May 9, 2021

2021 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

2021 PGDC Half Marathon COVID-19 Mitigation Plan

To offer an In-Person Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend, the Gasparilla Distance Classic Association has created and received the necessary approvals for a 2021 PGDC Race Weekend COVID-19 Mitigation Plan but will continue to follow the guidance of local Government and Health Officials as it relates to precautions relative to COVID-19.

Please remember, if the cancellation of an in-person 2021 PGDC Race Weekend due to COVID-19 is deemed necessary, the Association will comply and convert all events to a virtual experience.

Overall, the 2021 PGDC Race Weekend COVID-19 Mitigation Plan was designed to offer the opportunity for Gasparilla participants to run or walk the 15K, 5K, Half Marathon, or 8K in person, as safely as possible during the pandemic. 

The 2021 PGDC Race Weekend COVID-19 Mitigation Plan includes the following for the Half Marathon:

• Reduced Half Marathon Registration Cap – 4,000

● To protect the health and wellbeing of themselves, those around them, and their family and friends, the Gasparilla Distance Classic Association has established a Mandatory Face Covering/Mask/Gaiter Policy for all participants, volunteers** and staff** in the following 2021 Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend areas:

◆ Half Marathon Start Staging Corrals & Staging Zone

◆ Half Marathon Start Line Corral

■ The Race Morning Schedule calls for participants to remain in the Secure Start & Start Staging Area for no more than 45-minutes.

■ After crossing the Start Line, Face Coverings/Masks/Gaiters can be removed.

● Half Marathon Finish Line

◆ After crossing the Finish Line and while in the Finish Line Area, participants must wear a Face Covering/Mask/Gaiter.

● Tampa Convention Center/8 On Your Side Health & Fitness Expo

◆ **To perform their duties throughout Race Weekend, Volunteers and Staff will be required to wear a Face Covering/Mask/Gaiter at all times, including but not limited to while in the Tampa Convention Center/Expo, All Event Venues, Start Line, Start Staging Corrals & Start Staging Zone, Aid Stations & Finish Line.

● Half Marathon Start Location – Brorein Street & Franklin Street

● Beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 9, 2021, 10 – Half Marathon Wave Starts of 500 will take place at 15-Minute Intervals.

● Wave Start Seeding will be based on Verified Finish Times.

◆ All participants provided Projected Finish Times will be verified on Athlinks, the largest results database in the world.

● All Half Marathon Registered Participants will be assigned a Staggered Staging & Start Time

● Half Marathon Secure Start & Start Staging Area

◆ Entry into the Half Marathon Secure Start & Staging Area will be based on a participant’s assigned Staging & Start Time.

● Prior to entry into the Half Marathon Secure Start & Start Staging Area, participants will be required to complete the COVID-19 ‘A Pirate’s Healthy Life For All’ Promise.

● Prior to entry into the Half Marathon Secure Start & Start Staging Area on Race Day, participants’ temperatures will be checked. A temperature of 100.4° F or less will be required for entry.

◆ If on Race Morning, a participant’s temperature registers above 100.4° F, they will be asked to step aside, wait five minutes, and return for another temperature check.

◆ If after three tries, the participant’s temp continues to register above 100.4° F, entry into the Secure Start & Start Staging Area will be refused.

● A Half Marathon Secure Start Area (30′ x 750′) will be set-up according to physical distancing guidelines including, but not limited to, Physical Distancing Street Decals, Physically Distant Participant Linear Rows separated by barricades, controlled participant forward movement to Start Line. 

◆ 500-Participants Per Wave Start.

◆ 32-Participants will Start every minute

■ In 2020, 1,200 crossed the Half Start Line in one minute

◆ Four-Participants will Start every 7-seconds.

● Two Secure Start Staging Areas (40′ x 500′) will be set-up according to physical distancing guidelines including, but not limited to, Physical Distancing Street Markings, Physical Distancing Visual Signage, and controlled participant forward movement to Start Staging Area. 

● Throughout the 2021 PGDC Race Weekend, all race staff, volunteers, and support personnel will be required to complete the COVID-19 ‘A Pirate’s Healthy Life For All’ Promise; and to access their Race Day Assignments, their temperatures will be checked. A temperature of 100.4° F or less will be required for Race Day participation.

ATTENTION HALF MARATHON WALKERS!

Walkers are welcome in the Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon. Because of road closure permits, a 16-minute per mile pace must be maintained. Those not able to complete the Half Marathon distance in 2:45 will be moved to the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk until Bay to Bay, at which time, they will be allowed back onto Bayshore Boulevard. These participants will be sharing the road with the Publix Gasparilla 8K participants.

Entry Fees

$85 – June 1 – June 30, 2020

$95 – July 1, 2020 – October 31, 2020

$105 – November 1, 2020 – March 5, 2021

$115 – ONLINE ONLY March 6 – May 2, 2021 (or until Half Marathon Sells Out)

If available, online registration will remain open until Sunday, May 2, 2021, but beginning Saturday, March 6, 2021, the cost of Half Marathon registration will be according to the Online Late Registration Fees ($115 – Half Marathon).

Runner Premiums

Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon participants that PRE-REGISTER by SUNDAY, April 7, 2021, will be guaranteed an Official 2021 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Long Sleeve Gender Specific Performance Shirt**, a PGDC ‘Goody Goody’ Virtual Race Bag, a PGDC branded Publix Reusable Booty Bag, PGDC Branded Running Cap, and for those that cross the Finish Line, Post-Race Food & Beverages, an awesome 2021 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Finishers’ Medal and a personalized Virtual Finisher’s Certificate (a valid email address MUST be provided with registration).

2021 PGDC Gender-Specific Sizing Chart

** Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon participants that register online after April 7, 2021, will not be guaranteed a gender-specific performance wicking shirt and/or the correct sized shirt.

On Monday, May 10, 2021, complete (but not Official) 2021 Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K, 5K, Half Marathon & 8K Results will be featured in the e-Newspaper version of the 2021 PGDC Special Race Results Section from www.tampabay.com, the official website for the Tampa Bay Times.

Additionally, a printed version of the 2021 Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K, 5K, Half Marathon & 8K Results Special Section will be featured in select copies of the Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Edition of the Tampa Bay Times that can be found at local retail locations including Publix.

For those folks that live out of the Tampa Bay Area or aren’t Tampa Bay Times subscribers, the TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section will be available (and mailed to your home) for $5.

This special purchase includes postage, packaging, handling, the Wednesday, May 12th Edition of the Tampa Bay Times, and the 2021 TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section that will offer Race Weekend Coverage, Race Photos, AND complete (but not official) 2021 PGDC 15K, 5K, Half Marathon & 8K Age Group Results.

To purchase the 2021 TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section Package, register online or by mail. Already registered, please utilize the 2021 TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section Order Form fillable

Packet Pickup

Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Shirt & Race Number Pick-Up will take place during the 8 On Your Side Health & Fitness Expo being held at the Tampa Convention Center – East Hall on Friday, May 7, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., and on Saturday, May 8, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (following Start of 5K) and until 5 p.m.

For late out-of-town arrivals ONLY, there will be very limited Packet Pick-Up on Race Day, Sunday, May 9. Requests for Race Day Packet Pick-up must be made in writing and no later than Friday, April 30, 2021.   To request a Race Day Packet Pick-up, please send us an email.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you are not able to attend the Expo and pick-up your Race Number, a Race Number Pick-Up Authorization Form must be completed, signed, and presented by whoever WILL be picking up for you.  A downloadable version of the Authorization Form can be found below.

Race Number Pick-Up Authorization Form

ChronoTrack Timing Tags

The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association is once again proud to lead the pack in offering to its runners and walkers the latest in timing technology. In 2021, race participants will be timed utilizing the ChronoTrack B-Tag Timing System, developed and designed with RFID – radio frequency identification. Much like the ChampionChip Timing System when it was introduced, the ChronoTrack B-Tag Timing System will dramatically improve overall efficiency and the participant’s experience.

Here’s how it works. The technology is woven into a tag that will be placed on the back of each runner’s Race Number. That’s all there is to it.

In preparation for the Tampa Bay Times Race Weekend Results, transponder pads at the Start, Finish, and along the race course will record the participant’s time. Post-Race, each participant will receive both their Start Time and Chip Time, as well as any splits that were recorded.

PLEASE NOTE – If you intend to run the Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon AND Publix Gasparilla 8K on Sunday, May 9, 2021, you must register and complete an Entry Form for both events.  Unless you are running the Michelob Ultra Challenge, you will be issued a Half Marathon Race Number AND an 8K Race Number.

When running the Half Marathon, you MUST wear your assigned Half Marathon Race Number ONLY.  Do not wear or carry your 8K Race Number during your Half Marathon.  Before starting the 8K, YOU MUST remove your Half Marathon Race Number and replace it with the 8K Race Number.

Because of the sensitivity of the Chrono Track Timing Device, wearing or carrying your 8K Race Number during the Half Marathon OR wearing or carrying your Half Marathon Race Number during the 8K could impact your Tampa Bay Times Race Weekend Results.