerns, only runners, joggers and walkers are allowed.

There are seven aid stations stocked with water and Gatorade:

#1 Aid Station: Mile 2.1 (Portalet)
#2 Aid Station: Mile 3.8
#3 Aid Station: Mile 4.9 (Portalet)
#4 Aid Station: MIle 6.9 (Public restroom)
#5 Aid Station: MIle 8.8 (Portalet)
#6 Aid Station: Mile 9.5
#7 Aid Station: Mile 11.8

Fresh Florida oranges are available at the mile 6 aid station.

Medical support is available from ambulances stationed at mile 2, mile 7, and at the finish line. If you need medical assistance, the ambulances will be mobile and able to respond.

Yes, we have a fabulous post-race party including pasta, breakfast pastries, fruit, munchies and beer. There is live music for your entertainment. We’ve heard rumors that Santa will join us.

Yes, licensed sports massage therapists will have a tent set up and will provide massages in 10 minute increments at $12 per 10 minutes.

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

The awards ceremony starts around 9:45 a.m at the post-race party area. Santa will be making his annual appearance.

Yes. Please go the Virtual Runs page for information.

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.

In an effort to give back to our community, we invite small groups to adopt an aid station during each of our races. Any non-profit group of eight or more volunteers will receive a post-race donation of $200. Minimum age is 12. Run-oriented groups will receive comp entries to our upcoming races. 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! These are offered on a first-come basis and may fill up quickly. 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.

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 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.

4) Through our races, we provide exposure to other fundraising events via Facebook post, emails, and our goody bags.

5) 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.

6) 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.