START TIMES • Sunday, February 22, 2026
🏁 Tampa’s Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon
🗓️ Sunday, February 22, 2026
🕕 Start Time: 6:00 a.m.
📍 Rolling Start Location: Platt Street & Bayshore Boulevard
⚠️ IMPORTANT RACE MORNING NOTICE
🚧 Access to the Half Marathon Staging Area will CLOSE at 5:50 a.m. SHARP!
Please plan to arrive early to allow time for parking, warm-up, and corral entry.
Once the area is closed, you will not be allowed to enter or start the race.
🏁 2026 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon Start Details
🕕 Start Time: 6:00 a.m.
📍 Start Location: Platt Street & Bayshore Boulevard
🎽 Start Staging
Start Staging will be based on each participant’s Projected Finish Time, as submitted during registration.
There will be two official Start Staging Areas, designed to ensure a smooth, efficient, and safe start experience for all runners.
Additional details, including corral assignments and staging maps, will be provided in your Race Week Registration Confirmation Email (sent by Monday, February 16, 2026).
Seeded Race Number
Wave #1 Race Number
🏃♂️ Half Marathon Staging:
2-Hours & Under Wave
📍 Staging Location:
Little Bayshore Boulevard (between Platt Street & Brorein Street)
🧭 How to Access the Staging Area
🔹 From the North (Downtown Tampa & Tampa Convention Center):
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Use the northwest sidewalk of the Platt Street / Channelside Bridge
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Cross the bridge on foot
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Enter the staging area via barricade breaks on either side of Little Bayshore Boulevard
🔹 From the South:
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Approach from the Publix Super Markets side of Platt Street
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Cross Platt Street as directed
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Enter the staging area via southside barricade breaks along Little Bayshore Boulevard
✅ Reminder: This staging is ONLY for runners assigned to the 2-Hours & Under Wave based on their Projected Finish Time during registration.
📌 All other runners will be staged according to their assigned corral and time bracket.
Wave #2 Race Number
🏃♀️ Half Marathon Staging:
2+ Hours Wave
📍 Staging Location:
Platt Street / Platt Street Bridge
🧭 How to Access the Staging Area
🔹 For Runners Assigned to the 2+ Hours Wave:
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Enter the Staging Area from the rear
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The entrance is located at Platt Street & Channelside Drive, near the north end of the Platt Street Bridge
🧭 Directions by Location
🔹 From the North (Tampa Convention Center / Downtown Tampa):
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Runners will be directed to the Platt Street Bridge and into the secured Staging Area by event staff and signage
🔹 From the South:
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Use the sidewalks along Platt Street Bridge
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Head north to enter the rear of the 2+ Hours Wave Staging Area
✅ Reminder: This staging area is for runners who provided a Projected Finish Time over 2 hours during registration.
🚧 Staging area access closes at 5:50 a.m. sharp — please arrive early!
Half Marathon Seeded Start Access
Half Marathon Seeded Start Access
Access to the Half Marathon Seeded Start Area is limited and granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to Request Seeded Start Access:
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During registration, you will be asked if you want to be considered for a seeded start number.
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If you select ‘Yes’, you must upload proof of a past finish time that meets the required standards.
Required Finish Times for Seeded Start Access:
Finish Time Requirements for Men:
- Half Marathon – 1:30:00 or less
- 15K – 1 hour or less
- 10K – 40-minutes or less
Finish Time Requirements for Women:
- Half Marathon – 1:45:00 or less
- 15K – 1:15:00 or less
- 10K – 50-minutes or less
🚶♂️ Walkers in the 2026 Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon
Walkers are welcome to participate in the Half Marathon! To ensure safety and compliance with road closure permits, the following pacing requirements will be enforced:
⏱️ Pacing Rules:
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First 5 Miles (Davis Islands Portion):
Walkers must maintain at least a 16-minute per mile pace.-
Participants unable to complete the first 5 miles by 7:20 a.m. (1 hour 20 minutes) will be moved to the Davis Islands sidewalk until they reach Bayshore Boulevard.
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Once on Bayshore Blvd., walkers will be transferred back onto the road for the remainder of the race.
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Miles 5 to 11 (Bay to Bay Blvd.):
Walkers must reach Bay to Bay Boulevard by 9:00 a.m. (3 hours from start).-
Those who cannot meet this time will be moved to the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk until Bay to Bay.
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At Bay to Bay, walkers will be allowed back on the road and will share the course with 8K participants.
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⚠️ Important:
These pacing rules are necessary to keep the course safe and open for all participants and to comply with local regulations.
Half Marathon Entry Fees
Refunds and/or transfers of registration are not allowed in ANY of the 2026 Publix Gasparilla Distance Race Weekend Events.
The prices below do not include a service fee charged by our registration partner.
$100
March 17 – April 18, 2025
$110
April 19 – July 6, 2025
$115
July 7- September 30, 2025
$125
Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, 2025
$140
December 1, 2025 – January 9, 2026
$150
January 10 – February 15, 2026
$160
Race Weekend
If available, online registration will remain open until Sunday, February 15, 2026, but beginning Saturday, January 9, 2026, the cost of Half Marathon registration will be according to the Online Late Registration Fees.
✅ Registration Confirmation & Mail-In Registration
📧 Race Week Registration Confirmation – Online Registrants
Participants who register online and provide a valid, legible email address will receive:
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A Race Week Registration Confirmation Email by Monday, February 16, 2026
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This will be in addition to the confirmation email from Race Roster upon completing online registration.
Your Race Week Confirmation will include:
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Assigned Race Number
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Name & Mailing Address
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Race Entered
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Age
⚠️ Important Email Notice
If you unsubscribe from the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic E-Blast Database, you will NOT receive your Race Week Registration Confirmation.
➡️ To rejoin the PGDC E-Blast Database, please Click Here!
📬 Mail-In (Offline) Registration Instructions
Participants who prefer to register by mail must follow these guidelines:
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Download the 2026 PGDC By-Mail Form-Fillable Registration Form
- Click each field, fill in the required information, print, and sign
- Enclose the Entry Fee + $5 Mail-In Processing Fee
- Mail the completed form and payment to:
GDCA
P.O. Box 1881
Tampa, FL 33601-1881
💵 Mail-In Processing Fee
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A $5 processing fee must be added to the total registration payment.
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Incomplete payments (without the $5 fee) will be returned.
📅 Mail-In Registration Deadline
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All mail-in entries must be postmarked by Friday, January 9, 2026
📧 Confirmation for Mail-In Registrants
Participants who register by mail and provide a correct, legible email address will receive their Race Week Confirmation Email by Monday, February 16, 2026, including:
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Assigned Race Number
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Name, Address
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Race Entered
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Age

📦 2026 PGDC 15K – Race Packet, T-Shirt & Race Number Pick-Up
Race Packet Pick-Up for the 2026 Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K will take place during the:
🏢 Tampa Bay 28 Health & Fitness Expo
Presented by TampaWell
📍 Tampa Convention Center – East Hall
🗓️ Expo Dates & Times:
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Friday, February 20, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Beginning at 6:00 a.m.
❗ Important Pick-Up Policy:
If you are unable to attend the Expo to pick up your Race Number in person:
- You MUST complete and sign a Race Number Pick-Up Authorization Form.
- The person picking up your Race Packet must present this form at the Expo.

Standard – (Name and Chip Time) $25 per medal

Custom – (Name, Chip Time, and up to 20 Custom Characters) $30 per medal
Finish Line Engravers
Celebrate your accomplishment in style!
Commemorate your perseverance and pride by personalizing your 2026 PGDC Finisher Medal (including multiple events and Challenges) with your name and official net finish time.
After you cross the finish line, visit the Finish Line Engravers Booth located in the Runner Revive Area on the Platt Street Bridge. Their team will engrave your medal on the spot, turning your hard-earned achievement into a lasting keepsake.
When purchasing, please specify the bib number(s) you’d like engraved.
How to Order
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Before race day: Add the 2026 PGDC Finish Line Engraving to your online registration.
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Already registered? Use the link below to order your engraving now!
🎖️ 2026 PGDC Supporter Medals
Throughout the 2026 PGDC Race Weekend, thousands of runners and walkers will take on the challenge—stepping up to their Start Lines and heading down Bayshore Boulevard toward their Finish Lines. Every mile completed is the result of countless hours of training, dedication, and support.
But behind every runner is a team—family, friends, and loved ones who supported their journey. Whether it was helping with meals, laundry, hydration, snacks, or offering words of encouragement, they were there every step of the way.
Now it’s your turn to say thank you.
💙 A Medal for Your Biggest Fans
The 2026 PGDC Supporter Medals are your way to honor the people who helped get you to the finish line. After you receive your finisher’s medal, walk up to your supporter, present them with their own medal, and say:
“Because of you, I crossed the finish line… thank you!”
Let them feel the joy and pride of being part of your PGDC experience.
🏅 About the Supporter Medals
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Design: Replicas of the official 2026 PGDC 15K, 5K, Half Marathon, and 8K Finisher’s Medals
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Finish: Acrylic (to distinguish from race finisher medals)
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Includes: The same vibrant, event-themed ribbon
📦 How to Get Yours
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Haven’t registered yet? Register now and add a Supporter Medal to your order.
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Already registered? Click here to order your Supporter Medal separately.
FinisherPix, the Official Photographers of the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic, allows you to order your photos now & save!”
You can receive the FinisherPix Photo Pack in Digital Format for a small fee. The FinisherPix Photo Pack includes ALL photos we identify of you in all digital formats (Basic digital image, Digital images with Finish Time, Digital images in certificate format.) A link to download all images will automatically be emailed when photos are available online.
Presale Pricing
15K $19.99
5K $14.99
Half Marathon $29.99
8K $14.99
Michelob Ultra Challenge $69.99
Michelob Ultra Pure Gold Challenge $44.99
Michelob Ultra Infusions Challenge $29.99
Michelob Ultra Zero Challenge $29.99
To purchase the 2026 PGDC FinisherPix, register online. If you have registered, please use the link below to order your 2026 PGDC FinisherPix.

💆♂️ Pre- & Post-Race Massage Services
Get ready to recover like a pro! The Gasparilla Massage Team will be onsite offering Post-Race Massage Services following the:
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Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K & 5K (Saturday)
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Publix Gasparilla Half Marathon & 8K (Sunday)
🗓️ Massage Availability
Dates:
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Saturday & Sunday, after your race
Services & Rates:
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15-Minute Massage: $21
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20-Minute Massage: $28
💡 Save by booking early! These rates apply only to prepaid massages made through online registration.
Race Day pricing will be slightly higher.
🧾 How to Purchase
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Not registered yet? Register now and add your message during sign-up.
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Already registered? Click here to purchase your Post-Race Massage separately.
Make the most of your race weekend—relax, recover, and reward yourself!