St. Petersburg residents and visitors will gather this Friday through Sunday for the third‑annual St. Pete Run Fest, a community‑focused wellness celebration that expects roughly 12,000 participants, according to founder Ryan Jordan.
Race Options and Schedule
Runners can choose from a half‑marathon, a 10K, a 5K and a dedicated children’s run. A dog‑walk, called the VEG ER for Pets PeliPAWS Dog Walk, will also start at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Good Sweat Festival, featuring local artists, live music, food and drinks, runs alongside the races each day.
Friday: The Good Sweat Festival opens at Albert Whitted Park from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by the dog walk at 6 p.m. and a free Shake‑Out Run at 6:30 p.m. that routes through Al Lang Stadium.
Saturday: The Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital 10K begins at 6:45 a.m., with the LMCU 5K starting at 8:30 a.m., both launching from Albert Whitted Park. A post‑run party runs from 8 a.m. to noon at the Athlete Village, and the Foundation for Healthy St. Pete PeliKids Youth Runs starts at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday: The Regenexx St. Pete Half Marathon starts at 6:45 a.m., followed by another post‑run celebration at the Athlete Village from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Good Sweat Festival remains open each morning.
Community Impact and Vision
Jordan, who launched the event with his brother Keith after winning a city request for proposal a decade ago, says the festival is designed to break down barriers to health and movement. “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 explained.
The race draws participants from across the nation, with more than a quarter traveling from out of town. Jordan hopes the courses, which showcase the waterfront, downtown skyline and vibrant murals, will highlight St. Petersburg’s appeal to visitors.
Environmental and Innovation Highlights
True to its “ocean‑friendly” promise, the festival eliminates single‑use plastics and styrofoam, partnering with the city and a group called Renüable to compost waste wherever possible.
Technology also plays a role. Local incubator spARK Labs by ARK Invest will host a showcase zone where five or six entrepreneurs demonstrate products that explore the link between wellness and multi‑omics biology, fostering conversations about health innovation.
Supporting Local Charities
Proceeds benefit the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, the American Cancer Society and the St. Pete Youth Farm, reinforcing the event’s commitment to community service.
Jordan often sneaks to the finish line midway through the half‑marathon, saying, “It’s just really special to see people make the commitment to do it and then actually complete it. It’s awesome.”
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
