the countdown is on!

Online orientation for all races
There will be no "live" pre-race meeting on race weekend.  Instead, an online video will be offered.  This best-practices presentation is vitally important for all runners and crew members to understand.  Please take the time to watch it.  ALL RUNNERS, CREW AND TEAM DRIVERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO KNOW AND COMPLY WITH ALL RACE RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS.   

Packet pick-up under the tiki hut behind the Holiday Inn in Key Largo
3:00 pm-8:00 pm:  Our traditional packet pick-up and check-in for 100-milers and 100-mile teams.  (50-milers, 50-mile teams, and 50-kilometer runners have the option to pick up here also, OR on Saturday prior to their respective races at their race starts.)  The team captain or a team representative must pick up all packets for the entire team.  This is always a terrific opportunity to see old friends and to make new ones.
Experts Panel on Friday  Not an "Orientation", but a session with timely information and updates. Everyone is welcome to join the live "Experts Panel" from 4:00 pm until 5:30 pm inside the Holiday Inn.  Questions will be welcome from the floor.  If unable to attend in person, here is the URL to the live stream: www.bigpush.org/mm

Photo opportunity
The starting line arch will be set up near the tiki hut at check-in to accommodate photos.  Taking pics on Saturday morning at the start line can be hectic and the arch will close for photos before the start, so take advantage of the opportunity to photograph your team or crew during daylight here.

Start of 100-mile races, Key Largo:

The location is the Divers Direct shopping center immediately south of the Holiday Inn. 

5:10 am First of limited elite waves checks in for start beginning at 5:15 am.

5:35 am Immediately after the elite corrals take off, runners in the 5:40 am corral are checked in and gather at the start line.  Every five minutes, the next group of twelve will be called to check in.  Remember your start time and corral number!
5:40 am First wave of twelve runners starts.  Additional waves of twelve will move into position and take off at subsequent 5-minute intervals.  Each group of twelve will be a mix of team and individual runners, with their specific start times assigned when they registered for the event.   

The location of the race start is the Marathon Garden Club, one block south of the Sombrero Beach Road traffic light, Bayside. Bathrooms will be available for our use.  (The large meeting room and kitchen will be closed.)  The starting area will be available for pre-race photos.

7:15 am until 8:45 am: Packet pick-up and check-in will be DRIVE-BY only.  It will be set up outside St. Columba Episcopal Church, located immediately behind the Marathon Garden Club at 451 52nd Street (Bayside).  Coming from Key Largo, drive through the light at Sombrero Beach Road and take the first right (after Marathon Garden Club) onto 52nd Street.  Proceed VERY SLOWLY, taking the first right onto Loggerhead Lane, then around the block--1st left on Spoonbill and 1st left again back onto 52nd Street--to the front of the church for check-in.  Afterward, leave the neighborhood, turn left on US#1 past the traffic light, and park on the right in the Winn Dixie lot ONLY, as far from that store as possible.  Do NOT park in the nearby Publix lot or the CVS lot or any other; park only in the Winn Dixie lot.  Then walk across the highway at the light for the race start.

8:45 am:  Q&A session and update with the race director in front of the Garden Center building.
8:55 am: First wave of twelve runners is checked in and enters starting corral.  Every five minutes the next group of twelve will be called to check in.  Groups will be a mix of individual and team runners.
9:00 am: 50-mile race starts to begin.

The location is the "Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce" property at Mile Marker 31 in Big Pine Key.  Packet pick-up and parking for the race are on-site at the rear of the property.  Please do not block access or park directly in front of the Chamber building.  The office will be open on race day, and we are asked to minimize visits inside.  Bathrooms are open to us and located on the outside of the building to the left of the entranceway.

10:30 am until 11:50 am: Packet pick-up and check-in open.  
11:45 am: Q&A session and update with the race director.  

11:55 am: The first wave of fifteen runners is checked in and enters the starting corral.  The second and third waves take their places at marked, contiguous waiting areas.  Every five minutes the next group of fifteen will be called to check in.

12:00 pm: 50-kilometer first corral takes off. 

At approximately 4:00 pm, the finish line opens for all races--and the party returns!  Food will be prepared and drinks available for finishing runners, their registered crew members and registered race volunteers until the last runner crosses the line on Sunday afternoon.  Plenty of seating will be available under the big tent for finishers to relax, recover and swap stories with old and new friends.

The finish line will be open until approximately 3:30 pm to accommodate the 32 hours (from the runner's actual start time) allowed for 100-mile runners to complete the course.  

Awards program in 2025.
11:00 am: The Awards Presentation begins under the big tent for all 50-mile and 50-kilometer individual and team winners. 

12:00 noon:  Awards presentation begins for all 100-mile individual and team awards.
4:00 pm-7:00 pm: After-Party location TBA.  For people staying in Key West, many gather after "official" race activities have concluded for dinner and drinks on their own prior to setting off for a night of fun in town. The location will be near Mallory Square for those who want to watch the sunset at this iconic if totally touristy spot on the water!