5,000 Runners to Enjoy Miles of Waterfront Views, Improved Course
The Eau Palm Beach Marathon & Run Fest presented by Publix will be heading into its second decade as Palm Beach County’s most popular running event when it returns to the streets of Downtown West Palm Beach and Lake Worth December 7.
The race, produced by Life Time – The Healthy Way of Life Company (NYSE: LTM), will have a new schedule, with the Waterfront 5K moved from Friday night to Sunday morning and the annual Expo moved to Meyer Amphitheater near the start and finish line. But it will have the same traditional flavor thanks to miles of waterfront views and its unique features such as Relay teams and the popular Wacky Water Stations.
More than 5,000 runners are expected to participate. The Marathon and Half Marathon will begin at 6:30 a.m., the 5K at 6:45 a.m. The finish line party will run until 2 p.m.
This is the first year of title sponsorship for the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, located on the beach in Manalapan, Fla. Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa will have special travel packages for out of town runners participating in the Eau Palm Beach Marathon.
The resort will offer a $199 per night rate that is more than 50% off regular rates as well as packages that include hydration stations, a carb-loading pre-race dinner, transportation to and from the race and post-race massages.
Course
Subtle changes to the Eau Palm Beach Marathon & Run Fest course are designed to improve the flow of traffic in the communities surrounding the marathon and reduce the number of turns for runners, particularly on the northern and southern parts of the course.
The start and finish line are being moved a block south to the front of the Meyer Amphitheater. The race will start toward the north on N. Flagler Drive and will turn to the left on 58th Street and then back South on Spruce Ave. down to 36th Street, where the course turns back East to Flagler Drive. Runners will stay on Flagler to 29th Street, then make a right-hand turn to Poinsettia Ave., head back north to 35th Street, turn left and then back South on Spruce Ave. to 26th Street, east back to Poinsettia and then back out to Flagler on 27th Street. The course continues South on Flagler before it cuts through Downtown on N. Narcissus Ave. and back onto Flagler past the Start/Finish area.
Runners will then head down toward Lake Worth, turning right on Arkona Ct. to S. Olive Ave. where they will head South and make a few short turns to end up on Federal Highway. The course turns East on Westminster Road and then back South on Washington Road, working its way back to Flagler Drive down to Gregory Road in Lake Worth. After a six-mile stretch primarily back and forth on Lakeside Drive in Lake Worth, the final five miles of the race will mainly be on Flagler Drive heading back to the Start/Finish area.
h2. Relay
A unique feature of Eau Palm Beach Marathon & Run Fest presented by Publix is the capability of runners to enter as relay teams. Each team of four runners in each division (male, female, mixed) will collectively run the 26.2 mile marathon distance. Participants in the Marathon Relay will have the ability to split the distance, receive a finisher medal and participant shirt.
Expo
The Publix Health & Fitness Expo will showcase health, sport and fitness products and services at Meyer Amphitheater on December 5 from 1:30 p.m.—8:30 p.m. and December 6 from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Runners will pick up their packets at the Expo.
5K
The Waterfront 5K will begin at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday and incorporate the same start and finish line as the marathon and half marathon, allowing runners of the shorter distance to enjoy the Marathon finishing experience.
Wacky Water Stations
Even if they’re not a runner, residents can still participate by entering the Wacky Water Station competition with friends, family, co-workers, religious groups, high school groups, non-profit organizations or neighborhood associations. Entrants manage one of 15 water stations along the Marathon course and are judged based on theme, music, costumes, decorations, & enthusiasm. The best overall group receives $1000 and there are $500 awards for Best Theme, Best Cheer Zone and Most Unique Station.
A minimum of 15 volunteers are required per water station
Florida Storm Series
The Eau Palm Beach Marathon & Run Fest is the second event of the five-race Florida Storm Series, which challenges runners to participate in three to five racing events in Florida during the 2014/2015 season that also includes Miami Marathon and Half Marathon on January 25, 2015, Michelob ULTRA Miami Beach 13.1 Marathon® on March 1, 2015, First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay on March 15, 2015 as well as the recently completed Michelob ULTRA Fort Lauderdale 13.1 Marathon®.
“The Storm Series represents and awards the challenges runners are willing to overcome to cross the finish line at these events,” Race Director Javier Sanchez said. “Some participants will run as many as 91 miles to earn a Category 5 award and that’s not including their training miles.”
Registration
- Registration for the Eau Palm Beach Marathon & Run Fest will be available through race week.
- Marathon registration is $115 until November 30 and then $125 during race week.
- Half Marathon registration is $95 until November 30 and then $105 during race week.
- Relay registration is $300 until November 30 and then $350 during race week.
- Waterfront 5K registration is $45 until November 30 and then $50 during race week.
Runners can register online or find additional information at runpalmbeaches.com or via email at [email protected].
More information about Life Time Athletic Events is available at EventsByLifeTime.com, on Twitter @lifetimefitness and the Life Time Athletic Events Facebook page.
About Life Time Fitness, Inc.
As The Healthy Way of Life Company, Life Time Fitness (NYSE:LTM) helps organizations, communities and individuals achieve their total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals by engaging in their areas of interest – or discovering new passions – both inside and outside of Life Time’s distinctive and large sports, professional fitness, family recreation and spa destinations, most of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Company’s Healthy Way of Life approach enables customers to achieve this by providing the best programs, people and places of uncompromising quality and value. As of October 8, 2014, the Company operated 112 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS® and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC® brands in the United States and Canada. Additional information about Life Time centers, programs and services is available at lifetimefitness.com.