Updated race and road closure information for 12th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay, March 19

Drawing runners from across Florida as well as 48 other U.S. states and Canada, the 12th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half-Marathon & Relay scheduled for March 19, 2017 and produced and presented by Life TimeSM – The Healthy Way of Life Company, is getting race ready and wants to make sure Sarasota is too.

Registration still open, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Partnership

Registration for the half marathon and relay portion are still open but expected to sell out. Once sold out, runners and walkers can still participate through the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital partnership that has an additional 100 spots as part of a fundraising campaign. The campaign will raise funds to help St. Jude’s as it leads the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. More information on how to register as an individual or as a St. Jude’s Hero can be found at www.sarasotahalfmarathon.com.

Course route

The course will follow the same route as 2016, which was modified to better accommodate residents, minimize traffic delays and provide the optimal scenic course route for runners and walkers. The first half of the course starts at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall goes over the John Ringling Bridge and around St. Armand’s then back to the Relay Exchange at 6.2 miles.

The second half of the course heads north on Tamiami Trail/US 41 then turns left at Indian Beach Drive off US41 and does a loop to the Ringling Museum and back along Bay Shore Road.

Course map: www.sarasotahalfmarathon.com/race/half-marathon/course

Two-Person relay course & exchange area

The two-person relay consists of two segments, the first being 6.2 miles from Van Wezel to St. Armand’s and then back to the exchange area outside Van Wezel. The next relay team leg covers 6.9 miles to the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art and then back to Van Wezel, where teammates meet each other at the exchange area to head to and cross the finish line together.

Road closures

The race begins at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 10th Street and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Runners then proceed south to go out and back over the John Ringling Causeway, clearing this section by 8:15 a.m.

All participants will be off the remaining sections of the course by 10:30 a.m. and moved to sidewalks if they have not reach the finish line. Most of the roadways are expected to be cleared of runners and walkers before 10:30 due to rolling reopening procedures as noted below.

The City of Sarasota Police Department will be providing road/traffic management and security services throughout the race and assisting automobiles through intersections in between gaps of runner packs.

Following is a list of temporary lane closures for the following locations:

• 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. -- Southbound US 41 from 10th Street to Gulfstream Avenue
• 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. -- John Ringling Causeway, Westbound lanes starting at Gulf Stream Ave to St. Armand’s Circle
• 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. – St. Armand’s Circle to Adams Drive (all directions)
• 6:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – US 41/N Tamiami Trail, Southbound 10th Street and Indian Beach Drive
• 6:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. – Indian Beach Drive (North/West) to 47th Street

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

About First Watch

First Watch specializes in award-winning, made-to-order Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch. A recipient of more than 200 “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch offers traditional favorites, such as omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and salads, and unique specialty items like Quinoa Power Bowls, Avocado Toast and the Chickichanga. First Watch was named the 2016 top Family Dining restaurant by Consumer Reports, a 2015 Top Consumer Pick by Nation’s Restaurant News and a 2014 Top Franchise Value by FSR Magazine. First Watch is the largest and fastest-growing daytime-only restaurant concept in the U.S. with more than 295 restaurants in 26 states, including more than 195 First Watch restaurants, 97 The Egg & I restaurants, one The Good Egg restaurant in Phoenix and one Bread & Company restaurant in Nashville. For more information, visit firstwatch.com.

About Life TimeSM, The Healthy Way of Life Company

Life Time® is a privately held, comprehensive health and lifestyle company that offers a personalized and scientific approach to long-term health and wellness. Through its portfolio of distinctive resort-like destinations, athletic events and corporate health services, the Healthy Way of Life Company helps members achieve their goals everyday with the support of a team of dedicated professionals and an array of proprietary health assessments. As of January 2017 the company operates 122 centers in 26 states and 35 major markets under the LIFE TIME FITNESS® and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC® brands in the United States and Canada.