WELCOME TO KEY LARGO!

 

Welcome to Key Largo, the first of the First of the Florida Keys!  We hope that your trip was safe and you are ready for a great weekend.  If this is your first time here, or you just haven't been in a while, make sure to stop at the welcome center for information on where to stay, eat, shop and recreate while you are here.  

Key Largo Chamber of Commerce Florida Keys Visitor Center is located at mile marker 106 just as you enter Key Largo on U.S. 1 heading south.  Travel over the Jewfish Creek Bridge, make the curve and watch for the two-story yellow building just south of Shell World. They're directly to the right of the highway alert sign in the median as you drive toward Key West.

The Visitor Center offers information about the entire Florida Keys. Brochures and maps are available for accommodations, attractions, diving and snorkeling, fishing, dining, weddings, nature and ecology tours, shopping, water sports and, of course, there are clean restrooms.

Check out their newest addition -- a fascinating and informative display that includes a 1700s-era British cannon, one of 13 cannon found in a reef patch offshore of Key Largo.

Daily accommodation availability and rates are available and there are phones to make reservations or get information about the center's participants. Information about special events is available as well as phone books and newcomer information. The Visitor Center is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed on major holidays).

Call 1-800-822-1088. Their knowledgeable staff has 200 years of Keys' experience in the Visitor Center so let them help you with your Florida Keys plans -- whatever they may be!

 

It's late for me and I am up with nervous energy. We have all been working hard the last couple of days and are ready for the weekend to begin.  Today I drove the course  with the  Capt., Sgt. and the Lt. of our local police department and everything went well.   I am glad I cleaned my car the day before. 

Hope you all are excited and ready to go.  Looks like we are going to have a beautiful day Saturday.  I look forward to seeing you all at the Health Expo and to answering any questions you might have. Don't forget we are giving away a visor and a koosie cup, while supplies last,  with the purchase of a Pasta Party ticket.  Also, there will be a great Silent Auction going on with lots of great stuff for both our locals and our visitors.

See you tomorrow

Happy Birthday to bib #62!

The first 15 people to find this special person with bib#62 wins a $15.00 gift certificate to Road ID. When you locate this person you must first wish him a Happy Birthday and then ask him his name. After getting his name report to Trevor Mann on the stage at the church. You will then be given your gift certificate, providing you have the right name. 
Good Luck finding this person in a field of 700+ people.

On line registration is now closed.  You can still sign up during the Health Expo from 12pm - 9pm at the Key Largo Holiday Inn. 
Plenty of space available!

Don't forget spectator parking.  Runners/Walkers here's an idea. Have your friend or family member drop you off at the church no later than 5:45am.  They then, before 6:30am, can park at Pontunes/Marley's and watch from the top of the bridge.  It's the first exit on the south side of the bridge. The south bound lane will remain open allowing them access back to the staging area at anytime.

ATTENTION!!!!!!! Time change for transportation service.  Transportation from the parking lots will now begin at 4:00am. All participants must be at the staging area by 5:45am. Get all your questions about parking and transportation answered at the expo. See you there.

To all our locals worried about traffic on the morning of the race here is how its going to work.  The northbound lane only from mm107 north will be closed from 6:30am-10:30am. The southbound lane remains open.  All northbound traffic will be diverted from U.S.1, approximately mm106.5, onto 905 and Card Sound Rd.  The tolls will be lifted from 6:30am - 10:30am. I appreciate everyones patience and understanding.

Congratulations to Roxanne from Ft. Worth Florida! Our 600th participant and the winner of the 7th Pasta Party ticket!  She is signed up to run the half marathon and will definitely need those carbs the night before.

There are now 625 people now signed up!! Looking good

Announcing Spectator Parking!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Pontunes and Marley's we now have spectator parking.  Here is the deal.  Spectator parking will be accessible up until 6:30 am when the road closes down. If you get there before that time you will be able to park and walk to the top of the bridge to view the race.  Pontunes and Marley's will have water and coffee for sale as well as noise makers.  To get to the parking area you will take the first exit as you are heading north on the bridge. After the road closes you will be able to head south to the staging area at anytime as the southbound lane will remain open the entire race.

So go cheer on your family and friends.  Be sure to stay off the roadway.

We appreciate the support of Pontunes and Marley's.

Thanks Pompey

Hello to Wendy from Cumming, Georgia! You are the 550th person to sign up and the winner of our 6th Pasta Party ticket.

Here is an update of where we are with registration today:

5K - 373
Half marathon - 183

Females 369
Males 187