Half Marathon races near Beach City

The Gobbler race series begins at 8:00 AM from the Conservation Park Trailhead in Panama City Beach, Florida. Participants can select a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or marathon, all originating at Conservation Park, 100 Conservation Drive. Registration must be completed via RunSignup prior to race day; there is no on-site registration. Packet pickup is available only from 30 minutes before the start until 10 minutes before the start. The 5K and 10K events utilize a 3.11-mile out-and-back course. 5K runners complete this loop once, while 10K runners complete it twice. The half marathon and marathon courses use a distinct 3.28-mile out-and-back route. The half marathon requires four repetitions of this loop, and the full marathon requires eight. All distances have a 6-hour time limit. The course structure is straightforward, featuring repeated loops starting from the same trailhead.

The Panama City Beach Marathon begins and ends at Pier Park, a shopping and entertainment area near the Gulf in Panama City Beach, Florida. Held in December, the event offers a full marathon, half marathon, 5K, and Kids Fun Run. This caters to Boston Marathon hopefuls, local families, visitors, and those seeking a shorter race. The marathon follows a certified 26.2-mile course, qualifying runners for the Boston Marathon, and includes professional timing and live runner tracking via RaceJoy. The course keeps participants near Panama City Beach’s Gulf coast, with race descriptions noting it runs along the area’s beaches. The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce organizes the event, presented by Visit Panama City Beach, drawing thousands of residents and visitors. Proceeds from the race partially benefit a local nonprofit. Marathon, half-marathon, and 5K participants receive a long-sleeve shirt, all finishers are awarded a medal, and the post-race gathering takes place at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in Pier Park.

The Powerade Panama City Beach Marathon starts and finishes at Pier Park, with runners completing a 26.2-mile race along Panama City Beach’s Gulf Coast. The event takes place in December and features a full marathon, half marathon, 5K, wheelchair races for the marathon and half marathon, and a Kids Fun Run. The participants range from competitive marathoners to families and novice runners. The certified marathon course is a Boston Marathon qualifier, and the race utilizes professional timing with RaceJoy tracking for spectators. The course is looped, centered around Pier Park and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, rather than a remote start or point-to-point finish. Thousands of local residents and visitors attend the race, which organizers call a Panhandle staple. Finishers in the full marathon, half marathon, and 5K receive medals, runners get a race shirt, and most aid stations provide GU Energy Gel while supplies last. After the races, Margaritaville hosts a post-race party with beer and gumbo. A portion of race proceeds benefits a local nonprofit organization.