2017 EVENT CANCELLED. From race website (11/3/17): The 2017 Everglades Half Marathon & Biscayne 5K has been Cancelled.
The Bad News: The 2017 Everglades Half Marathon & Biscayne 5K has been cancelled.
The Good News: All registered runners will receive refunds in the next week.
Since Hurricane Irma hit South Florida in September, we were monitoring the situation, trying to be hopeful the race would still happen while trying not to bug the National Park Service while they were in recovery.
About 2 weeks ago, we were notified that Shark Valley (where the race is held) is still under water and may not even open this winter. Even if the water receded today, it would take more than a month to get the pathway in shape for our event. Thus, we no longer had a permit to run our original course.
For the last 2 weeks we have had numerous conversations with registered participants to find out if they would prefer we cancel, or if we should simply relocate the race. The attitudes of runners were somewhat split. While some wanted the race to happen no matter what, there were enough people who we thought were going to feel upset by the change that it made the event unfeasible.
We reached out to the City of Homestead, who worked very hard and fast to help us identify a suitable location to hold the event. The city made the most sense because it sits right between Biscayne & Everglades National Parks, and is also the gateway to the Florida Keys. They were fantastic and extremely helpful, but when it came right down to it, we felt like the course we ended up with wasn’t what people had signed up for.
For anyone who made non refundable travel plans, I think you are still going to be happy you went to South Florida in December. Most of the park is still open, and the area can use your tourism dollars. It is going to be a truly excellent time to visit. You can still find airboat tours, hiking, and the drive down to Flamingo is still driveable. Biscayne National Park is also still open and definitely worth a visit. You will love it.
We are working with our registration system to automatically issue refunds to everyone who registered. Refunds will be processed early next week and should hit everyone’s bank accounts by end of next week. If you would rather have us donate your registration fees to the National Park Foundation to help fund the recovery efforts, please let us know before Monday.
If you would prefer to defer your registration to another race instead of a refund, we have waived the deferment fees. You can start the process here, under the “How to Defer to Another Race” section of the page.
Please note that refunds that will be issued will not include any donations to the National Park Foundation, training shirts, or any hydration systems we have shipped out.
We are sorry we won’t be able to hold the race this year, but we are excited about our 2018 race lineup and we hope to see you at one of our events next year.
Sincerely,
Salem Stanley
President of Vacation Races
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The Everglades Half Marathon Course is Vacation Races’ first race held entirely within park boundaries! We’re very excited about this course, which follows the Shark Valley Tram Road and features amazing views of the river of grass. You’ll also likely see some wildlife as you run!
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Nature is AMAZING!!!!!
This is a great first time course as it is FLAT and in November which is the cool time for South Florida. Miles of pristine beauty and a rare opportunity … MORE
This is a great first time course as it is FLAT and in November which is the cool time for South Florida. Miles of pristine beauty and a rare opportunity to run through the ACTUAL park!! Medal is AWESOME!!!! I WILL RETURN
Beautiful Course
The race was beautiful. If you are used to crowd support in city races, this is not the race for you, but if you just like trotting through beautiful scenery … MORE
The race was beautiful. If you are used to crowd support in city races, this is not the race for you, but if you just like trotting through beautiful scenery with lovely people and flat, fast courses, definitely sign up! The race did start a bit late, so the earlier restrooms were a bit crowded, but other than that registration, bib pick-up, and race were pretty fantastic!
Up close with nature!
Largest medal I own now! The scenery is gorgeous and I loved being so close to the nature and wildlife of the Everglades. Course is flat with great aid stations. … MORE
Largest medal I own now! The scenery is gorgeous and I loved being so close to the nature and wildlife of the Everglades. Course is flat with great aid stations. Only thing that needed some work was claiming items that were allowed to be left at mile 3 aid station, otherwise the event was well run and organized.
Great race!
I loved the race course and being deep in the everglades. Clean fun, and friendly. Emergency personnel should have been on post ahead of time. Be prepared to walk a … MORE
I loved the race course and being deep in the everglades. Clean fun, and friendly. Emergency personnel should have been on post ahead of time. Be prepared to walk a lot before and after race time.
Awesome Race
I couldn't have asked for a better run for my first half-marathon. The race was flat so made for an easy run. Especially great, since it was my first half … MORE
I couldn’t have asked for a better run for my first half-marathon. The race was flat so made for an easy run. Especially great, since it was my first half marathon. The weather was perfect, I was expecting a lot of humidity considering it was in the everglades; however, since it was November the temp was perfect (60s to start and warmer towards the end) and the humidity was low (still there but not bad). The water/break stops were plentiful and well run (no pun intended). The SWAG was great, I love having my name on the shirt and the medal with the Alligator on the back was really great. My only complaint was that it started half an hour late, but this was probably because it was the first one on this course. I’m sure the next one will flow much easier. OH… and I can’t forget it was great running with gators off to the side of the path, fortunately they were fairly mellow at this time of the year and day. I believe I saw six overall.
Didn't Disappoint
Vacation Races put on a wonderful event. The course was spectacular, the expo was wonderful and the swag is the best part. Their medals are some of the nicest I … MORE
Vacation Races put on a wonderful event. The course was spectacular, the expo was wonderful and the swag is the best part. Their medals are some of the nicest I have ever seen and I love earning them. This particular race, in the Everglades, was on a flat, fast course. I actually didn’t PR, which was disappointing, but I also indulged a little while staying in Miami and that impacted performance. The course was within the boundaries of the park and you got to see some really pretty portions of the Everglades, as well as some of the wildlife it offers.
I have one and only one complaint. The race started about 30 mins late. Now, this wasn’t a huge deal, but when you are mentally prepared to start at a particular time, any delay really has the potential to make you anxious. The shuttle service they provided was slow for some but I found it to be adequate considering the amount of people that were in one particular place at one particular time. I can’t complain about my experience. The folks that put on the race did a wonderful job and I plan on running every single one!
Alligators!
Watch out for wildlife! The race start was delayed for a very long time. Due to waiting so long my electronic devices were dead before the race was over. It … MORE
Watch out for wildlife! The race start was delayed for a very long time. Due to waiting so long my electronic devices were dead before the race was over. It was also not very organized getting to and from the part on the bus. There was alot of waiting during the entire event.
Easy Run & Beautiful Scenery
This was vacation race's first race at the Everglades National Park & the first race held within the park boundaries. It was a beautiful, flat race with alligators within feet … MORE
This was vacation race’s first race at the Everglades National Park & the first race held within the park boundaries. It was a beautiful, flat race with alligators within feet of the path.
Awesome Run! Nature at its finest.
Different from some races where you have the cheering crowds along the Route. This was peaceful serene glorious nature. Saw quite a few alligators in the water alongside the narrow … MORE
Different from some races where you have the cheering crowds along the Route. This was peaceful serene glorious nature. Saw quite a few alligators in the water alongside the narrow route. Had my photo taken with gator in the back ground. Who get to do that? . Awesome!
Some Inaugural Snafus, Still Fantastic
A course you're not going to find many other places, it's Everglades National Park after all. Flat and paved but there isn't a lot of shade so be sure to … MORE
A course you’re not going to find many other places, it’s Everglades National Park after all. Flat and paved but there isn’t a lot of shade so be sure to pack your sunblock. If you’re feeling sprightly you can take a quick climb up the Shark Valley Observation Tower during the race to see some incredible scenery. There was plenty of wildlife around to entertain as well.
The start was delayed due to medical getting caught up in the race traffic, about 30 minutes if I remember correctly, but we just spent that time watching the sun rise and looking for wildlife. Didn’t care for the mile walk to the start and from the finish back to the shuttle dropoff/pickup. No lodging close to the race so plan for the drive as well as time to take the shuttle over and back.
All that said, I don’t doubt that the 2017 race will be even better now that Vacation Races has this experience under their belt. Plus the medal is a stunner.
Vacation Races rocks!
Great race. Run alongside alligators in a "sea of grass". The Florida Everglades - unique and beautiful ecosystem - up close and personal. Being a native and loving the outdoors, … MORE
Great race. Run alongside alligators in a “sea of grass”. The Florida Everglades – unique and beautiful ecosystem – up close and personal. Being a native and loving the outdoors, I truly enjoyed the experience.
Vacation Races did an amazing job. It was an inaugural event and went off, virtually, without a hitch. Start time had a minor delay – due to traffic in to parking lot (2 lane roadway) – but was not too terrible. Looking forward to running with them in 2017 and beyond.
Love all Vacation Races!! The best!!
Location was inside the park which was really cool. Seeing the awesome scenery and wildlife was a huge plus. Great swag as always. The medals are in a class by … MORE
Location was inside the park which was really cool. Seeing the awesome scenery and wildlife was a huge plus. Great swag as always. The medals are in a class by themselves.
Great race! Saw so many alligators!
I really enjoyed this flat course and the gorgeous scenery of the Everglades. I actually paused in my run twice to take pictures of alligators who were within ten feet … MORE
I really enjoyed this flat course and the gorgeous scenery of the Everglades. I actually paused in my run twice to take pictures of alligators who were within ten feet of me on the side of the trail. The race was well organized, although you do have to walk about a mile and a half to the start line. Also, there was a big line for the shuttles from the parking lot to the start of the walk, so get there early. That said, one of my favorite races so far! I stayed and did an official park tram tour afterwards, which was totally worth it.
Excellent Event!!!
Great event: Well organized, beautiful scenery, flat fast course. Weather was great. My one complaint is that the walk from the staging area to the start and from the finish … MORE
Great event: Well organized, beautiful scenery, flat fast course. Weather was great. My one complaint is that the walk from the staging area to the start and from the finish back to the staging area was painfully long…especially after the race was finished and your legs were sore. Still, I would gladly do it again.
Fantastic race, great course
Fast course and beautiful. Goes right through the everglades and perfectly flat. Only improvement would be traffic control, but I think this will be improved next year MORE
Fast course and beautiful. Goes right through the everglades and perfectly flat. Only improvement would be traffic control, but I think this will be improved next year
Nice flat course
Great flat course just forgot my backbrace so did horrible. Not mant hotels close to the venue. The race did start over 30 minutes late which sucked and at the … MORE
Great flat course just forgot my backbrace so did horrible. Not mant hotels close to the venue. The race did start over 30 minutes late which sucked and at the end of the race it was horrible waiting for transportation to bring you back to your cars!!! That really needs improvement
Late start Tough finish
Running on the trail was awesome with all the gators, birds, snakes, and other wildlife. Aid stations were nicely spaced and well stocked. Only downside was the late start which … MORE
Running on the trail was awesome with all the gators, birds, snakes, and other wildlife. Aid stations were nicely spaced and well stocked. Only downside was the late start which made the sun/heat/humidity more of a factor than it should have.
Runners, Alligators and the Everglades!
Race morning greeted us with a beautiful sunrise and a very cool 13.1 mile course complete with alligators, exotic birds and awesome runners. This inaugural event was another successful event … MORE
Race morning greeted us with a beautiful sunrise and a very cool 13.1 mile course complete with alligators, exotic birds and awesome runners. This inaugural event was another successful event from Vacation Races. There was plenty of aid support, great volunteers and the weather was less humid than I had expected. To be able to actually run inside the Everglades National Park was an experience of a lifetime. The course was pretty flat with Everglades on both sides of the running path. As usual. I was greeted at the finish line with one of the best finisher medals on can receive. All in all another great experience with Vacation Races and cant wait for the next one!