UPDATE: 2018 Skyway 10K Important Information
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: James Judge
Tel: 813.279.8335
Mobile: 727.463.1295
Email: jpjudge@judgepr.com
*** MEDIA AVAILABILITY: A press briefing is scheduled to take place Thursday at 10 a.m. at Tropicana Field to address all questions related to the Skyway 10K. ***
*** Editor’s Note: While the 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. ***
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The sold-out inaugural Skyway 10K, Saluting Military Families, which benefits the Armed Forces Families Foundation, is scheduled to take place this Sunday, March 4 in St. Petersburg.
The packet pickup event will be held Saturday, March 3 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Tropicana Field Parking Lot 7 in St. Petersburg. Members of the media will also be able to pick up their credentials during the packet pickup; more information about covering the event will be sent to those members of the media who have requested credentials. All media credential requests must be submitted before midnight on Thursday, March 1, and can be completed by visiting: https://judgepr.com/2018-skyway10k-media-form/
There will be absolutely no packet pickup for race participants or media credential pickup on Skyway 10K Race Day.
ON SUNDAY:
Only the northbound lanes of the Skyway Bridge are scheduled to be closed on Sunday from 4 a.m. until 10 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.
There has been a rumor circulating that the southbound lanes will be converted to two ways, however, that is NOT ACCURATE. The southbound portion of the Skyway Bridge will remain only southbound, and anyone needing to get across the bridge heading northbound will need to make other arrangements between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.
All participants in the Skyway 10K must arrive 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.
Bag-check begins at 4 a.m. and buses begin loading at 4:30 a.m. Buses will depart as soon as they are full.
At 6:05 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 6:17 a.m., the U.S. Army National Guard is scheduled to kick off the race by firing a blank howitzer artillery shell.
Any runner that is not past the southern base of the incline of the Skyway Bridge at 9:15 a.m. will be escorted into a trail bus, and any participant that is still on any other part of the bridge at 9:30 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 10 a.m.
Following the completion of the Skyway 10K, vendor and beer tents are scheduled to close at 10:30 a.m., and all participants and attendees will be respectfully requested to leave Tropicana Field by or before 10:30 a.m. due to the need to convert the space for the upcoming boat show.
The Skyway 10K race organizers are reimbursing the state for all lost tolls and revenue to the fishing piers due to the temporary closure.
It is also important to note that while the run portion of the event is sold out, the 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.
More than 7,000 runners have registered from 40 states and three countries, and all five branches of the armed forces will be represented in the Inaugural Skyway 10K Bridge Run.
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.
The run will begin on I-275 at the rest area just south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and end at the rest area on the north side of the Bridge, which represents a distance of 10 kilometers, or 6.2 miles.
Participants will be bussed from Tropicana Field to the south end of the Bridge and then will be picked up by buses on the north end of the Bridge to return to Tropicana Field for the awards ceremony.
For more information, visit skyway10k.com.
To learn more about the Armed Forces Families Foundation or to help fund other projects that help military members and their families, please visit www.armedforcesfamilies.org/.
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 $2 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.
