Best Damn Race Safety Harbor is the 2nd in the 2019 series of 5 Best Damn Races. (Jacksonville, Safety Harbor, Savannah, Orlando and New Orleans). Safety Harbor is located on the west side of Tampa Bay.

This was year 7 for the Safety Harbor race. It has steadily improved each year. I can’t say enough good things about this year's event.

• PACKET PICKUP and THE EXPO 

Racers had three options for packet pickup. Thursday in Tampa at Dick’s Sporting Goods, or Friday and Saturday on-site at the BDR Expo.

The expo was at Safety Harbor Marina Park on the waterfront. You could pick up your packet then peruse all the vendor tents. There were freebies and samples from local races and places. Several races had giveaways and discounts. If you needed sunglasses or a headband before the race, you could get it. The Best Damn Race merch tent featured new items like a sugar skull hat and Tervis tumblers.

Picture spots were set up at the expo. You could grab pics in front of Tampa Bay, the finish line, or a BDR backdrop. The weather was a happy surprise. The threat of rain disappeared. It was a gorgeous weekend.

• THE SWAG 

Everyone received a Best Damn Race reusable bag. Inside was a location specific pint glass, discounts to local race, Biscoff cookies, a Sticker Mule sticker of a race medal, and promotional giveaway items from the sponsors.

The race shirts are a soft poly/cotton/rayon blend. Dark blue heather with a bright logo on the front. You could exchange it for a different size on Saturday after the last race began.

• RACE COURSE 

I ran the Half marathon. It began on Bayshore Boulevard with excellent views of the sunrise. We ran along the water then headed inland long enough to get to Philippe Park.

Philippe Park has huge oak trees that form a tunnel through the park. It was a fun place to run. Slight inclines and declines. We ran out and back through the park, then headed across town. We ran to the other side of Safety Harbor then up and down some hills.

The hills are mild compared to places like Pennsylvania and Virginia, but they’re hills to Floridians. It was a good test. The race finished by running along Tampa Bay again with park and water views.

Every mile is marked. LEO and volunteers were abundant on course. No chance of getting lost.

• AID STATIONS 

There were 11 aid stations available to half marathoners. The first stop had water, the rest had water and Gatorade. SIS gels and GU gels were available at mile 5 and 8. Two port-a-potties at each aid station.

• MEDALS and MORE MEDALS
The medal is a SAND GLOBE. It’s a 3D globe with sand inside. (See photo). All the medals are all bright, fun graphics that depict the race city. Every race has it’s own medal: 5K, 10K, and half. An additional medal is earned if you run the 5K, 10K Challenge.

If you run a half marathon in each of the 5 BDR race cities you get extra medals along the way. 2x, 3x, 4x and 5x racer bling is awarded as you earn it.

• POST RACE PARTY  

The location of the race course is super nice. The location of the post race party is excellent. As you cross the finish line you receive your medal and a bottle of water.

A few yards away is the post race party in beautiful Marina Park. Everything is included in your race fee. So, grab a beer, hard seltzer, or vodka mixed drink to start.

The choices seem never-ending: Outback Steakhouse chicken, steak, and Caesar salad. Papa Johns pizza delivered hot to the party. Fresh strawberries, salty snacks (Cheetos anyone?), bite-size chocolate bars, brownies, donuts, coffee, soft drinks, water, and electrolytes were available.

Ring the PR bell, take a photo, watch the awards ceremony. Talk to running friends you haven’t seen since last year. Visit the vendors. Sign up for your next race. Visit the port-o-potties.

There’s plenty of room for everyone to stay and relax after the race. It was a beautiful day, and the post race party was scheduled to last until noon.

• PARKING 

Plenty of street parking. Lot parking is available in several lots a mile to 2 miles from the starting line. Race management and the website do a good job of explaining the parking set up. All parking was free.

• PRICING
Race registration kicks off with a blitz in March. Get in early for the best price. The cost increases on a sliding scale based on the number of people who registered.

This year the 5K, 10K, and Challenge SOLD OUT.

• CHECK OUT MY EVENT PHOTOS
See the race course, more medals, and post race party here: http://www.thisoldrunner.com/2019-best-damn-race-safety-harbor-review.html