Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend Training Plans

The Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend also offers a variety of “challenges” where you can rack up extra miles – and extra medals. For example, the Ultra Challenge requires runners to complete all four races over the course of the weekend for a total of over 30 miles! But whether you choose to run the 5K, 8K, 15K, half marathon, or some combination of the four, you’ll enjoy the company of thousands of like-minded runners as you cover a flat, friendly course. Our training plans provide you with workouts at an intensity that’s just right for you, helping you to avoid injuries and burnout caused by overtraining.

With the exception of the half-marathon, each of the racecourses is an out-and-back on Bayshore Boulevard, bordering Tampa Bay. Each course passes some of the area’s most beautiful homes, giving runners a variety of fabulous scenery to enjoy as the course rolls by. The 5K, which registers more than 12,000 participants, follows an out-and-back course along Bayshore Boulevard. A crew of costumed cavalrymen known as the Tampa Rough Riders awaits runners at the halfway point, where they distribute beads and snacks from a festively decorated train trolley. The 8K and 15K follow similar routes down Bayshore Boulevard, with turnaround points adjusted to the appropriate distances.

The half marathon is the only course that deviates from Bayshore Boulevard’s out-and-back tour of Tampa Bay. The half marathon course first takes a five-mile detour onto Davis Island, where the route will pass the island’s famous Mediterraneanesque buildings and homes from the 1920s, painted in beautiful pastel colors that complement the blue of the ocean. Because the race starts early in the morning, racers are treated to a stunning island sunrise. Runners will also be able to glimpse the lights of the Harbour Island LightHouse across the Seddon Channel. At the south point of Davis Island, the route loops back toward the Mainland after passing Seaplane Basin Park. At the 5-mile mark, the course returns to Bayshore Boulevard, where the course follows an out-and-back, returning runners to the finish line.

Even in February, Tampa’s weather can be hot. Runners who have participated in past editions of the Gasparilla Distance Classic also cite the crosswinds coming off of Tampa Bay as one of the race’s most challenging features. Those coming from northern states will certainly notice the heat and humidity, but training thoroughly can prepare your body for the demands of hot and windy racing conditions. Following a program from Custom Training Plans allows you to build the type of strength and endurance you’ll need to beat the heat.

When you prepare for your Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend with Custom Training Plans, you get so much more than a mileage calendar. Every one of our workouts is designed to contribute to your overall race-day goals, whether that’s a PR or just to get to the finish line without walking. For example, we help you get ready with a 12-week Gasparilla Half Marathon training plan that includes running workouts that fold in sprints, hill repeats, and intervals, giving you so much more than a bare-bones mileage schedule. Along with your running workouts, our plans incorporate cross-training and mobility exercises that help you develop full-body fitness that supports your running goals. If your goal is to go from couch to half marathon, we offer a 20-week Gasparilla Half Marathon training plan that provides eight weeks of conditioning to help you feel ready on race day.

No matter what distance you’re registered for, it’s important to train with a program that can be customized to your level of fitness. If a training plan asks you to do too little, you risk showing up at the start line without the fitness you need to finish the race. However, overtraining can lead to injuries that stop you from getting to the start line in the first place. At Custom Training Plans, we work with professional trainers to ensure that each workout provides you with the right level of intensity. In addition, every training plan is tailored to the race itself. Whether you need a Gasparilla 5K training plan, a Gasparilla 8K training plan, a Gasparilla 15K training plan, or a Gasparilla Half Marathon training plan, trust Custom Training Plans to help you prepare safely and effectively.