It’s hard to believe the Clearwater Halfathon is only in its seventh year. Set in one of Florida’s top tourist destinations, Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, this half marathon attracts the top local and regional competitors along with hundreds of walkers and runners competing in the morning’s 5-mile and 5K fitness walker divisions. All of the races are sanctioned by USATF, but more importantly, they take place in warm and sunny Florida.

From November through March it’s no secret the “Sunshine State” is packed with hundreds of running events. Though avid runners down here certainly have their favorites, it seems their lists get bigger and bigger every year. And this event, which has consistently been held in the latter part of January (and skillfully managed by Race Director Chris Lauber), is sure to be on them.

In fact, my only question after crossing the finish line on Sunday was: Why haven’t I signed up for this race since 2009? The field is large enough to remain competitive (if podium chest thumping is your thing), it’s not overly crowded (you won’t be part of a flash-mob), and it’s set in a great racing environment (more on that in a second).

Heading into the weekend, the Halfathon was closing in on 1,000 participants and race morning saw a sizable crowd of last-minute registrants. Worth noting is that some of these participants share a certain loyalty to the Halfathon’s brand. Many racers even recalled the organizers once hosting a marathon of its own in 2000. And though this past weekend’s half doesn’t have the national brand attitude of the popular Rock-n-Roll Series (held about three weeks later in St. Petersburg) or other big city events, I would challenge any race to put together as fine a race as Race Director Lauber has.

“Our New Year’s resolution is to exceed your expectations,” Lauber states in his prerace email update. And after Sunday, I’m happy to say that he has not broken his resolution.

The first thing the race has going for itself is its venue. Specifically, Clearwater and its picturesque bridges and beaches. And if there’s one thing the town of Clearwater knows, it’s how to support a sporting event. After all, the area played host to the 70.3 World Triathlon Championships and Spring Training for many years.

Most first-timers or runners looking for a challenge will consistently put this out-and-back style race on their calendar thanks to the Clearwater and Sand Key (Clearwater Pass) bridges. Since I last ran this event the course has not changed and that’s a good thing. The two featured bridges (at miles one and four), albeit not mountains, offer significant rounds of climbing. Though elevation-wise the bridges barely climb to 100 feet above sea level, they can be quite beastly for those accustomed to the flat nature of FL.

Sand Key Bridge, a beauty of a beast.

Aside from the bridges, the remainder of the course is very easy on the eyes. The Clearwater causeway takes you within an earshot of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where Winter the Dolphin (the movie about the bionic dolphin!) was shot (the movie, not the dolphin) and also past the infamous Clearwater round-a-bout, Pier 60 and the gorgeous white sand beaches of Clearwater Beach. Worth noting is that the beach recently underwent a face-lift, making it an ideal spot for some post race recovering.

The aide stations seemed well-stocked and I saw plenty of volunteers doing what they do: handing out food and beverages, plus some cheering. Keep in mind, this is no rock-n-roll (or Disney!) race, and that’s just fine by me. I’m not a fan of headphones, iPods or really loud blaring bands on the course. The sound of heavy breathing and feet hitting the pavement is the type of rhythm I relate to, but again, that’s me. The course was also well-marked with signs for all mile-markers and directions.

And that brings us to the finish. The start/finish line had its ample volunteers, boisterous cheering sections and a knowledgeable announcer trying to keep up and recognize every single participant. Strangely enough, we noticed that the SAME announcer tasked with this responsibilty for the entire race (3.5 hours!). So kudos, to you Mr. Announcer on a job well done!

The post-race party was well attended thanks to the adult beverage sponsor, pasta and the post race awards. And in keeping in line with its high-quality nature, the Halfathon offers finisher medals which easily rival those of the glitzy national brands.

Here’s my breakdown:

Course: A

The course is a lay-up for any race director. The bridges, running by the beach, and Sand Key Park make for a great warm weather race venue. In addition, the weather was A+, and race directors should thank Mother Nature for her efforts this year.

Organization: B+

Florida Road Races hold a number of very well-organized events in Pinellas County. And with the competition out there, these folks need to be on top of their game to attract the crowd they do every year. We only heard of some timing result delays related to the 5-miler, but everything else seemed to go as planned.

Atmosphere: A

For me, the real party atmosphere is something that should be found at the finish line, not on the course. And that’s exactly what you find here. Special thanks also goes out to the enthusiastic volunteers whose good ole Southern hospitality made everyone feel at home. Even the food servers asked me to come back for more!

Logistics: A  

The race director’s social media postings and email newsletters provided plenty of updates on weather, parking and race-day packet pickup. And despite being in a tourist destination, there is ample free parking in public lots within a football’s throw to the Halfathon’s HQ tent.

Overall: A

Value, course, and atmosphere. This race has it all. If you signed up race week you paid $70-80 and if you register months ahead of time it’s less than $60. Compare that to any of the Rock-n-Roll series race. And if that’s not enough, the abundance of smiling faces told me that a lot of participants will be back next year. Now if they can just bring back that marathon.

-Eric

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