2020 Publix Gasparilla 8K

Will Be Capped At 5,500!

START TIMES • Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020

9:15 a.m. 8K

START:Bayshore Boulevard & Verne Street

Please access the Start lines from the rear and by utilizing the Platt Street Bridge; adjacent to the Franklin Street Entrance of the Tampa Convention Center.

Seeded men & women ONLY will access the 8K starts from the front and should utilize the seeded/elite entrance located adjacent to the start platform on the north side of Bayshore Boulevard.

8K Seeded Start Access

8K Seeded Start Access is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For access to the 8K Seeded Start Area, a written results verification is required and must be presented BY-MAIL with a completed entry form and payment. The following are Finish Times required for 8K Seeded Start Access:

PLEASE NOTE: The 2020 Publix Gasparilla 8K will start promptly at 9:15 am.  Once the Start Area is cleared at approximately 9:25 am, the Start will be closed and the timing mats will be pulled.   Runners/Walkers arriving late will not be allowed on course.

Runners and walkers participating in the Michelob Ultra Challenge must complete the Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon in under 2:55 and allow enough time to make it to the Official Start of the Publix Gasparilla 8K.

ATTENTION 8K Walkers!

Walkers are welcome in the Publix Gasparilla 8K. Because of road closure permits, a 16-minute per mile pace must be maintained. Those not able to complete the 8K by 10:45 a.m. (1:30) will be moved to the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk until Swann Avenue, at which time, they will be moved back on to the road for the remainder of their 8K.

8k Entry Fees

Refunds and/or transfers of registration are not allowed in ANY of the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend Events.

If available, online registration will remain open until Sunday, February 16, 2020, but beginning Saturday, January 11, 2020, the cost of 8K registration will be according to the Online Late Registration Fees ($50 – 8K).

Participants that register online will receive a Race Week Registration Confirmation via email no earlier than Monday, February 17, 2020.  This confirmation will be in addition to the confirmation received from imATHLETE upon completion of online registration.   The Race Week Registration Confirmation will include each participant’s Race Number, Name, Address, Race Entered and Age.

Runner Premiums

Publix Gasparilla 8K participants that pre-register by January 19, 2020, will be guaranteed an Official 2020 Publix Gasparilla 8K Performance Wicking Gender Specific T-Shirt**, a Virtual Race Bag, a PGDC branded Publix Reusable Booty Bag and for those that cross the Finish Line, a colorful 2020 Publix Gasparilla 8K Finishers’ Medal, Post-Race Food & Beverages, a complimentary 12-ounce Michelob Ultra (21-yrs & Older) and a personalized Virtual Finisher’s Certificate (a valid email address MUST be provided with registration).

2020 PGDC Gender Specific Sizing Chart

Complete (but not Official) 2019 Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K, 5K, Half Marathon & 8K Results will be featured in a Special Race Results Section in the Tampa Bay Times on Monday, February 24, 2020.

For those folks that live out of the Tampa Bay Area or aren’t Tampa Bay Times subscribers, the TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section will be available (and mailed to your home) for $5.

This special purchase includes postage, packaging, handling, the Monday, February 24th Edition of the Tampa Bay Times and the 2020 TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section that will offer Race Weekend Coverage, Race Photos AND complete (but not official) PGDC 15K, 5K, Half Marathon & 8K Age Group Results.

To purchase the 2020 TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section Package, register online or by mail. Already registered, please utilize the

 2020 TBT-PGDC Race Results Special Section Order Form

Columbia Restaurants “1905” Runner Revive Area – The Columbia Restaurant, based in Tampa’s Ybor City and one of Florida’s Top 25 Restaurants since 1967, will greet all 2020 Publix Gasparilla 8K Finishers (that finish prior to 11:00 a.m.) with their signature ‘1905’ Salad, paella, black beans, yellow rice and Cuban Bread.

PLEASE be aware that due to time constraints contained in the PGDC Race Weekend/City of Tampa Special Events Permit, Columbia Restaurant must stop serving at 11:30 a.m.

Pre & Post-Race Massage! The Performance Massage 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.tampabayrun.com. (This rate applies to pre-paid massages only. Race Day rate will be slightly higher.)

The Team will also offer Pre- Race Massage during the 8 On Your Side Health & Fitness Expo on both Fri. and Sat. during Expo Hours. For more information or to book an additional Pre-Race and/or Post-Race Massage, please contact Glen Kemp, 813- 831-7007.

Packet Pickup

Publix Gasparilla 8K Shirt & Race Number Pick-Up will take place during the 8 On Your Side Health & Fitness Expo that will be held at the Tampa Convention Center – East Hall on Friday, February 21, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., and on Saturday, February 22, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (following Start of 5K) and until 5 p.m.

For late out-of-town arrivals ONLY, there will be very limited Packet Pick-Up on Race Day, Sunday, February 23. Requests for Race Day Packet Pick-up must be made in writing and no later than Sunday, February 16, 2020*.

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 up for you.  A downloadable version of the Authorization Form can be found below.

Race Number Pick-Up Authorization Form

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 2020, race participants will be timed utilizing the ChronoTrack B-Tag Timing System, developed and designed with RFID – radio frequency identification.

Here’s how it works. The technology is woven into a tag that will be placed on the back of each runner’s bib/race number.

Transponder pads at the Start and Finish will record the participant’s time at each location in preparation for the Tampa Bay Times Race Weekend Results. Post-Race, each participant will receive both their Start Time (Gun Time) and Net Time (Timing starts when runner/walker actually crosses the 8K Start Line and ends upon crossing the 8K Finish Line.

At the Finish Line, there will be no back-ups…runners and walkers will cross the Finish Line…revel in what they’ve just accomplished…be given their Finisher’s Medal, stop to pose for pirate-y photos at the MarathonFoto Booth and then head to the Q105 Post-Race Celebration at Cotanchobee Park!

PLEASE NOTE – If you intend to run the 2020 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon AND 2020 Publix Gasparilla 8K on Sunday, February 23, 2020, you must register and complete an individual Entry Form for both events.  Unless you are running the Michelob Ultra Challenge, you will be issued a Half Marathon Bib Number AND an 8K Bib Number.

When running the Half Marathon, you MUST wear your assigned Half Marathon Bib Number ONLY.  Do not wear or carry your 8K Bib Number.  Before starting the 8K, YOU MUST remove your Half Marathon Bib Number.

Because of the sensitivity of the ChronoTrack Timing Device, wearing or carrying your 8K Bib Number during the Half Marathon OR wearing or carrying your Half Marathon Bib Number during the 8K could impact your Tampa Bay Times Race Weekend Results.