|
|
|
First Timer's Guide
Race Calendars
Training Plans
|
|
Florida > Running for the Bay Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K & 50K
Apalachicola, FL • Sunday, October 20, 2013 • Course Map
 |
|
You'll get to experience an authentic piece of "Old Florida" at the autumn running of Apalachicola's Running for the Bay Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K & 50K Ultra, a race that takes runners and walkers on a long, straightaway run across the city's John Gorrie Memorial Bridge.
Here, runners get a long look at one of the country's most beautiful and ecologically important estuaries, where the water flowing in from the Apalachicola Bay's rivers and streams meets the Gulf of Mexico. Both walkers and wheelchair athletes are welcome at the race.
Like the other races in the event, the half marathon starts and finishes in Apalachicola near the intersection of 4th and Water Streets, near both Apalachicola's City Hall and Battery Park. From there, runners make a few turns on Market, 4th and Avenue C before heading onto the John Gorrie Memorial Bridge. Once on the bridge, runners follow it for the next six miles, with the beautiful waters of the bay beneath them and over each shoulder all the way across to the race turnaround in the town of Eastpoint.
The second half of the race is basically the first half in reverse, as runners and walkers make the turn and then head back across the bridge and finish the race back on Water Street in Apalachicola. Along the way, expect to see plenty of the scenery for which this area is well known -- boats out on the water in search of the sweet, salty, rich, fat oysters that abound throughout the waters of this estuary, as well as brown pelicans and ospreys flying through the sky.
One of the race's key features also is its "walk-a-thon," which means not that it's a separate race or course, but rather that participants will be able to walk or run any of the races in the event. And like you'd expect from a race in Florida, the terrain is mostly flat, with a few minor changes in elevation near the start/finish line and around the turnaround in Eastpoint. Also, the courses for both the full marathon and the half marathon are USATF (USA Track & Field) certified courses.
Just over 510 runners crossed the finish line in all five races combined in 2011, including just over 220 finishers in the half marathon alone. The scheduled starting time for the 2013 race is 7:15 AM for all races, and the course will be open for 8 hours, to allow both runners and walkers plenty of time to complete their race.
Race Weather & Climate
Nestled along the Gulf Coast of Florida, overlooking the waters of Apalachicola Bay and just over 75 miles southwest of Tallahassee, Apalachicola typically sees October temperatures that average between 61°F and 80°F, while rainfall totals average just under 4.2 inches for the month.
On the day of the race (Oct. 20), the average low is 59°F and the average high is 79°F.
Course Map
View the race route map for the Running for the Bay Half Marathon
Starting Time
7:15 AM
Fees
$60 for the half marathon, if registered by April 29, 2013
$65 between April 30 - May 19
$75 between May 20 - July 19
$85 between July 20 - September 19
Registration
To reserve your spot in the early fall 2013 running of Apalachicola's Running for the Bay Marathon, Half Marathon, 50K 5K or 10K race, register online at Active.com.
Official Race Website
www.runningforthebay.com
Leave a Comment
Ever run in Florida's annual Running for the Bay Marathon or Half Marathon? Share your impressions, stories and tips from the event.
|
|
|
