Seaside School Race Weekend Feb 18-20

The Seaside School Half Marathon + 5K will be back in-person for the 20th anniversary running on Sunday, February 20th, 2022, in Seaside.

The three-day race weekend kicks off with the coastal cuisine event Taste of the Race on Friday night, then proceeds to a fun-for-all-ages Race Expo on Saturday, and culminates on Sunday morning with the running of the half marathon + 5K along Scenic 30A, starting and finishing in Seaside.

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Registration for the 5K is $95 and the half marathon is $125. In addition to in-person racing, the event will also offer a limited number of virtual registrations for those who are unable to participate in-person on race weekend. In order for virtual race participants to receive complimentary swag bags before race week, virtual runners need to complete registration before January 28th, 2022.

“We are so excited to welcome back runners to the Seaside School Half Marathon + 5K in 2022!” said Teresa Horton, Executive Director of the Seaside School Foundation. “After not having an in-person race in 2021, we can’t wait to deliver a memorable experience, carry on the traditions of the event in Seaside and, most importantly, raise funds for our special School.”

100% of the funds raised from the race weekend benefits the Seaside Schools Foundation, which supports the operating budget for the Seaside Neighborhood School and Seacoast Collegiate High School. The Seaside School, Inc. is tuition-free, public charter school serving students across Walton County. Last year, the 2021 virtual race raised proceeds totaling more than $500,000 and the 2020 race raised more than $600,000.

“This fundraiser has become a part of our school culture, a stellar example of The Seaside Way in action,” said Ms. Kim Mixson, Principal of Seaside Neighborhood School. “Our students, parents and staff look forward to race weekend every year and we are truly grateful for the impact that it has on our School.”

Both in-person and virtual race registrants will receive the following:
⦁    A virtual goody bag full of surprises
⦁    Vera Bradley® ReActive Sling Backpack in either the Really Regatta, Black or Neon Ivy fabric
⦁    Iconic race shirt, designed by Billie Gaffrey
⦁    A virtual training program
⦁    A customized playlist
⦁    Our unique finisher medal

The 20th annual charity race weekend will kick-off on Friday, February 18th with an evening under the stars at the official race pre-party, Taste of the Race. Party-goers can attend this delicious Seaside party that features more than twenty local chefs competing for the top culinary awards including the coveted Chef’s Choice Award, last won by Amici 30A Italian Kitchen in Inlet Beach, and the People’s Choice Award, won in 2020 by Havana Beach Bar and Grill at The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach.

“Come hungry! Taste of the Race continues to be the premier culinary event in Walton County,” said Grove Fisher, Seaside School Foundation Board Member and Event Committee Chair. “In addition to being known for its beautiful beaches and quaint waterfront towns, South Walton has earned a reputation as a foodie paradise. Taste of the Race is the event that brings the area’s top chefs out to showcase their skills and compete for the top prize.”

On Saturday, February 19th, runners are invited to pick-up their race packets at the Seaside Neighborhood School and enjoy the Expo taking place in the Seaside Lyceum.

The race weekend comes to a pinnacle with the half marathon (13.1 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) taking place on Sunday, February 20th, 2022. Both races – the half marathon and 5K – start in the town of Seaside with an out-and-back run along the coastal dune lakes of Scenic 30A.

This year, half marathon runners will enjoy a temporarily revised race route. The runners will travel East with beautiful views of Eastern Lake, Deer Lake and Camp Creek Lake and ending back in Seaside.

“Half marathon participants will be treated to beautiful new sights and views in this year’s race," said Teresa Horton, Executive Director of the Seaside School Foundation. “With every step of the course taking place along the iconic Scenic Highway 30A, and the familiar start and finish line in the heart of Seaside, the race is sure to be a hit with our long-time participants as well as those running it for the first time.”

As it pertains to the potentially evolving event safety guidelines surrounding COVID-19, the Seaside School Race Committee will follow and comply with any regulations dictated by the State of Florida, Walton County and Town of Seaside. The health and safety of our participants, spectators, volunteers, and community is of the utmost importance.

Registration options can be found at www.runseasidefl.com.

Founded in 1996, The Seaside School, Inc. was one of the first and is now the oldest operating public charter schools in the state of Florida. Its original goal was simple – create a school to address the need for better middle school education in Walton County – and it hasn’t stopped since. Seaside School now has over 375 students across two campuses serving grades 5th through 12th. Seaside Neighborhood School serves 5th through 8th grades and is located in the iconic beach town of Seaside, Florida. Located on the campus of nearby Northwest Florida State College, Seacoast Collegiate High School serves 9th through 12th grades offering students the ability to graduate high school with an associate college degree.

The vision of Seaside School is to maintain a small school with faculty knowledgeable about each student’s abilities and challenges, so that they can offer increased support to each student to meet those challenges and increase their skills to perform successfully in all academic areas. The Board of Directors seeks to sustain an educational community where an emphasis on academic excellence is complemented by the concern for each learner’s personal growth and intellectual, aesthetic and psychological development. The curriculum is developmentally responsive – actively engaging students in learning skills in context, integrative – directing students to connect learning to daily lives, and exploratory – enabling students to discover their abilities, interests, learning styles, and ways that they can make contributions to society.