The First State Bank Key Largo Bridge Run, a picturesque run into the Florida Keys, will return for the fourteenth year on Saturday, December 7. As they attempt to beat their personal best times, runners will head to Jewfish Creek Bridge. Throughout the course, walkers will take a leisurely stroll as the sun rises.
As they cross the bridge, drivers from the 18-Mile Stretch can see the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Florida Bay on the other as they enter the Florida Keys. It’s a constant wow factor and an immediate sense of relaxation.
The sights from the bridge under the early light and the salty air will be unforgettable for the runners and walkers participating in this year’s Key Largo Bridge Run. The last stretch of the 18-mile stretch, which is the gateway to the Keys, can be run or walked by competitors in the 5K event. The largely level course offers lovely views of Barnes Sound and Florida Bay.
The start point for this year’s run and walk has been moved. At 7:30 a.m., bridge runners will depart from the access road to Anchorage Resort & Yacht Club, which is located right off the Jewfish Creek Bridge at MM 107.8. A course that leads to Jewfish Creek Bridge will thereafter be run or walked by them. After turning around, runners will cross the bridge once again and proceed back to the access road that leads to Anchorage Resort and Yacht Club, where they will be able to catch up with loved ones and enjoy food, beverages, and music. Around 9:30 a.m., the race will come to a close.
Henry Menendez of HNO Productions, the organizer of the Key Largo Bridge Run, is eager to welcome about 500 participants back for one of the more unique races in the island chain after a successful Old Highway Run in Islamorada on November 16.
“With this race, we aim to promote health and well-being both locally and globally,” Menendez stated. We also invite everyone to take in one of the most breathtaking views of our lovely island while taking in the lovely vistas from the top of the bridge.
On Thursday, December 5, from 4 to 6 p.m., there will be a participant pre-party at the Catch Restaurant and Bar, located at MM 102, by the sea. Participants are urged to come in order to network with other walkers and runners and to receive the most recent event details from the organizers.
On Friday night, December 6, race participants will be greeted with supper specials on a selection of pizza and pasta dishes at Italian Food Company, which is situated in the median at 98070 Overseas Highway.
Participants and spectators are urged to utilize the free parking and shuttle service at Key Largo School, MM 104 oceanside, on the morning of the race due to the restricted amount of parking available on-site. Between 6 and 7 a.m., pre-race shuttles will leave the school, and between 8 and 9:30 a.m., they will return to the school from the finish line.
The Anchorage Resort will host the awards presentation just after the race. The top three finishers in each age category, the top three male and female finishers overall, and the top three male and female masters finishers will all receive awards. Upon completion, each participant receives a medal.
During the awards ceremony, a number of food trucks will be present. The Catch Restaurant and Bar will host a party after the race.
For individuals under the age of 17, registration costs $40; for everyone else, it costs $60. A commemorative T-shirt will be given to the first 500 people who sign up.
To learn more, go to keylargobridgerun.com.
DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly photos
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