UPDATE: 2020 Skyway 10K Important Information

February 26, 2020

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: James Judge
Tel: 813.279.8335
Mobile: 727.463.1295
Email: jpjudge@judgepr.com

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*** MEDIA AVAILABILITY: A press briefing is scheduled to take place Thursday at 1 p.m. at Tropicana Field Lot 7 to address all questions related to the Skyway 10K. ***
*** Editor’s Note: While the general admission run portion of the event is sold-out, the events taking place at Tropicana Field, including the concerts and race spectating, are FREE to attend and open to the public. ***

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The third annual Skyway 10K, which benefits the Armed Forces Families Foundation, is scheduled to take place this Sunday, March 1, in St. Petersburg.

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ON SATURDAY:

The Race Expo (the only packet pickup event) will be held Saturday, Feb. 29, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Tropicana Field Parking Lot 7 in St. Petersburg.

All runners who have not already received their race bib and packet MUST pick up their race bib and packet on Saturday at the expo. Additionally, members of the media who applied for credentials, and do not already have their credentials, will also be able to pick up their credentials on Saturday from the information tent.

There will be absolutely no packet pickup for race participants or media credential pickup on Sunday - Skyway 10K Race Day.

Musical acts scheduled to perform at the expo include Love and Theft, Mixed Signal, Logan Grant Band and Jahfari Reggae Band.

All Skyway 10K events taking place at Tropicana Field are free and open to the public.

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ON SUNDAY:

Only the northbound lanes of the Skyway Bridge are scheduled to be closed on Sunday from 3 a.m. until 11 a.m. Additionally, 4th Avenue South near Tropicana Field will not be available for public access between MLK and 16th Street South from approximately 3 a.m. until 11 a.m., as the traffic flow will be reversed for busing.

The southbound portion of the Skyway Bridge will remain open in only the southbound direction, and anyone needing to get across the bridge heading northbound will need to make other arrangements between 3 a.m. and 11 a.m.

All participants of the Skyway 10K should arrive one hour before their scheduled departure at Tropicana Field to board buses to get to and from the Skyway Bridge. There will be no other access to the start or finish line. Parking at Tropicana Field is free. Overnight parking will be allowed. Anyone with an RV who wishes to park overnight, must park in the back of lot 2. There will be no hookups or water provided.

Bag-check begins at 4:30 a.m. and buses begin loading at 4:30 a.m. Buses will depart as soon as they are full. All runners must make their scheduled bus wave in order to participate in the Skyway 10K.

At 6:10 a.m., the opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin and will include the presentation of colors and the singing of the national anthem.

At approximately 6:25 a.m., the U.S. Army National Guard is scheduled to kick off the race by firing a blank howitzer artillery shell, and the Coast Guard is scheduled to perform a flyover. Runners will then transit northbound on the Skyway Bridge.

Runners must stay in the two lanes reserved for them. Any runner who enters the emergency lane or climbs on the superstructure of the Skyway Bridge will be removed from the race and banned from all future Skyway 10K races.

Any runner that is not past the southern base of the incline of the Skyway Bridge at 9:30 a.m. will be escorted into a trail bus, and any participant that is still on any other part of the bridge at 10:30 a.m. will also be escorted into a trail bus and off the bridge and will be returned to Tropicana Field.

Additionally, it is important to note that there will be no access to the Skyway Bridge fishing piers on Sunday from approximately midnight until after 11 a.m.

Following the completion of the Skyway 10K, vendor and beer tents at Tropicana Field are scheduled to close at noon, and all participants and attendees will be respectfully requested to leave Tropicana Field at noon.

The Skyway 10K race organizers are reimbursing the state for all lost tolls and revenue to the fishing piers due to the temporary closure.

Again, it is important to note that while the general admission run portion of the event is sold out, all family-friendly events taking place at Tropicana Field, including the concerts and race spectating, are free to attend and are open to the public. Those attending are encouraged to wear anything patriotic or supportive of America’s armed forces.

Live coverage of the run and events at Tropicana Field will be broadcast by 10News WTSP.

Sponsors of the 2020 Skyway 10K include the Peters Family Foundation, CW Hayes Construction Company, Ogletree Deakins, Corcoran Partners, 10 News CBS Tampa Bay, SEA DOG Brewing Company, Shipyard Brewing Company, the Seminole Hardrock Hotel & Casino, Judge Public Relations and more.

All proceeds from the event will go to support the Armed Forces Families Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides 100 percent of the funds they raise back to projects to help military families.

To date, the Armed Forces Families Foundation has raised and given back more than $2 million to benefit military families. Recent projects include:

$55,879 for upgrades to the USO at Naval Air Station Pensacola. The project focused on renovating the library computer lab located at the on-base USO center. The upgrades included the installation of new cabinetry, flooring, solid surface workspace counter tops, privacy dividers and additional wiring for phone and power connections. Additionally, the space was outfitted with fresh paint, new décor, a rapid charging station and a 24-month inventory of needed supplies, like printing paper and more.
$23,027 to fund the construction of the lactation space for breastfeeding veteran mothers, the installation of panel picture light lenses for Women’s Health Clinic exam rooms and the renovation of a GYN procedure room at the Orlando VA Medical Center.
$20,950 to Boley Centers, a private, not-for-profit organization committed to providing housing and rehabilitation programs for veterans and civilians. The money covered the cost of furnishing eight apartments at Poynter Preserves in Pinellas County, Florida, which are reserved specifically for low-income or homeless veterans and their families. Each apartment was outfitted with an array of needed furnishings for bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms. Items being purchased with the funds include dressers, mirrors, storage, lighting fixtures, sofas, dining room sets, beds, sofas and more.
$170,775 for upgrades to the Navy SEAL Museum’s outdoor obstacle course in Fort Pierce, Florida, which is modeled after the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training course in Coronado, California.

About Armed Forces Families Foundation:

The Armed Forces Families Foundation, together with participating Taco Bell and IHOP restaurants, are proud supporters of America's armed forces and their families. Since 2006, the Armed Forces Families Foundation has raised and given back more than $3 million to fund and develop infrastructure projects that help the families of our service men and women. One hundred percent of every dollar raised goes directly toward projects to help the families of those who protect our freedom. For more information, please visit ArmedForcesFamilies.org.

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