Gasparilla Distance Classic
The Gasparilla Distance Classic is a road race which is held in late February or early March on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, Florida. Over 30,000 competitors participate each year.[1] It is named after the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, 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. 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, $3.2 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.[2]
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) [3]
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 [4]
Human interest stories
In 2008 Iraq war veteran Ivan Castro ran 20.0975 kilometres (12.4880 mi) of the Gasparilla Classic only 17 months after being blinded by shrapnel on a rooftop in Baghdad.[5]
Lieutenant Colonel Sam Arwood ran the 2010 Gasparilla Marathon 7,800 miles (12,600 km) 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.[6]
Charity
The Challenged Athletes Foundation(CAF) sponsors the LabCorp Elite 15K Wheelchair Division. CAF raises money to help people with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and athletics.[7]
The Mendez Foundation Too Good For Drugs Junior Gasparilla Distance Classic is a free mini-marthon, 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.[8]
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: Course record
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Time (m:s) | Women's winner | Time (m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1978 |  Bill Rodgers (USA) |
44:29 | Kim Merritt (USA) |
55:40 |
| 2nd | 1979 | Ralph King (USA) |
44:12 |  Gayle Olinekova (CAN) |
53:17 |
| 3rd | 1980 | Greg Meyer (USA) |
43:40 |  Grete Waitz (NOR) |
48:01 |
| 4th | 1981 | Ric Rojas (USA) |
43:12 | Grete Waitz (NOR) |
48:12 |
| 5th | 1982 |  Michael Musyoki (KEN) |
43:09 | Grete Waitz (NOR) |
48:26 |
| 6th | 1983 |  Robert de Castella (AUS) |
42:47 |  Wendy Sly (GBR) |
48:18 |
| 7th | 1984 | Mike McLeod (GBR) |
42:55 | Grete Waitz (NOR) |
47:52 |
| 8th | 1985 | Mike McLeod (GBR) |
43:02 | Grete Waitz (NOR) |
48:10 |
| 9th | 1986 |  John Treacy (IRL) |
42:59 | Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) |
48:00 |
| 10th | 1987 |  Marcos Barreto (MEX) |
43:17 | Grete Waitz (NOR) |
48:50 |
| 11th | 1988 | Marcos Barreto (MEX) |
42:37 | Liz McColgan (GBR) |
47:43 |
| 12th | 1989 | Keith Brantly (USA) |
42:50 | Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) |
48:14 |
| 13th | 1990 | John Halvorsen (NOR) |
43:25 | Judi St. Hilaire (USA) |
49:26 |
| 14th | 1991 | John Halvorsen (NOR) |
43:14 | Jill Boltz (GBR) |
49:00 |
| 15th | 1992 |  Valdenor dos Santos (BRA) |
43:10 |  Wilma van Onna (NED) |
49:11 |
| 16th | 1993 | Valdenor dos Santos (BRA) |
42:41 | Carmem de Oliveira (BRA) |
49:03 |
| 17th | 1994 |  Philemon Hanneck (ZIM) |
42:35 |  Elana Meyer (RSA) |
48:11 |
| 18th | 1995 | Josephat Machuka (KEN) |
42:37 | Delilah Asiago (KEN) |
48:38 |
| 19th | 1996 | Jon Brown (GBR) |
42:42 | Tegla Loroupe (KEN) |
48:30 |
| 20th | 1997 | Joseph Kimani (KEN) |
43:11 | Elana Meyer (RSA) |
48:48 |
| 21st | 1998 | Gabino Apolonio (MEX) |
43:23 | Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) |
49:24 |
| 22nd | 1999 | Russ Gerbers (USA) |
46:48 | Laura Drake (USA) |
54:33 |
| 23rd | 2000 | Russ Gerbers (USA) |
46:37 | Laura Drake (USA) |
52:59 |
| 24th | 2001 | Muchapiwa Mazano (ZIM) |
48:50 | Laura Drake (USA) |
54:47 |
| 25th | 2002 | Tony Teats (USA) |
46:36 | Monica Joyce (USA) |
55:10 |
| 26th | 2003 |  Ronnie Holassie (TRI) |
46:40 | Amy Begley (USA) |
52:21 |
| 27th | 2004 | Joep Tigchelaar (NED) |
46:37 | Rosa Gutierrez (USA) |
55:20 |
| 28th | 2005 | Elias Gonzalez (USA) |
48:23 | Victoria Gill (GBR) |
54:00 |
| 29th | 2006 | Elias Gonzalez (USA) |
48:39 | Victoria Gill (GBR) |
53:47 |
| 30th | 2007 | Todd Snyder (USA) |
45:48 | Christa Benton (USA) |
54:27 |
| 31st | 2008 | Joseph Sitienei (KEN) |
46:45 | Annie Cooper-Gasway (USA) |
56:00 |
| 32nd | 2009 | Ryan Hall (USA) |
43:26 | Christa Benton (USA) |
54:42 |
| 33rd | 2010 | Austin Richmond (USA) |
46:49 | Briana Whaley (USA) |
54:05 |
| 34th | 2011 | Jeremy Criscione (USA) |
46:22 | Briana Whaley (USA) |
54:05 |
| 35th | 2012 | Jeremy Criscione (USA) |
46:55 | Sara Petrick (USA) |
54:59 |
| 36th | 2013 | Jonathan Mott (USA) |
48:44 | Sara Petrick (USA) |
55:49 |
References
- ↑ Miller, Jen (22 February 2014). "Going the Distance Grows Shorter for Many Runners". New York Times. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ↑ "Tampa Bay Run". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ↑ "Treasure Coast Running". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ↑ "Marathon Guide". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ↑ "Blind Vet Runs Half Marathon". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ↑ "Deployed but by no means deterred". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ↑ "CAF". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ↑ "All Kids are Winners at Free Annual Race". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- 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.