Florida Holiday Halfathon

Get in the spirit and jingle all the way to the finish line at our Annual Florida Holiday Halfathon. Join Santa, elves, and other joyful runners and get rewarded with a beautiful Holiday-themed medal.Runners get a chance to run along the fast, flat shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico at Madeira Beach’s annual Florida Gulf Beaches Holiday Halfathon, a half-marathon race that takes runners on a point-to-point route from Madeira Beach all the way up to Taylor Park, for a course that mixes stretches along the beach with a run along Florida’s Pinellas Trail.This race is perfectly timed for runners training for Disney, Gasparilla, Miami, Ocala or for endurance athletes seeking a final race before the holidays. No matter whether you wish to walk, run or ride, you’re welcome to participate in the race. And if you can’t make it to Madeira Beach for the race, you can participate in it via the “Virtual Run,” in which you can receive an official finisher’s medal and race bib when you sign up.

From the starting line on Municipal Drive in Madeira Beach, runners follow a course that takes them northward along the shoreline, through Redington Beach, North Redington Beach and Redington Shores, until they reach the intersection with Park Boulevard, where they turn right and begin heading eastward along Park and then Oakhurst toward Seminole City Park.After running around the park, runners then head northward again and enter the Pinellas Trail, running a long straightaway for the second half of the race all the way up toward Taylor Reservoir Park. The final stretch of the race takes runners around the edges of the reservoir, nearly all the way around to the finish line.The stretch along the Pinellas Trail, considered one of the longest “rails to trails” linear parks in the country, offers a scenic counterpart to the oceanfront stretches of the race, with trees and grassy areas that are closed to auto traffic year-round.

The flat, fast and visually varied course starts in Madeira Beach and ends at Taylor Park, where you can enjoy the natural beauty during our festive post-race party. You'll run through exclusive residential and commercial areas in our beach communities, along smoothly paved Pinellas Trail, and through shaded public parks.

There are several options for parking near the start line.

There are seven aid stations stocked with water and Gatorade.

Running Starfish Gold Halfathon Medals for all finishers Age Group Awards - 3 deep in standard 5 yr. age groups. Overall M/F Awards - 3 deep. Masters M/F Awards - 3 deep. Grand Masters (50+) M/F Awards - 3 deep.

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.

Will operate from 9:15 a.m. - 12:00 noon, transporting finishers from the finish line back to the start. Please indicate on the entry form if you will be needing shuttle services, to allow for our proper planning.