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Honeymoon Island Half

November 7, 2015
Honeymoon Island State Park

Honeymoon Island, Dunedin, FL 34698
Sign at Honeymoon Island State Park entrance.
Honeymoon Island State Park is in Dunedin, FL.
Dunedin Causeway trail was part of the Honeymoon Island Half Marathon course.
Trail along the Dunedin Causeway.

2nd Annual
Honeymoon Island Half and 10K

The Honeymoon Half and 10K race begins in Honeymoon Island State Park on the Oasis Trail.

Runners start in a huge parking lot, then run on trail and roadways which lead out of the park onto the Dunedin Causeway. The race course travels across the causeway bridge to the mainland, then turns around, goes across the bridge and into the state park again.

The race is produced by Xanadu Race Management, a local company from Dunedin, FL. Their website is 727CanRace.com

What You Need to Know

Packet Pickup: Yes. Local pickup from 4-6 pm on the day before the race at Family Fitness Center on the Dunedin Causeway. No expo.

Race Course: The course was modified for 2015 so that it was mostly on paved trails and parking lots. (The first year included running on the beach.) No shade. Nice nature and waterway views. NOTE: The 2016 course will be in downtown Dunedin.

Pacers: No.

Aid Stations: There were 2 aid stations. Since it was an out and back, 10K runners passed each one twice for a total of 4; half marathoners passed them 4 times for a total of 8. Warm water only while it lasted. It did not last.

Park Entry Fee: Entry fee to the park was waived for runners arriving before 7 am. Usual fee is $4-8.

Parking: Parking was easy and free. Arrive early for the best spot. Short walk to the start/finish line.

Restrooms: There are permanent park buildings with facilities. There were 7 port-o-lets.

Cost: Half I signed up in March and paid $60. This race is capped at 1,000 runners.

SWAG (Stuff we all get): The website advertised all runners would receive a  short sleeve tech shirt AND a sweatshirt. (You could add a second short sleeve shirt for $10 if you wanted to be a bridesmaid or groomsman for the wedding that took place after the race.) Finishers medal and race bib. No sweatshirts were delivered, but runners did receive a fun yellow Tshirt.

Post Race Festivities: The post race party was promoted as live music, free beer and breakfast with a wedding for the race director and her fiancee scheduled for 11:08 am on the stage. Reality: warm water, beer foam and no food. See my race recap for details.

Photos: There were rumors of free photos, that would deliver via Facebook, but I never saw them. I don't remember seeing any photographers on the race course.

Awards: Huge, tropical medal for all finishers. Plaques for age categories.

Timing Chip: Yes. Old school chips. Runners attached chips to their own shoes. The chips were collected at the finish line.

Race Results: 2015 results are on CoolRunning.com.

Weather Report: Brutally hot. It was 73º at 4:30 am. It was over 80º at start time. The "feels like" temps were in the 90s.
-> Sunny with no clouds
-> No shade to be found
-> Temps were high 80s at finish
-> It was unusually hot for November

Extra Info: There were no cold drinks of any kind at the finish line. The food and beer were not ready an hour and a half after the race began. I didn't wait around to see if music and food magically appeared at 10 am as promised.

Honeymoon Island is a gorgeous park. It's a great place to spend the day. There is a cafe, bicycle and kayak rentals, and tons of wildlife and waterfront.

Packet pickup for the Honeymoon Island Half.
Packet pickup the afternoon before the race.
Picture of goodie bag runners received at Honeymoon Island Half.
Goodie bag included shirt, bib, wrist band, protein bar, several samples and an odd piece of candy.
Runners cross the parking lot to the starting line of the Honeymoon Island Half.
Runners crossing parking lot to the starting line.
Photo of entertainment stage for Honeymoon Island Half.
Post race area 1-1/2 hours after start of race. Entertainment stage in background.
Photo of Honeymoon Island Half post race party area
Post race party area. No shade. No beer. No food. Yet.
Photo of vendor tents in parking lot at Honeymoon Island Half Marathon.
So much asphalt. The only tents belonged to the vendors.
Finisher Medal for 2015 Honeymoon Island Half Marathon.
Half Marathon medal for the Honeymoon Island Half.

Race Rating: C-

Photo of beach taken from parking lot at Honeymoon Island State Park, FL
I saw tons of parking lot during the race, but there is a beautiful, white sandy beach at Honeymoon Island.

My Honeymoon Island Race Recap

I checked the temperature at 4:30 am and knew it was going to be unseasonably warm for this November half marathon.

Read my personal race recap of the 2015 Honeymoon Half.
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  • Blog
  • Race Discounts
    • What's BibRave?
  • Brand Discounts
  • Races
    • 2021 Races >
      • REVIEW: 2021 Tampa Hot Chocolate 15K 5K
      • Hot Chocolate 15K Watercolor Journal
    • 2019 Races >
      • 2019 First Watch Sarasota Half
      • 2019 Legoland Brick Dash 5K
      • 2019 World Refugee Day 5K
      • 2019 Pittsburgh Half Marathon
      • 2019 Rugged Maniac Dade City
      • 2019 Copperhead 5K at the Valspar Championship
      • 2019 Best Damn Race
      • 2019 St Pete Beach Classic Duo
    • 2018 Races >
      • 2018 First Watch Sarasota Half
    • 2017 Races >
      • 2017 Madeira Beach Sunset Series
      • 2017 Best Damn Race Leftover 5k
      • 2017 May Day 10K
      • 2017 5K on the Runway
      • 2017 Valspar Par 4 Miler
      • 2017 Sarasota Music Half
      • 2017 SPB Beach Classic
      • 2017 Kettle Krush 5K
    • 2016 Races >
      • 2016 Caladesi Island 10 Miler
      • 2016 Ronnie's Run 10 Miler
      • 2016 Weedon Island Preserve 8K
      • 2016 Fort DeSoto 15K
      • 2016 One Step Closer 10k
      • 2016 Hippie Dash 5k
      • 2016 May Day 10K
      • 2016 FL Beach Half
      • 2016 SPB Beach Classic
    • 2015 Races >
      • 2015 May Day 10k
      • 2015 Weedon Island Preserve 8K
      • 2015 Fort DeSoto 15K
      • 2015 Honeymoon Island Half
  • Places
    • --> Seen On A Run
    • Azalea Park
    • Crescent Lake Park
    • Weedon Island Preserve
    • Demens Landing
    • Riviera Bay Park
    • Walter Fuller Park
  • My Story
    • Contact
    • Reviews and Sponsored Posts