Thrive
St. Pete Run Fest returns this week
Approximately 12,000 runners are expected, according to event founder Ryan Jordan.
For St. Pete Run Fest organizer Ryan Jordan, it’s all about community impact.
The annual event will return to St. Petersburg Friday through Sunday. Registered individuals will be able to participate in half marathon, 10K and 5K races. Jordan said that about 12,000 runners are expected this year.
Children can compete in their own runs as well. There’s even a dog walk. Individuals can also attend the Good Sweat Festival, which will feature local artists, live music, food and drinks.
Launching the St. Pete Run Fest was a labor of love for Jordan and his brother Keith. They won a request for proposal from the City of St. Petersburg about a decade ago. The first gathering was held in 2017.
St. Pete Run Fest organizer Ryan Jordan
“I think it’s important to have a community-inspired wellness event,” Jordan explained. “It encompasses a couple of really important elements for us. One is, I would call it, the ability to try to drop some of the barriers to get people healthy and moving.”
“It’s about doing hard things, which, in our experience, are good for the community and good for individuals because they can build self-belief,” he continued. “This is not just about folks from the north side or south side. It’s really about getting folks involved from all backgrounds and races.”
One of Jordan’s main goals is to showcase the city to visitors. He said that over 25% of the runners are from out of town. Participants can see the waterfront, downtown buildings and a variety of murals on the St. Pete Run Fest’s courses.
Environmental stewardship is another major component of the festival.
“It’s an ocean-friendly event,” he said. “There’s no single-use plastics and styrofoams. We work closely with the city and a group called Renüable to compost everything we can.”
Technology also plays an essential role in the St. Pete Run Fest experience. St. Petersburg-based incubator spARK Labs by ARK Invest will participate this year. One of the program’s key focuses is multiomics biology.
Five or six local entrepreneurs will demonstrate their products and services at a dedicated spARK Labs by ARK Invest zone. This, Jordan explained, can help foster conversations about the relationship between wellness and innovation.
He added that the festival is a way to support organizations such as the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, American Cancer Society and St. Pete Youth Farm.
“I’ll usually sneak down to the finish line half way through or close to the end of the half marathon,” Jordan said. “It’s just really special to see people make the commitment to do it and then actually complete it. It’s awesome.”
Here’s a schedule of events:
Friday:
The Good Sweat Festival will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at Albert Whitted Park, 480 Bayshore Drive SE.
The VEG ER for Pets PeliPAWS Dog Walk will begin at 6 p.m. at Albert Whitted Park.
A free-to-the-public Shake Out Run will take place at 6:30 p.m. at 499 Bayshore Dr. SE. Participants will be able to run through Al Lang Stadium.
Saturday:
The Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital St. Pete Run Fest 10K race, which will take place on a 6.2 mile course, begins at 6:45 a.m. The LMCU St. Pete Run Fest 5K race will commence at 8:30 a.m. Participants can run or walk the 3.1 mile course. Both competitions will take place at Albert Whitted Park.
A post-run party will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at Athlete Village at Albert Whitted Park.
Additionally, the Foundation for Healthy St Pete PeliKids Youth Runs will begin at 10:30 a.m. at 499 Bayshore Drive SE.
Individuals can attend the Good Sweat Festival from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday
The Regenexx St. Pete Half Marathon race, which will take place on a 13.1 mile course, begins at 6:45 a.m. at Albert Whitted Park. A post-run party will be held at Athlete Village from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Individuals can attend the Good Sweat Festival from 6 a.m. to noon.
