St. Pete Run Fest, the City of St. Petersburg’s official running event, is gearing up for its 8th year, set to take place this weekend, Nov. 15-17.
Organizers are anticipating a record-breaking turnout of over 7,000 runners lacing up to participate, with expectations of twice that number attending the festival throughout the weekend.
As an economic and community milestone, Run Fest co-founder Ryan Jordan said the event serves as a powerful message to the world: the Tampa Bay area is open for business and thriving after recent challenges.
“This year has got a little extra meaning for us,” Jordan said. “I think it’s important, after everything we’ve been through, to put on a good show, to show everyone that we are resilient, we’re open and we’re amazing.”
The weekend will kick off Friday afternoon with the “Good Sweat” Festival and Expo at Albert Whitted Park, featuring more than 50 vendors, live entertainment and a new “Puppy Cuddle Station.” Visitors don’t have to run in the races to enjoy the festival, which is free and open to the public. At 6 p.m., the VEG PeliPaws Doggie Dash (“more of a walk,” said Jordan) welcomes leashed dogs to take part in raising money for Pet Pal Animal Shelter.
Saturday’s events will begin with the Rollin’ Oats 10K at 7 a.m., followed by the Duke Clean Energy Connection 5K, with a crowd of 2,500 anticipated. These races reflect the growing popularity of the festival, with ample room still available for new participants in the 5K, Jordan added. Saturday will also feature a Mascot Race at 10:15 a.m. and the First Horizon Bank Pelikids Races at 10:30 a.m., supporting the American Cancer Society’s “Gold Together” pediatric cancer research initiative.
On Sunday, the spotlight shifts to the Regenexx Half Marathon, where nearly 3,000 runners will take on a course along Central Avenue and St. Pete’s stunning waterfront. The final race will conclude in front of the Mahaffey Theater, followed by a loud and lively finish line party at 11 a.m.
This year’s event also includes the Tailgate Zone, hosted in partnership with Body Electric yoga studio, with teams of 30 or more runners from organizations, businesses and running clubs across Tampa Bay. Jordan said one reason this event continues to grow in popularity each year is its scenic courses and focus on supporting local charities and small businesses.
“We get to really show off a lot of the city, where other events, because they’re not running events, they don’t take up that much space,” Jordan explained. “So not only do we get to show it off by running through it and around it and in it, but then, we also welcome those local businesses that make St. Pete so awesome.”
As in past years, St. Pete Run Fest’s commitment to sustainability and charitable giving remains strong. Organizers have partnered with local charities such as the St. Pete Free Clinic and St. Pete Youth Farm, with a focus on composting and eliminating single-use plastics.
With runners traveling from across the country, St. Pete Run Fest brings substantial economic benefits to the area. Jordan noted that over 20% of participants are from out of town, contributing an estimated 3,000 room nights at local hotels. Restaurants, bars and other businesses, many still recovering from recent economic pressures, stand to gain as visitors flood the city.
Jordan noted that back-to-back hurricanes affected many of the festival’s local business partners. With road closures, reduced staff and even equipment damage, some partners faced significant setbacks. Yet community support rallied, and organizers worked closely with the city and local businesses to make the event a reality.
“We looked at it as a group effort to invest more of our own resources this year, offset hardships and ensure this event could move forward,” Jordan explained. “We all kind of got together and said, you know, ‘What better way to show off the city being open and beautiful than by showing off 13 miles of individuals that are positive, high-energy, out running?’”
Run Fest’s half marathon course typically winds through Tropicana Field, which is off the table this year after the building’s roof was blown off during Hurricane Helene. The course was also deviated from its traditional track down 1st Ave. S. as crews continue to clean up after a 500-foot tower crane fell into an office building.
Despite some setbacks and last-minute changes, Jordan expressed gratitude for the event’s growth and the community’s continuing support, highlighting the unique cultural backdrop that makes the event so popular.
“St. Pete has a vibe, an energy,” he said. “We try to highlight what makes this city unique by running down Central Avenue and through districts that show off the communities that make St. Pete special.”
Jordan said registration for the half-marathon and 10K races are getting close to full, so he recommends anyone who’s interested in joining to register online early this week. He said there’s still plenty of room to join the 5K, dog walk and kid’s race, and additional volunteers are still needed to help ensure the event runs smoothly. Registration and information is available online at stpeterunfest.org.
