St. Petersburg Distance Classic

The St. Petersburg Distance Classic courses are a scenic tour through St. Pete, from the sparkling waterfront to beautiful historic neighborhoods, the trendy downtown, and the shaded Pinellas Trail – a rails-to-trails linear park. The Marathon course is USATF Certified and a Boston Qualifier.

ALL four race courses are the same for the first two miles – heading north into Snell Isle. While 5K participants turn around and return towards the finish line, all other participants head north and around Coffee Pot Bayou before returning to North Shore Park.

The Halfathon and Marathon head south along the waterfront, through our bustling downtown, and onto Central Avenue, which features a dynamic mixture of the best local shops and cafes. Watch for an abundance of huge murals on Central Avenue’s building walls as St. Petersburg is a genuinely well­ known haven for artists of all types.

At Mile 10, the Halfathon and Marathon courses split at the Pinellas Trail. The half marathon participants head east back towards the waterfront, and the marathon runners head west to achieve their marathon mileage before returning to the waterfront finish line.

The St. Petersburg Marathon is the first ever 26.2-mile race staged entirely in St. Petersburg. The marathon course has been accurately measured per USATF certification standards and certified (FL19019TY) and will therefore be a Boston Qualifier for 2023 and beyond.

For our out-of-town athletes, our award ­winning, white-sand beaches provide the perfect setting to relax. Ideal overall temperatures (56° – 71°) make this a perfect spot for a mid-winter vacation wrapped around a long-distance run or walk.