Seventh Annual Clearwater Marathon Set for Sunday

The Clearwater Running and Fitness Festival, featuring different race events including a 5K, halfthon and marathon is Sunday starting in Coachman Park.

The first marathon had 635 racers from 30 states and four countries Jan. 23, 2000. The second year there were 1,529 runner from 44 states and 14 countries. 

And the event went on for six years. That is before road work at a narrow section of Gulf Boulevard led to race permits being denied, that is until this weekend.

Marathon racers take to the course which starts at Coachman Park and heads through downtown across Memorial Causeway Bridge, along the causeway then to Clearwater Beach; then south along nine miles of Gulf Boulevard before turning inland over Park Boulevard Bridge through Oakhurst Road to the Pinellas Trail. Runners take the trail north to the Harbor Oaks neighborhood. Then to Coachman Park for the finish.

The race also features a 5K, five mile and halfthon routes.

Traffic Concerns Along Race Route

Please allow for extra time when traveling Sand Key, Clearwater Beach, Memorial Causeway, Island Estates and the Harbor Oaks neighborhoods.

There could be travel delays from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

There also will be temporary closures.

South Gulfview Boulevard from Hamden Drive to the Roundabout will be closed from 7:15 a.m. until 10 a.m. Traffic from south Clearwater Beach trying to access the Roundabout to travel east on Memorial Causeway will need to use the Belleair Causeway.

Visit: http://www.clearwaterrunning.com/marathon.html