Get Ready to Run (& Play) in Seaside, Florida!
March 1-3, 2019, the Seaside School Half Marathon, 5K and Taste of the Race with Chef Emeril Lagasse will be held!
It is a 3-day event featuring amazing coastal cuisine, plenty of fun for all ages, and racing starting and finishing in the colorful neighborhood of Seaside.
Whether you are a serious distance racer or a casual weekend runner, come join the fun and run in the 17th Annual Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K.
If you’ve ever seen the Jim Carrey film, The Truman Show, then you have an idea of the kind of beautiful coastal architecture that you’ll find along the route at the annual race. The course takes runners on a long, straightaway-style out-and-back course along Highway 30A through several beach towns that stretch along Florida’s Gulf coast.
You’ll feel immediately at ease in Seaside — here, most people get around by bike or by foot. Funky airstream trailers serve hot dogs, fresh juice, shaved ice and more; just down the road you’ll find cozy cafés and a specialty market. As anyone who has been here knows, Seaside is best experienced by actually spending time here. Those who rent homes in Seaside for a vacation make it an annual trip, sharing it with generations of their family. Seaside is a completely walkable, charming community with great architecture and amazing things around every corner.
Race weekend offers three days of exciting events for everyone including runners, visitors, locals and volunteers. Taste of the Race with Chef Emeril Lagasse kicks off the weekend on Friday evening under the tent at the Seaside Lyceum. Saturday’s Race Expo and Silent Auction is one big party with vendors, food and live entertainment all afternoon. Sunday is race day followed by a post-race party with live music.
Friday March 1 – Seaside School Pre-Race Party | Taste of The Race!
Taste of the Race with Chef Emeril Lagasse takes place on Friday night at the Seaside Lyceum, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, with a VIP reception from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Everyone is invited to celebrate, enjoy amazing food, live music and kick off another great Seaside race weekend! Chef Emeril Lagasse is live and in person for the event, and guests enjoy cuisine from Emeril’s restaurants, along with some of the Gulf Coast’s top chefs and restaurants such as Great Southern Cafe and The Bay. Fine wine, craft spirits and local brews from the Grayton Beer Company will pair perfectly with the chefs’ preparations. Guests can also get the first peak and bids at the popular Silent Auction. The outdoor evening festivities are held rain or shine in a heated tent! Space is extremely limited and tickets go fast, so be sure to grab yours while they last at www.runseasidefl.com. (Race registration packet pickup is also available during the event for ticketed guests only.)
Saturday, March 2 – Race Expo
The Race Expo is free to attend and open to the general public from 12:00 to 6:00 PM at the Seaside Lyceum. Runners pick up their race registration packets at this time and have the option of shopping from a variety of both local and national exhibitors. The vendors at the Expo will offer a wide variety of equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories for the whole family. The Silent Auction continues during the the day with plenty of opportunity to bid up your favorite items!
Sunday, March 3 – Race Day!
One of South Walton’s most popular events, the Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K takes place Sunday, March 3rd beginning at 7:00 AM. Established in 2003 to raise funds for the Seaside Neighborhood School, the Race has become a huge community affair, drawing in more than 4K annually runners from around the world.
Both the 13.1-mile half marathon and the 5K start in downtown Seaside along Highway 30A, and from there follow a route that takes runners westward along the highway for six and a half miles, and then six and a half back in reverse back to the starting line. The course is fast and mostly flat with ample views of the scenic Gulf waters, dune lakes and beaches, including WaterColor and Grayton Beach. The course is both runner and walker-friendly — walkers are encouraged to sign up! See the race route map for the Seaside School Half Marathon here.
And one of the favorite Race Weekend traditions… the post-race party takes place throughout the town of Seaside including food and drinks, music, awards and the silent auction final call.
About the Seaside School
100% of the race profits benefit the Seaside School, a tuition-free, local neighborhood charter school serving students who not only live along Highway 30A, but also across Walton County. The Seaside School opened in 1996 to 36 students, 2 faculty members and a single administrator serving students in sixth through eighth grades. Today, the school has expanded to fifth through twelfth grades, serving over 330 students with plans to add K4 through fourth in the near future.
Whether you’re running, sponsoring or enjoying the Taste of the Race, please know that your support is greatly appreciated by the Seaside Neighborhood School, Seacoast Collegiate High School and our community as a whole. Your participation reduces class size. Your participation provides middle school and high school students an opportunity for creative, elective classes such as gardening, music, arts, as well as an award-winning robotics program, advanced placement classes, and career-readiness industry certification courses.
Come Run & Give Back!
The Seaside Neighborhood School and our surrounding community is very fortunate that our beautiful beach town was largely spared from any major damage as a result of Hurricane Michael. However, our thoughts and prayers remain constant with our neighbors and friends to the east that are still trying to recover from the devastating destruction.
With this in mind, the Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K will also be raising funds to benefit two neighboring charter schools in Bay County that suffered significant damage from Hurricane Michael. When you register for the Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K, $1 from each registration will be allocated to support University Academy and Chautauqua Learn & Serve Charter School in their recovery efforts. If you are unable to participate in the Race, but still want to make an impact, you can do that by clicking here and making an online donation.
Official Race Contact Information
Have a question regarding your race registration, sponsorship or the Seaside School? Simply email race@runseasidefl.com or visit the website at runseasidefl.com.
Social Media
Connect and share your experience online with the hashtag #runseasidefl, and be sure to follow the Race on social media at:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeasideSchoolHalfMarathon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/runseasidefl
- Instagram: https://twitter.com/runseasidefl
Approved Social Posts
Held March 1-3, 2019, the Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K and Taste of the Race (with Chef Emeril Lagasse) is a 3-day event featuring amazing coastal cuisine, plenty of fun and racing starting and finishing in the colorful neighborhood of Seaside, FL. www.runseasidefl.com
Have you been wanting check 13.1 off your bucket list? The Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K is walker-friendly, and our fast and mostly flat course has beautiful, coastal views of the Gulf beaches and dune lakes, as well as the iconic architecture synonymous with #30A. Register to #runseasidefl today and claim your medal March 3rd! www.runseasidefl.com
Established in 2003 to raise funds for the Seaside Neighborhood School, the Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K as well as the Taste of the Race (with Chef Emeril Lagasse) has become a huge community affair, drawing in more than 4K annually runners from around the world. #runseasidefl in March 2019 byb registereing at www.runseasidefl.com.
