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Florida > Half Shell Half Marathon
Key West,
FL
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Date
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Event
Details
Just over 650 runners crossed the finish line at the 2008 running of
Key West's Half Shell Half Marathon, which takes runners on a course to
see the wildly colorful sights and sounds of this island at the end of
the Florida Keys, organized by a local running club with quite an
appropriate name for its location -- the Southernmost Runners. Fast,
very flat and scenic throughout the race course, the event takes
participants mostly around the edge of the island and includes a bridge
crossing over Key West's Cow Key Channel to Stock Island and back, for
a run around the Key West Golf Course and Country Club.
The out-and-back 13.1-mile course for the race starts and finishes,
appropriately enough given its name, at the Half Shell Raw Bar on
Caroline Street, on Key West's western end. From there, the course
winds its way along several twists and turns through the city streets,
turning on Duval Street, Eaton Street and Whitehead Street before
hitting longer straightaways along Atlantic Boulevard and South
Roosevelt Boulevard, which is also part of Florida Highway A1A.
Along the race route, runners
have views of the ocean waters for virtually the entire course, and
pass by local landmarks like the Key West lighthouse, famed author
Ernest Hemingway's house, downtown Key West's "old town" area and the
southernmost point in the United States. The biggest elevation change,
and really the most challenging point in this flat and
beginner-friendly race, is the bridge crossing over to Stock Island,
over the Overseas Highway. Runners cross the bridge twice -- once going
over and once coming back -- and then head along Key West's northern
edge for the second half of the race heading back toward the finish
line.
Even though the race takes place in January, it still typically sees
relatively warm weather, so runners from climates where it's generally
colder during the season are encourage to stay well hydrated throughout
the race, as aid stations will be available every couple of miles, with
water and Powerade. The race begins at 7:00 AM, and there will be a
pasta dinner for all entrants the night before at the Half Shell Raw
Bar docks.
Race
Weather & Climate
Set along the end of the Florida Keys at the southernmost tip of the
United States, Key West enjoys mild to moderately warm weather
conditions in the winter, with relatively low rainfall compared to the
summer season. In January, average monthly temperatures range between
75°F and 65°F, while rainfall totals average around
2.22 inches for the month.
Fees
$45 if registered by January 18, 2009
$50 after Jan. 18
Registration
Online registration is not yet available for the winter 2009 running of
the Half Shell Half Marathon. Please check this space later for updated
information on how to register.
Website
www.southernmostrunners.com
Course Map
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Larger Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in Key West's annual Half Shell Half
Marathon? Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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