2026 Healthy St. Pete Fit City 5K & 1 Mile Walk: Glow in the Park

Hello Participants

Welcome, new and returning Escape participants!

2026 Marks the "40th Anniversary" of the Escape from Ft. DeSoto

ATTENTION: We are adding FREE → Hot Food & BEER - It's going to be a Celebration for Sure!

News FLASH... We changed the giveaway from socks to ???? - Way cool, we are being told!

First 275 Entries will get it - To be posted on the site, when they arrive!

Starting January 1st, 2026

FREE T-shirts for all Participants

Signing up!

To those of you who have done the event before, welcome back! To those new to the event, you may be interested to know that the park is ranked among the top ten beaches in the United States; 900 unspoiled acres surround you. First-timers, we anticipate you will have a great first triathlon at Ft. DeSoto. To all, we ask that you enjoy the surroundings and please leave the park cleaner than you found it. The Run portion of this event is 3.1 miles.

Escape From Ft. Desoto means Distances are unusual since you need to Escape!

• Sprint Triathlon → .50 Mile Swim | Bike 10 Miles | Run 3.1 Miles

• Sprint Duathlon → Run 1.5 Mile | Bike 10 Miles | Run 3.1 Miles

• Aqua Bike → 1/2 Mile Swim | Bike 10 Miles

This event has grown in popularity in the past five years and will close out at 500 entries this year. This is a USAT event. All athletes will receive a Custom Finisher Medal when crossing the Finish Line!. The event is chip-timed, and athletes will receive splits for each race segment.

Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon Awards

1st - Male & Female Overall

Special Awards → 1st - Male & Female

Masters (40+)

Grand Masters (50+)

Senior Masters (60+)

Senior Grand Masters (70+)

Age Group Awards → 1st thru 4th Place

Male & Female – 19 & UNDER, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+

Aqua Bike Awards

1st - Male & Female Overall

Special Awards → 1st - Male & Female

Masters (40+)

Grand Masters (50+)

Senior Masters (60+)

Senior Grand Masters (70+)

2 Additional Age Group Awards → 1st & 2nd Place

· 49 years old & Under – Male & Female

· 50 years old and Over – Male & Female

Packet Pick-Up

Friday - April 9th, 2026

1:30 pm to 5:30 pm

PLAYTRI ST. PETERSBURG

2132 Central Ave

Saturday - April 10th, 2026

2:00 pm to 5:30 pm

PLAYTRI ST. PETERSBURG

2132 Central Ave

Race Morning - April 11th

5:45 AM - 6:45 AM at Shelter 11 (The Fort)

PACKET PICKUP IS AVAILABLE RACE MORNING, BUT WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PICK UP YOUR PACKETS THURSDAY or Friday AT PLAYTRI IN ST. Petersburg.

You must furnish a photo ID and proof of current USAT membership. If you do not have a USAT membership, you will be required to purchase a one-day license. If you can not attend Packet Pick-Up but someone else you know can go or is attending, just text them a copy of your driver's license, and they can show it at packet pick-up and pick up your packet, no problem!

Only one (1) relay team member must be present, and you may pick up all relay packets for your relay team.

Race Site click here

INCLUDES

Something totally "NEW" will be given to the first 275 athletes that register for the Escape from Fort Desoto Race (T Shirts can be purchased for $10 if desired)

Closed course during the race in Ft. Desoto

This is a USAT-sanctioned event!

Results & Finish Line by Florida Road Race Management.

Refund Policy

The Escape from Ft DeSoto Triathlon reserves the right, in the event of inclement weather, an emergency, or a natural disaster, to cancel the race or reschedule it to a later time. In the event of cancellation, there will be no refund of entry fees. However, the USAT fee will be refunded if it has been prepaid.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All bike riders must be off the street by 9:00 am. The Sheriff will open the park gates, and the public will begin entering. This is nothing new, and it will continue to be a strict policy enforced at all Triathlons/Duathlons held at Fort Desoto.

The Tampa Bay BABES Triathlon is a women-only race created by women, for women — welcoming first-timers and experienced athletes alike. Hosted by Team BABE Athletics, this event is all about supportive racing, strong community, and an experience you’ll want to return to year after year.

Join us at the beautiful Fort De Soto Park for a flat, fast course set against Florida’s coastal scenery, with three race options to choose from:

Sprint Triathlon

• 400-yard point-to-point swim

• 9.5-mile bike on a flat, traffic-free course

• 3.1-mile run through coastal park views

Sprint Duathlon

• 1-mile run

• 9.5-mile bike

• 3.1-mile run

Sprint Aquabike

• 400-yard swim

• 9.5-mile bike

Whether this is your first endurance event or your next race, BABES is designed to help you show up confident, supported, and ready to have fun. Grab a friend and come be part of it!

Event Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026

Start Time: 7:15 AM (arrive by 6:00 am)

Location: North Beach, Fort De Soto Park — St. Petersburg, Florida

Kick off your race season at historic Fort De Soto Park with a 15K, 10K, or 5K – a distance for every runner and walker. As the sun rises, the start is underway! And when you finish then celebrate your effort and the start of Tampa Bay's running season with good food, great craft beer, and awesome music. Florida Road Races, "Where Running and Fun Meet"!

Fort De Soto Park has been named “America’s Top Beach” by TripAdvisor several times over the years citing a “spectacular combination of soft white sand, calm, clear water, and a laid-back atmosphere.”

Live Wildly Team Challenge – Open Water Swim Edition

Saturday, October 24th, 2026

Join us for the 5th Annual Live Wildly Team Challenge, an exhilarating open-water swim event in celebration of World Swim Day! This year, we’re bringing back an innovative and team-focused competition that combines strategy, endurance, and camaraderie in the beautiful waters of Florida.

Presented by Live Wildly, this event supports a vital cause: the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Stretching from the Panhandle to the Everglades, this 18-million-acre expanse is the ecological and economic heart of Florida. Live Wildly was founded to safeguard this irreplaceable landscape—and by participating, you’re helping preserve the Sunshine State’s natural legacy.

The Challenge: Team Relay (4 Miles Total)

Course: A thrilling ¼-mile loop in open water.

Team Structure: Teams of 3 to 8 swimmers—strategize, collaborate, and push your limits together!

Rules:

Each swimmer completes one loop at a time, tagging the next teammate in rotation.

No consecutive loops by the same swimmer—strategy is key!

No swimmer may exceed 3 total loops—every teammate must contribute.

Order is up to you—pace, endurance, and tactics will determine your success!

This is more than a swim; it’s a test of teamwork, pacing, and perseverance. Whether you’re racing for the podium or simply soaking in the fun, the Live Wildly Team Challenge promises an unforgettable experience.

Solo Endurance Option

Prefer to go it alone? Take on the individual challenge:

Swim the loop, exit the water each time, and run around shoreline flags before diving back in.

Discipline, stamina, and mental toughness will be your greatest allies.

Why Join?

Celebrate World Swim Day in a unique, team-driven format.

Support Florida’s Wildlife Corridor—every splash makes a difference.

Challenge yourself in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Make memories with friends, teammates, and fellow water enthusiasts.

Gather your crew, strategize your relay order, and dive into an event like no other. Let’s make waves together!

Register Now and be part of a movement that’s wild at heart.