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Key West Half Marathon: Fun in Florida
- Mar 9
- 4 min read
Head to Florida in mid January and take part in the Key West Half Marathon and Runfest, in one of the State's coolest regions. Key West is a special place and what better way to see it than on a run in the sun. The half goes up past the historic district, past the Southernmost Point and along beautiful Smathers Beach. The finish line is right by the Half Shell Raw Bar, a well known entertainment venue and very near the start!
The Destination
The city of Key West is part of Monroe County, which also includes much of the Keys and some of the Everglades. It's under 6 square miles and has a population of less than 30,000.
It's the southernmost point in the United States, located closer to Cuba than to Miami and is known for its watersports, lively nightlife, climate, beaches, historic sites, cultural diversity, and its pastel and unique architecture. The palm-lined streets were home to Ernest Hemingway, (whose home and museum is a must-see), Tennessee Williams, and Jimmy Buffett: some of the celebrities who discovered solace and inspiration in the island city. Duval Street is one of the most intriguing strips of shops, bars and cafes in the US, and was the favorite Key West hangout of novelist Hemingway.
Fort Zachary Taylor is considered by many to be Key West’s best beach. In this 87-acre state park you’ll find a Civil War fort, nature trails, ideal spots for fishing and snorkelling and a gorgeous sandy beach. The snorkelling here is superb and you should see snapper, parrotfish and lobster. Smathers Beach is another you must visit.
Key West is also known as the Conch Republic, a tongue in cheek stab at independence. Conch are a small sea snail, very popular in these parts!
History
The first Key West Half Marathon was held in 1998. It has grown significantly over time from 1500 runners ten years ago to its current 4000, and more distances have been added. There is also a 5k and paddle board race in July each year. The Key West Half Marathon was voted one of the top 10 best half-marathons in the nation for 2023 by the USA Today Readers Choice Awards. In 2023 there were runners from 50 States and 37 countries, from those with plenty of experience to first-timers.
Race Organiser
The Key West Half Marathon is owned and organised by BW Promotions. Barbara Wright is the race director and founder of the event.
When?
The race is held annually in mid January.
Distances
Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
10K and 8K races
5K run
Big Pecker Challenge: Complete the 5K, 10K, and half marathon for a special medal.
Lil’ Pecker Challenge: Run the 5K, 8K, and 10K for a unique hat and medals.
Papa’s Pilar Rum Stroll: A fun rum-tasting tour around Old Town Key West.
Key West Beach N’ Beer Mile: A four-loop beach run with beer stops.
Is there an Expo?
On Friday and Saturday outside the Half Shell Raw Bar you can pick up your race bib and grab some souvenirs. There's also plenty of pre-race carbo loading food options available.
How many runners?
Over 5,000 entrants, across all distances.
Course
The half marathon starts at 6.30am and the 5k goes off 30 mins later, both from Caroline Street, on Key West’s western end. From there, the course heads through the city streets, turning on famous Duval Street, Eaton Street, and Whitehead Street and then along Atlantic Boulevard and South Roosevelt Boulevard, which is also part of Florida Highway A1A, a 338 mile stretch of highway from here to Georgia.
There are great views of the ocean and plenty of landmarks along the way. These include the Key West lighthouse, Ernest Hemingway’s house, downtown Key West’s old town area as well as the Southernmost Point in the United States. The only real hills of note are the bridge over the Cow Key Channel to Stock Island (only 75 yards wide but with great views) and the stretches along Duval Street and Whitehead Street. Parallel to Duval Street, Whitehead Street in the old town is a leafy, mile-long stretch that runs parallel from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean.
Colourful Key West bungalows, sprawling Banyan trees, historic points of interest and the island's famous roosters make for a great part of the run. The Southernmost Point Buoy is on the corner with South Street, The concrete buoy is the southernmost point of the continental United States and it's one of the most photographed landmarks on Key West. Runners head over this hilly stretch twice and then head along Key West’s southern edge for the second half of the race heading back toward the finish line, where it all started. There will be a big crowd waiting for you. Let the party begin!
What's unique?
This is a party running weekend like no other. The whole island is focused on the event and when the races are done, it's time for the more relaxed events to get the party started. There's no better place for a January event than the warmth of the Keys.
Do charities benefit?
The event supports local causes, including Key West-area charities and scholarship efforts. Runners are welcome to fundraise for their own favourite charities as well.
Our verdict
If you're looking for a relaxed half, with no challenging event logistics where you can pretty much just turn up and run without lots and lots of planning and in a perfect climate, then this is the one for you. The scenery is great and everyone is super friendly. Perfect.
How to register
Online via the website.
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