Gasparilla Distance Classic 2020

ARRRGGHHH... You Ready To Run? SPEC A AD E T S

G SECT

THE TA PA A T

ES Tampa Bay Times

| Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

1

2

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020 |

Tampa Bay Times

LACES, RACES & CHARITY BOUNTY

Stretch the legs, tighten those laces and adjust that eye patch! The 2020 Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic is not farrrrgh away!

By D.M. Craig, Times correspondent Join thousands of runners from across the country, state, and Tampa Bay area Feb. 2123 for a weekend of friendly competition, healthy fun and community fundraising.

Since its inaugural race in 1978, the Gasparilla Distance Classic Association (GDCA) has raised more than $5.7 million for local charities. With a mission of promoting running as sport

in the bay area, this annual celebration brings together participants as diverse as the community it serves.

Young, old, experienced and newcomers, the physically fit

Tampa Bay Times

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

3

RUN TAMPA BAY, RUN… WHAT

Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic

WHEN

Feb. 22 – 23, 2020

WHERE

Downtown Tampa

RACES

5K, 8K, 15K & Half Marathon

WHY

To raise funds for charitable youth organizations and local running programs

WHAT TO EXPECT

and physically challenged all compete against the beautiful backdrop of Tampa Bay. The weekend kicks off at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21, with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at the Tampa Convention Center sponsored by WFLA TV 8 and open to the public. If you

More than 32,000 participants racing along scenic Bayshore Boulevard with an incredible view of Tampa Bay

4

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020 |

haven’t committed to running or walking this year, you can register during the Expo for the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K & 5K and Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon & 8K. The 2020 Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K and 5K races start Saturday, Feb. 22.

The Expo also continues on Saturday.

On Sunday, runners line up for the Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon and the 8K. Both race days wrap up with a Q105 postrace celebration presented by Michelob Ultra that takes place behind Amalie Arena in Cotanchobee Park.

For registration details & more information about the race, visit

rungasparilla.com

Tampa Bay Times

Whatever your skill, age, or experience level, you’ll find a healthy amount of competition, a bounty of fun, and plenty of bling waiting for you at the 2020 Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic.

Lace’em up, Tampa Bay!

Tampa Bay Times

| Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

5

Staying the Course – For Charity For one special weekend each year, Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard becomes an Avenue—an avenue to raise money for selected youth charities in the Tampa Bay area by participating in the annual Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic. Every step runners take Feb. 22-23 is another step closer to helping these organizations enrich children’s lives and futures.

By Tom Wuckovich, Times correspondent For 43 years, the event has fo-

The 2019 Classic contributed

Justice. Together, Joy FM and

cused its goals on fundraising

$195,000 to the three char-

Hope For justice are on a mis-

for area youth groups, begin-

ities and in total, $316,000.

sion to abolish sex slavery &

ning in 1977 when the money

Since the first running of the

human exploitation. In 2019,

generated from the race ben-

Publix Gasparilla Distance

Joy FM’s Team Freedom raised

efited the Tampa Girls Club.

Classic, $5.7 million has been

more than $200,000 for this

Since 1978, three main chari-

provided to these worthy

worthy cause.

ties and 20-30 local nonprof-

causes. Besides the race itself,

its, service clubs, school teams

participants can raise money

and other targeted groups

through the Race to Raise

have received funds from the

Booty program that links

Classic. The three main chari-

the competitors with select

ties get the bulk of the money

nonprofits, and establishes a

as designated in the bylaws of

platform to raise awareness

the association. They include

and funds during the Classic

Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa

registration process.

Bay, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and Friends of Tampa Recreation.

6

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020 |

Tampa Bay Times

Registrants can elect to raise “booty” for Joy FM’s Team Freedom and Hope For

Other charities in the program include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Beat NB and the PACE Center for Girls – Hillsborough. Donations also can be made to one of the association’s Charity Partners by runners and walkers who register online.

In addition to the Classic’s mission of raising much-need-

Every step runners take Feb. 22-23 is another step closer to helping these organizations enrich children’s lives and futures.

ed dollars for the charities,

News Channel 8. It’s free and

the race, which is open to

open to the public. Late reg-

young, old, professionals

istrants can sign up for the

and amateurs, also serves

race at the Expo if the race

to promote the Tampa Bay

hasn’t sold out. It’s the last

region and its attributes as

chance to help the commu-

well as advancing running

nity and to help ensure the

as a featured local activity.

Publix Gasparilla Distance

The weekend kicks off at 10

Classic’s continued success.

a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at the Tampa Convention Center sponsored by

Tampa Bay Times

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

7

Free fitness and health event that is open to the public. See the latest in running gear and enjoy activities.

LOCATION

Tampa Convention Center, East & Central Hall

HOURS

Friday, Feb. 21, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22, 6 a.m.–5 p.m.

LATE REGISTRATION AND PACKET PICKUPS TAKE PLACE HERE.

15K

SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020

WHEELCHAIR START TIME: 6:40 A.M. 15K WAVE #1: 6:45 A.M., 15K WAVE #2: 6:50 A.M. Seeded athletes and wheelchair participants front the race, followed by other runners, who line up according to their projected finish times.

START LOCATION: BROREIN AND FRANKLIN STREETS.

The course travels west on Brorein to Bayshore Boulevard, goes south to Gandy Boulevard, takes a right along Gandy for a short length, and then returns along Bayshore, finishing at Tarpon Dock, located between Beach Place and Hyde Park Place.

5K

SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020

5K WAVE #1: 9:15, 5K WAVE #2: 9:25, 5K WAVE #3: 9:35, 5K WAVE #4: 9:45, 5K WAVE #5: 9:55 KELLOGG’S 5K STROLLER ROLL: 10:05, KASHI 5K WALK: 10:15

Employs a wave start, with the most accomplished men and women starting and others following in sections based on finish time.

Race morning includes a 5K Walk and a 5K Stroller Roll.

START LOCATION: BROREIN & ASHLEY STREETS

Travels a similar route as the 15K but turns around at Gunby. West on Brorein, south down Bayshore, turns around at Rome, & north on Bayshore to Tarpon Dock.

8

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020 |

Tampa Bay Times

The Challenges

Don’t miss your chance to participate in either Michelob Ultra Challenges or the Bud Light Challenges at the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic. If you are up for the challenge, test your endurance and run more than 30 miles or enjoy a shorter run of 14.2 miles. All Challenge runs occur over two days – Sat., Feb. 22 & Sun., Feb. 23.

Michelob Ultra Challenge For runners willing to put in 30 miles in four races: the 15K & 5K on Saturday and the Half Marathon & 8K on Sunday.

Bud Light Lime Challenge Runners perform in three races over two days: 15K and 5K on Saturday, and the Half Marathon on Sunday.

Bud Light Orange Challenge A two-day, two-race challenge: the 15K on Saturday and the 8K on Sunday.

Michelob Ultra Pure Gold Challenge A two-day, two-race challenge: the 15K on Saturday and the Half Marathon on Sunday.

15K 5K

8K Half Marathon

8K

SUNDAY, FEB. 23, 2020 START TIME: 9:15 A.M.

Late arrivals will not be permitted to run.

Seeded runners start at the front of the race, with other runners behind the seeded runners.

START LOCATION: BAYSHORE BOULEVARD & VERNE STREET

Travels south on Bayshore, turns around at West Stoval Street, and heads north to Tarpon Dock Finish Line.

Half Marathon SUNDAY, FEB. 23, 2020 START TIME: 6:00 A.M.

Q105 Post Race Celebration presented

by Michelob Ultra This event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday in Cotanchobee Park behind the Amalie Arena. It includes awards presentations, live music, door prizes and more.

Presentation of the awards is at 11 a.m. for the races completed that day.

15K – Top 5 Overall Male & Female, Top 5 Local Male & Female Prize Purse Winners, Top Male & Female Masters, Top Male & Female Grand Masters, Wheelchair Division Awards, USAA Military Division

Half Marathon Start Staging will be based on the registered participant’s Projected Finish Time that was provided with registration.

Half-Marathon – Top 5 American & Overall Male & Female, Top 5 Local Male & Female Prize Purse Winners, Top Male & Female Masters, Top Male & Female Grand Masters, USAA Military Division, Michelob Ultra Amber Challenge, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold Challenge 8K – Top 5 Overall Male & Female, Top Male & Female Masters, Top Male & Female Grand Masters, USAA Military Division, Michelob Ultra Challenge, Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus Challenge

START LOCATION: PLATT STREET AND BAYSHORE BOULEVARD

Travels from the start down Platt Street to Plant Avenue, enters Davis Island and skirts around the eastern edge from Davis to Arbor, to Columbia Drive, to Channel Drive (via Barbados Ave.), then along the Davis Trail (S. Davis).

Veers north at the roundabout toward West Davis, then East Davis, and off the Island to Bayshore, and then moves south along Bayshore to Gandy, turns around and heads to the Tarpon Dock Finish Line.

5K – Top 5 Overall Male & Female, Top Male & Female s, USAA Masters, Top Male & Female Grand Masters, Military Division

Tampa Bay Times

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

9

Open your eyes on Race Morning…look around… enjoy what you see…what you feel…think about all

Q &A

Gasparilla

withSusanHarmeling

that you’ve done in preparation…be appreciative of those around you…of the volunteers…have fun… be safe and make lots of memories.

Q. WE KNOW HOW MUCH THE RACE PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT FROM THE COMPETITION. WHAT IMPRESSION DO YOU WANT SPECTATORS TO COME AWAY WITH AFTER THEY ATTEND THE RACE? Honestly, that next year, instead of being a spectator, they’ll have the desire to step up to one of the Start Lines!

New local runner, Olympic medalist, NYC and Boston marathon winner - Meb Keflezighi joins executive director Susan Harmeling at our 2020 Sponsor luncheon.

Susan Harmeling has spent 28 years as the Executive Director of the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic, an event that has made its mark on Tampa and elsewhere. As the 2020 Classic nears, she shares some thoughts about managing this prestigious affair.

By Tom Wuckovich, Times correspondent

10

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020 |

Tampa Bay Times

Q. IS EVERY YEAR A NEW LEARNING EXPERIENCE OR IS THE CLASSIC AS FINE TUNED AS IT WILL EVER BE? Oh my goodness…always a learning experience. There’s always room for improvement…tweaks here…tweaks there…ALWAYS! Every year, we listen, learn and immediately after the weekend, begin working to ensure that

come next year, the overall PGDC Race Weekend experience will be better than the year before.

Q. BESIDES THE PRIZE MONEY, WHY DO THE TOP MEN AND WOMEN ATHLETES LIKE TO COMPETE IN THE PUBLIX GASPARILLA DISTANCE CLASSIC? Think about it! Florida in February, a flat, fast and beautiful waterfront course, and, like the other thousands of runners and walkers, they’re appreciated and well taken care of.

Q. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU HAVE TIME TO REFLECT ON THE EVENT, WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE TO FEEL THE MOST PLEASED ABOUT?

This one is easy and it’s the same every year. For everyone that’s associated with the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend…the City of Tampa personnel, the sponsors, the volunteers, the GDCA board and organizing committee members, the runners, the walkers, the first person that crosses the Finish Line…the last person that crosses the Finish Line, the spectators – they must walk away feeling that they’ve been well taken care of…that they were appreciated and not taken for granted.

Tom Singletary, Michael Benson and Brenda McGehee

Q. I DON’T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT YOU’VE PROBABLY HAD MANY GREAT MEMORIES OVER THE YEARS. IS THERE ONE INCIDENT OR EPISODE THAT STANDS OUT ABOVE THE REST? Every year has been special and all with meaningful stories and memories.

There are six men that since 1978, have stepped up to the Start Line of every Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic…they’ve crossed 42 consecutive PGDC Finish Lines. During the summer of 2018, one of these men, Thomas Singletary, suffered a stroke. As he went through rehabilitation, he vowed that his streak with Gasparilla would not end.

Last year on Saturday,

Feb. 23rd, I was at the Finish Line to welcome Tom…as he walked towards me with his walker, I looked up and said Thank You…this is what drives my passion for what we do.

Q. WHEN YOU DECIDE ONE DAY TO GIVE UP THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CLASSIC TO SOMEONE ELSE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE YOUR LEGACY? That while under my watch, the Gasparilla Distance Classic Association and Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend were well cared for and nurtured…that great respect was given to those that came before me, to what they worked so hard to build…that when folks look at the success of the events, they know and recognize that it’s been a team effort.

Tampa Bay Times

| Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

11

RACE DAY ETIQUETTE 12

|

Professionals and amateurs alike usually have developed a training routine while preparing for a race, but here are some expert tips for race day etiquette that generally hold true for all participants.

By Tom Wuckovich, Times correspondent 1. WAIT YOUR TURN. A race like the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic draws a lot of contestants and there’s a flow to the race that is best to follow. It can be tedious to wait for your assigned wave to start, but sneaking into a faster corral is not good for anybody.

Races are seeded by ability level and that makes for a smoother and safer start. Starting in a too-quick group can also throw off your pacing strategy and produce an undesirable result.

2. STAY TUNED IN. Always be aware of your surroundings.

Don’t wear portable listening devices even if they are allowed. When you are listening to music, or taking calls from a loved one or friend, you won’t hear anything else, whether it’s a person yelling at you or a car that’s honking its horn to warn of some danger. If you must run to music, use just one ear bud and keep the volume low.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

| Tampa Bay Times

3. SOCIALLY SPEAKING. Save it for that type of event. No one expects you to be quiet for an entire race, but limit the conversations and skip controversial topics. Pointless conversations show a lack of respect for other runners and distract from the task at hand. Social media also fits into this category. You are not really racing if you are tweeting or texting.

4. OBSERVE RIGHT-OF-WAY PROTOCOL. There’s no shame in slowing down during a race. Take care to work your way to the side first or another runner could easily slam you. If you feel ill or are hurt, announce it to anyone around that you are stopping by putting up your hands and yelling “stopping.” It alerts

runners behind you that something’s going to change in front of them. If you plan to run-walk the entire race, stick to the edge of the course where your pace is less disruptive to other runners.

5. TOGETHER…BUT NOT! Running with a friend or a group of friends often helps you maintain your pace and provides needed encouragement. But if you are running side-by-side with a friend or trying to stay together in a group, you could be blocking the

path of other runners. It’s best to never run more than two abreast and agree on a signal beforehand to go from two wide to one, and decide who will go first every time. Everyone will appreciate your consideration.

6. FINISH WITH A FLAIR. The end is in sight and you get a rush of adrenaline. That’s great, but don’t charge the finish line at the peril of other runners, or retrace your steps so you have two options for a finisher’s photo op. Everyone is trying to complete the race, so move through the chute and accept that you may not have an 8x10 to hang on your wall.

Tampa Bay Times

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

1

Cigna Kid’s Running Program promotes healthy lifestyle

By Tom Wuckovich, Times correspondent

Being fit can be fun! That philosophy is the concept that drives the Cigna Kids Running Program, a primary feature of the noted Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic that involves more than 350 elementary and middle-school students from inner city and economically challenged neighborhoods throughout the Tampa Bay area.

The City of Tampa Parks & Recreation Department oversees the Cigna program for third-toeighth graders and gives them the same type of activities enjoyed by the grownups.

For six weeks, the kids participate in recreation-staffed fitness drills and life goals training. The drills introduce the kids to running as a lifestyle activity and to the concept that getting fit can actually be fun.

Other goals of the program include making sure that the youngsters attend all the training sessions, don’t miss any classes, develop a positive attitude, are polite and respectful, and form a strong bond as a team.

The long-running program sponsored by Cigna, a global health service company with a mission to help improve the health and wellbeing of the community, focuses on positive experiences for kids, encourages team-building and teaches important life skills that will help the youngsters sustain a

14

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

Tampa Bay Times

more healthy, safe and balanced lifestyle that will hopefully stay with them into adulthood. It is a wellknown fact that obesity in children and adolescents is a serious issue, with many health and social consequences that often continue later in life.

Today, nearly 1 out of 4 children and teens in developed countries are overweight or obese. Those extra pounds put kids at risk for developing serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. Childhood obesity also takes an emotional toll.

The culmination of all that hard work and dedication will be rewarded on race day when in addition to running the final two miles and crossing the finish line of the 2020 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon, they will touch the lives of thousands of Half Marathon runners and walkers who are also in the final two miles of their half

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE PUBLIX GASPARILLA DISTANCE CLASSIC

32,130 THE NUMBER OF RUNNERS

IN ALL 2019 PGDC RACES

43

NUMBER OF YEARS

marathon. To many of these runners, the kids will be an inspiration and give them the extra push that will get them over the coveted finish line.

At the end of the run, the kids will be awarded their own Cigna Kids Running Program Finisher’s Medal as a testament to their accomplishments.

Thanks to Publix Super Markets, Cigna Healthcare, Kellogg’s and ASICS, each Cigna Kid receivs a PGDC Kids Running Program T-Shirt, a pair of ASICS running shoes and a pair of Gasparilla ‘Pirate’ Themed Running Socks.

SINCE THE 1ST GASPARILLA DISTANCE CLASSIC RACE IN 1978

45,000

NUMBER OF BOTTLES

GIVEN TO RUNNERS AT THE FINISH LINE

115,000 SPECTATORS CHEERING RUNNERS ON

$315,104

AMOUNT DONATED TO

LOCAL CHARITIES 2019

13,745 NUMBER OF REGISTRANTS

FOR THE 2019 5K RACE

Tampa Bay Times

| Sunday, February 16, 2020

|

5

16

|

Sunday, February 16, 2020 |

Tampa Bay Times