Florida Shamrock Halfathon

Course highlights

For those taking part in the half marathon and the 5K, the race begins at the North Beach area of Fort De Soto Park, and both races take runners along a combination of paved park roadways and recreational trails along the beach areas. The course for the half marathon is largely flat for virtually the entire race, though runners can expect minimal rolling hills.

After the start at North Beach, runners follow the route through the parking lot area out onto Anderson Boulevard, which they run until just after the mile 1 marker and then hit the turnaround point, after which they head back northward along Anderson and take a detour into the more forested areas of the park for a brief loop.

Then it’s back out onto Anderson along the route they’ve just run back around to North Beach, where they then head southward for the next 10 miles of the race.

The next stretch of the race follows a long out-and-back route along the southern end of the park, along the recreational trails that parallel the beaches. Sandy and flat, these trails will feature some of the race’s most beautiful views, looking out on either side to both Mullet Key Bayou and Tampa Bay.

After reaching the turnaround point around the mile 8 marker, runners then head back along the route they’ve just covered, all the way back to the finish line at the park’s North Beach.