The RRCA Championship Event Series
The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association is proud to announce that the 2023 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon has been selected as the 2023 RRCA Southern Region Championship Event. The goal of the RRCA Championship Event Series is to celebrate and shine a spotlight on well-run, community-focused events and to award their top-performing runners.
In addition to crossing the 2023 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Finish Line and receiving the iconic 2023 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Finisher’s Medal, runners residing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas will be vying for an extra championship medal thanks to the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). The 21st annual event in Tampa, FL. on Sunday, February 26th was named the RRCA Half Marathon Southern Region Championship race, providing extra incentives and opportunities for community runners.
As an added benefit of being named the Half Marathon Southern Region Championship for Montana, RRCA will provide awards for the top Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon finishers. Award categories include open male and female, 40-plus male and female, 50-plus male and female, and 60-plus male and female.
The RRCA Championship Event Series is the largest grassroots-organized running series in the U.S. with over 200 races participating that attract nearly 300,000 participants.
FEBRUARY 24 – 25, 2024
2024 REGISTRATION WILL OPEN MAY 1st!
Packet Pick Up
Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Half Marathon Race Packet, T-shirt, and Race Number Pick-Up will take place during the ABC Action News Health & Fitness Expo, presented by Tampa General Hospital being held at the Tampa Convention Center – East Hall on Friday, February 23, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., and on Saturday, February 24, beginning at 6:00 a.m.
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 it up for you. A downloadable version of the Authorization Form can be found below.
Race Number Pick-up Authorization Form
START TIMES • Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024
PUBLIX GASPARILLA DISTANCE CLASSIC HALF MARATHON
Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Rolling Start: Platt St. & Bayshore Blvd. Start: 6 a.m.
PLEASE NOTE: ACCESS TO THE PUBLIX GASPARILLA HALF MARATHON STAGING AREA WILL CLOSE AT 5:50 A.M.!
6:00 a.m. Half Marathon
START: Platt Street and Bayshore Blvd.
2024 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Start Staging will be based on the registered participant’s Projected Finish Time that was provided with registration.
There will be two Start Staging Areas:
2-Hours & Under
Staging will take place on Little Bayshore Boulevard between Platt Street and Brorein Street. Runners assigned to 2-Hours & Under Wave should enter the Staging Area through barricade breaks that will be located on either side of Little Bayshore Boulevard.
From the north/Tampa Convention Center & Downtown Tampa, 2- Hours & Under runners will be directed to Little Bayshore Boulevard Staging by utilizing the NW sidewalk of the Platt Street/Channelside Bridge. Once over the bridge, runners will enter the staging area through Barricade Breaks on either side of Little Bayshore Boulevard.
From the south, 2- Hours & Under runners will be directed across Platt Street to Barricade Breaks on the south side/Publix Super Markets side of Little Bayshore Boulevard.
2+ Hours
Staging will take place on Platt Street/Platt Street Bridge. Runners assigned to 2+ Hours Wave should enter the Staging Area from the rear. The entrance will be located on Platt/Channelside at the north end of the Platt Street Bridge.
From the north/Tampa Convention Center & Downtown Tampa, runners will be directed to the Platt Street Bridge and secured Staging Area.
From the south, runners will be directed north on the Platt Street Bridge sidewalks to access the 2+ Staging Area from the rear.
Half Marathon Seeded Start Access
Half Marathon Seeded Start Access is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For access to the Half Marathon Seeded Start Area, during the registration process, you will be asked if you would like to be considered for a seeded number. If you reply ‘Yes’ your past race results will be verified through Athlinks and if applicable you will be assigned a seed Race Number. The following are Finish Times required for Half Marathon Seeded Start Access:
- Half Marathon – 1:30:00 or less
- 15K – 1-hour or less
- 10K – 40-minutes or less
- Half Marathon – 1:45:00 or less
- 15K – 1:15:00 or less
- 10K – 50-minutes or less
ATTENTION HALF MARATHON WALKERS!
Walkers are welcome in the 2024 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon. Because of road closure permits, a 16-minute per mile pace must be maintained for the first five miles (Davis Islands portion of the course). Those not able to complete the first five miles by 7:20 a.m. (1:20) will be moved to the Davis Islands sidewalk until they reach Bayshore Blvd., at which time, they will be moved back onto the road for the remainder of their Half Marathon.
Those not able to complete miles 5 – 11 and reach Bay To Bay Boulevard by 9:00 a.m. (3:00), 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 participant.
Half Marathon Entry Fees
Refunds and/or transfers of registration are not allowed in ANY of the 2024 Publix Gasparilla Distance Race Weekend Events.
If available, online registration will remain open until Sunday, February 18, 2024, but beginning Saturday, January 13, 2024, the cost of Half Marathon registration will be according to the Online Late Registration Fees.
Participants that register online and provide a valid email address will receive a Race Week Registration Confirmation via email on or before Monday, February 19, 2024. This confirmation will be in addition to the confirmation received from Race Roster upon completion of online registration. The Race Week Registration Confirmation will include each participant’s Race Number, Name, Address, Race Entered, and Age.
PLEASE NOTE: If at any time, you have unsubscribed from the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic E-Blast Database, you WILL NOT receive a Registration Confirmation. You MUST rejoin the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic E-Blast Database. To rejoin, Click Here.
MAIL-IN REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Mail-In Offline Registration Fees:
Please note that due to the administrative costs associated with processing Offline 2024 PGDC Registrations, a $3 Processing Fee must be added to the Total Registration Amount Due – if payment does not reflect the additional $3 Processing Fee, the entry form and payment will be returned.
To register by mail, please download and complete a 2024 PGDC By-Mail Form-Fillable Registration Form must be downloaded and opened in Adobe Reader. Once opened, please click on each field, provide the requested information and then, print for signing, enclose Entry Fee Payment (including $3 Processing Fee), and mail to the following address: GDCA, P.O. Box 1881 • Tampa, Fl. 33601-1881
Registered participants who provide a correct and legible email address will receive a Registration Confirmation via email no earlier than Monday, February 19, 2024. Confirmation will include each participant’s assigned Race Number, Name, Address, Race Entered, and Age.
Runner Premiums
Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon participants that PRE-REGISTER by FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024 will be guaranteed an Official 2024 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Long Sleeve Gender Specific Performance Shirt**, a PGDC ‘Goody Goody’ Virtual Race Bag, a PGDC branded Publix Reusable Booty Bag and for those that cross the Finish Line, Post-Race Food & Beverages, a complimentary 12-ounce Michelob Ultra (must be 21-years of age or older), an awesome 2024 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Finishers’ Medal and a personalized Virtual Finisher’s Certificate (a valid email address MUST be provided with registration).
2024 PGDC Gender-Specific Sizing Chart
** Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon participants that register online after January 14, 2024, or wait to register during Race Weekend Late Registration (if available), will not be guaranteed a gender-specific performance-wicking shirt and/or the correct sized shirt.
See your name in a special section in the Tampa Bay Times recognizing that you ran the 2024 PGDC! Select this option and a copy of the printed section will be mailed to your home. This section will publish on Wed., February 28, 2024, and is the perfect memento for all registered participants. For local registered participants, the 2024 PGDC/TBT Special Section will only be available in Single Copy Sales of the Tampa Bay Times on Wed., February 28, 2024.
To purchase the 2023 TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section Package, register online or by mail. Already registered, please utilize the
2024 TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section Order Form
Columbia Restaurant’s “1905” Runner Revive Area – The Columbia Restaurant, based in Tampa’s Ybor City and family-owned and operated since 1905, will greet all 2024 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Finishers with a sampling of their signature Spanish-Cuban family recipes.
Pre & Post-Race Massage! The Sports Massage Team will be providing Post-Race Massage following both the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K & 5K and Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon & 8K.
On Sat., following the 15K & 5K, the Team will offer 10-minute Post-Race Massages ($15), and following the Half Marathon & 8K on Sun., 20-minute massages ($25). Pre-paying for massage is available through online registration ONLY at www.RunGasparilla.com. (This rate applies to pre-paid massages only. the Race Day rate will be slightly higher.)
The Team will also offer Pre- Race Massage during the ABC Action News Health & Fitness Expo on both Fri. and Sat. during Expo Hours.
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 2024, 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, February 25, 2024, 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.