Key West Half Marathon & Runfest Announces New “Big Pecker Challenge”

Original article from https://www.runningusa.org/industry-news/key-west-half-marathon-runfest-announces-new-big-pecker-challenge/?fbclid=IwAR04Y28l0djjsoqVzpyI3QNDtIPB2GRVfneVvYxViVwg-rkgieHyVtya44o

Participants of the challenge will complete a 5K, 10K and half marathon all in one weekend

KEY WEST, Fla. — The Key West Half Marathon & Runfest has announced the addition of the “Big Pecker Challenge” to its 2025 event taking place on Jan. 17-19. Participants who take on the challenge will complete the event’s 5K, 10K and half marathon distances all within the same weekend. Registration for the Key West Half Marathon & Runfest just opened on Jan. 15, and hundreds of runners have already signed up for the new challenge. These Big Pecker Challengers will be awarded four medals by the end of the weekend, one for each race, and an additional Big Pecker medal.

The name of the challenge is rooted in the wild roosters that roam Key West, and have been coined by the locals as “peckers”. These peckers can be found running throughout the town on any given day, and are often seen wandering around the courses at the Key West Half Marathon & Runfest.

“The Key West Half Marathon & Runfest is more than just a race – it’s a weekend of high energy festivities and bonding for community members and visitors,” said Barbara Wright, race director and founder of the Key West Half Marathon & Runfest. “We are always looking for more ways to create opportunities for participants to challenge themselves while still taking part in the fun, and the Big Pecker Challenge is just that! I’m thrilled to see that it’s already attracted so many runners with the event being almost a year out, and can’t wait to see how many more decide to take on this new challenge.”

The 5K and 10K will take place the day before the half marathon on Jan. 18, giving runners a day of recovery before returning for the half marathon on Jan. 19. The start times of the 5K and 10K are set so that participants can easily finish one race before the next race kicks off. The three courses weave participants through Key West’s historic Old Town and scenic waterfront paths, creating a unique experience that led to the event being rated a top 10 half marathon by USA Today.

Following the half marathon will be the Papa’s Pilar Rum Stroll and Key West Beach N’ Beer Mile. The Papa’s Pilar Rum Stroll takes participants across eight popular Old Town Key West locations. At each location, participants would stop and enjoy a Papa’s Pilar Rum Drink before venturing onto the next location. The Beach N’ Beer Mile will take participants on a four-loop course run at the southernmost beach in the United States. Since registration opened, over one thousand participants have already signed up to take part in one of the Key West Half Marathon & Runfest events.

The 2024 Key West Half Marathon and Runfest attracted more than 3900 participants, some traveling from as far as Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia. Registration for the 2025 event is open, and is expected to attract even more participants.

For more information about the Key West Half Marathon, please visit www.keywesthalfmarathon.com, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

About Key West Half Marathon & Runfest

The Key West Half Marathon is renowned for its beautiful course, which winds through historic landmarks, lively streets and Key West’s waterfront. With its vibrant atmosphere, enthusiastic spectators and well-organized event, the race attracts participants of all levels from all 50 States and 37 countries on average. Participants can expect a fun race experience, complete with top-notch amenities, unique race shirts and finisher medals, entertainment on the course, professional timing and a festive post-race celebration including food, beverages and concerts.