St. Pete Run Fest Draws 30,000

St. Petersburg will host its annual Run Fest from November 13 through 15, drawing an estimated 12,000 runners and up to 30,000 total attendees to the downtown waterfront. The three-day event centers on a series of races and community activities designed to raise funds for local organizations and pediatric cancer research.

The festival’s schedule includes several major races, with the Regenexx St. Pete Half Marathon serving as a headline event. That 13.1-mile course begins on Bayshore Drive near the Salvador Dali Museum and winds through the Grand Central District, EDGE District, and Warehouse Arts District. Runners will finish on Bayshore Drive near the Mahaffey Theater Plaza.

Shorter distances are available for participants who prefer less mileage. The Orlando Health 10K covers 6.2 miles, featuring a segment on the St. Pete Pier before ending in front of the Mahaffey Theater. The LMCU 5K offers a 3.1-mile flat course along the waterfront. St. Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive sunny days, a fact organizers cite when describing the 5K route.

Youth activities form a core part of this year’s program. The Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete Pelikids Youth Runs provide options for children from age one through eighth grade. The Lil’ Shrimp Fun Runs include a 0.05K distance for toddlers aged one to two and a 0.1K run for preschoolers aged three to four. The Pelikids One Miler, for children ages five to 13, runs along the downtown waterfront.

Proceeds from the youth runs support the American Cancer Society’s Gold Together campaign, which funds support for children with cancer and their families. A separate VEG ER for Pets Dog Walk will benefit VEG Cares. That half-mile event starts at Albert Whitted Park and ends at the finish line on Bayshore Drive.

Entertainment extends beyond the competitive races. The Tampa Bay Mascot Championship will feature local sports mascots racing one another in front of the crowd. The Good Sweat Festival will occupy Albert Whitted Park from Friday through Sunday, offering live music, food, and vendors selling fitness and sports apparel.

The event will operate as an ocean-friendly gathering, banning single-use plastics. A portion of proceeds from every mile run will go to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. That organization uses the funds to support its We Help FRESH Pantry and Mobile Pantry programs, which provide nutritious food to approximately 20,000 Pinellas County residents each month.

Other beneficiary organizations include the St. Pete Youth Farm, which uses urban farming to train young leaders, and Jump for Kids, which promotes healthy habits for ages five to 17. Registration for all events is available at stpeterunfest.org.