The Gasparilla Distance Classic is a road race which is held in late February or early March on

Bayshore Boulevard Bayshore Boulevard is a waterfront road on Hillsborough Bay in South Tampa, Florida. Located south of downtown Tampa Downtown Tampa is the central business district of Tampa, Florida, United States, and the chief financial district of the ...

Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

. Over 30,000 competitors participate each year. It is named after the

Gasparilla Pirate Festival The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is a large parade and a host of related community events held in Tampa, Florida almost every year since 1904. The theme of the festivities is a friendly invasion by the mythical pirate José Gaspar (also known as Gasp ...

, which takes place on Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard a few weeks earlier.

History

The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association was established in 1978 dedicated specifically to raising funds for charitable youth organizations and running programs in the

Tampa Bay area The Tampa Bay area is a major populated area surrounding Tampa Bay on the west coast of Florida in the United States. It includes the main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. It is the 18th largest metropolitan area in the Unite ...

. Its mission is carried out through the administration of the annual Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend and Jr. Gasparilla Distance Classic. Since the first running of the Gasparilla Distance Classic in February 1978, $5.9 million has been donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa, Girls Inc. of Pinellas, The Friends of Tampa Parks & Recreation and other running programs. More than 485,000+ runners and walkers have crossed the finish line. The race weekend includes the Half Marathon, 8k, the Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K & 5K, Kellogg's 5K Walk, Fifth Third Bank Half Marathon Team Challenge & Stroller Roll, Michelob Ultra Challenge (15K, 5K, Half Marathon & 8K) and the Beck's Light Challenge (15K, 5K & Half Marathon) The Gasparilla Distance Classic used to include a marathon race (26.2 miles). The final marathon was in 2010 and titled the "Final Voyage". Wilson Chepkwony of Kenya was the Men’s 2010 Marathon Champion with a time of 2:24:48 and Melissa Gacek of St. Paul, Minn was the Women’s 2010 Marathon Champion with a time of 2:53:20

Human interest stories

In 2008

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war veteran Ivan Castro ran of the Gasparilla Classic only 17 months after being blinded by shrapnel on a rooftop in Baghdad. Lieutenant Colonel Sam Arwood ran the 2010 Gasparilla Marathon away on a treadmill in Afghanistan. Sam had originally planned to run in the marathon in Tampa, but was deployed one month before the race. He was given the Ok by race officials to run a course on base in Afghanistan, but was forced onto a treadmill after heavy rains ruined the outdoor track.

Charity

The

Challenged Athletes Foundation The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), established in 1997, assists, supports, and provides opportunity to people with physical challenges, so that they can lead active lifestyles and compete in athletic events. It is founded in the belief th ...

(CAF) sponsors the

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Elite 15K Wheelchair Division. CAF raises money to help people with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and athletics. The Mendez Foundation Too Good For Drugs Junior Gasparilla Distance Classic is a free mini-marathon, now in its 20th year, for children ages 2 to 10. The race emphasizes participation over competition. Every child receives a race bib with the number "1" printed on it, as well as a goody bag, T-shirt and, after crossing the finish line, a competitor's medal. 2011 Charitable Organizations & Running Related Programs Supported By The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association, Inc. *Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay *Girls INC. *Friends of Tampa Recreation INC. *St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation *Richard's Run *National Psoriasis Foundation *Because of Ezra *Wounded Warrior Foundation *Team Olivia *Girls On The Run Tampa Cross Country & Track Programs * University of Tampa * Bloomingdale High School * Chamberlain High School * Plant High School * Robinson High School * Sickles High School * Steinbrenner High School * Wharton High School YOUTH RUNNING PROGRAMS * Fifth Third Bank Too Good For Drugs Jr. Gasparilla Distance Classic * Florida Blue Kids Running Program * Tampa Police Memorial Run

Past 15K winners

Key:

References

{{reflist ;List of winners *Gasparovic, Juraj & Leydig, Jack (2011-03-01)
Gasparilla Distance Classic 15 km
Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2011-10-23.

External links

Official website
Marathons in the United States 15K runs Sports competitions in Tampa, Florida Road running competitions in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1978 1978 establishments in Florida