If you’ve ever seen the Jim Carrey film The Truman Show, then you have an idea of the kind of beautiful coastal architecture you’ll find along the route at the annual Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K, which takes runners on a long, straightaway-style out-and-back course along Highway 30A through several beach towns that stretch along Florida’s Gulf coast.
Seaside School Half Marathon & 5k
Date
Feb 18, 2024
Starting Time
7:00 AM
Course
Road
Fees
$75 - $100
Location
Seaside
Participants
1,000-10,000
Terrain
Fast & Flat
Environment
Oceanfront
Temperature
High: 64°
/ Low: 45°
Overview
Course Description
More than 4,000 runners show up each year for the half-marathon and the 5K event combined, for a race that’s mostly flat and fast, with ample views of the scenic Gulf waters and beaches, including Watercolor, Graytown Beach, Santa Rosa Beach and more.
Both the 13.1-mile half marathon and the 5K start in front of the post office in downtown Seaside along Highway 30A, and from there follow a route that takes runners westward along the highway for six and a half miles, and then six and a half back in reverse back to the starting line.
The half marathon turnaround point lies near the intersection of Laura Hamilton Boulevard and Highway 30A, just past Irwin Creek. After that, runners retrace their steps all the way back to the post office, where the race finish line lies. The course is both runner- and walker-friendly — walkers are encouraged to sign up.
Runners in the half marathon start their race at 7:00 AM, followed by those running in the 5K at 7:25 AM. Organizers will keep the course restricted to runners for three hours, after which they begin re-opening the route to normal auto traffic.
They will continue to keep the course open until 10:30 AM, which means that runners will need to keep a pace of 14 minutes per mile or better in order to finish in time to have their official race time recorded.
Past Results
