Key West Half Marathon & Runfest Draws More Than 5,100 Runners for 28th Annual Event
- Jan 29
- 2 min read
The Key West Half Marathon & Runfest returned January 16 to 18, welcoming more than 5,100 runners to the island for its 28th annual edition. Athletes from across the country participated in a weekend of races set against the waterfront and historic streets of Key West.
The race weekend featured multiple distances, including the half marathon, 10K, 8K and 5K, along with signature events such as the Papa’s Pilar Rum Stroll and the Key West Beach N’ Beer Mile. Participants also had the option to compete in multi-race formats through the Big Pecker Challenge and the Lil’ Pecker Challenge.
Luke Morgan won the men’s half marathon with a time of 1:11:45, followed by Joosim Song in 1:16:33 and Austin Knapp in 1:16:47. Jennifer Cantor claimed the women’s half marathon title, finishing in 1:27:14. Rachel Wegman placed second with a time of 1:29:42, and Lauren Longfield finished third in 1:30:56.
In the 10K division, William Thompson led the men’s field with a time of 34:31, while Morgan Bremer won the women’s race in 44:05. The men’s 8K was won by Kinnon Ringler in 25:45, and Stacey Harrison claimed the women’s 8K title in 35:29. Jake Stineman and Kimberly Giang took top honors in the men’s and women’s 5K races.
Courses for the half marathon, 10K, 8K and 5K highlighted the Key West waterfront, offering ocean views throughout much of the route. The 8K also passed through Old Town Key West. Participants in the Big Pecker Challenge completed the 5K, 10K and half marathon, while Lil’ Pecker Challenge runners combined the 5K, 8K and 10K. The Papa’s Pilar Rum Stroll guided participants through nine Old Town locations, and the Beach N’ Beer Mile featured a beachside loop with refreshments throughout the course.
This year’s event included custom medals inspired by the Florida Keys. Finishers received dolphin, seahorse, sea turtle and stingray medals depending on distance, with select designs featuring built-in bottle openers. Big Pecker Challenge finishers earned a rooster-themed medal reflecting Key West tradition. Participants also received newly designed race shirts featuring marine life and a Florida Keys map. The artwork was created by Key West native artist Abigail White, who also contributed to the medal designs.
Additional information about the event is available at the website, with updates shared on Facebook and Instagram.