Bound for Boston Marathon & Half Marathon - Sarasota

Have you been dreaming of running the Boston Marathon? Need to shave a few minutes off your qualifying time? Or maybe you're just looking for the perfect course to set a new PR? Whether Boston is your goal or not, the Bound for Boston Marathon & Half Marathon is for you.

We are racing at Nathan Benderson Park and the course features a 1-mile, super flat and super fast loop, making it ideal for consistent pacing and record-setting performances. The Full Marathon is USATF certified, making it a Boston Qualifier.

This event is uniquely designed for serious runners. We will have water and an electrolyte drink at the aid table. Participants are welcome to bring their own personalized aid to place on the aid tables, allowing you to grab exactly what you need each time you pass. Many runners even bring a cheer crew to help hand out fuel and keep the motivation high throughout the race.

To maintain the best possible experience, this is intentionally a small, focused event, capped at just 75 participants.

We will have a great race shirt and finisher medals for all participants. Awards for both distances are in the usual 5-year age groups.

Fast course, flexible support, and a chance to chase your goals—this is the race that lets you run your perfect day.

Five Star NTP is seeking a Charity Partner to join forces for this exciting event. This collaboration offers a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about your organiztion's mission while generating much-needed funds to support your cause.

Make a Difference as a Charity Partner with Five Star NTP

Imagine hundreds of athletes lacing up their shoes, crossing the start line, and knowing every step they take is helping your cause. That’s the power of becoming a Charity Partner with Five Star NTP.
As our official Charity Partner, your organization (or an individual in need) will be in the spotlight. We’ll feature you on our website, registration page, and social media — donations collected through the race go straight to you. No fees. No cuts. Just pure support for your mission.

For more information about being the Charity Partner, contact charity@fivestarntp.com.

Volunteers at the race may earn a $50 Visa gift card.

Here's how it works: 1) You sign up to volunteer on Volunteer page. 2) You recruit 3 (three) others to volunteer for this race and have them sign up on the Volunteer page and put Your Name when it asks who recruited them. 3) You and your recruits show up on race day and volunteer for the entire race. 4) After the race, if all qualifications are met, Five Star NTP will mail you your $50 Visa Gift card. 

All Volunteers must be 15 years or older.

Get started by going to the Volunteer Page to sign up for this race.
 
 

I'm Bound for Boston - Sarasota is currently accepting sponsors. For more information, contact Sponsor
 

Our Bound for Boston events offer a distinctive experience for both spectators and sponsors alike. The carefully designed 1-mile loop course provides a unique advantage, allowing athletes to pass by key locations multiple times, maximizing visibility and engagement.

This event is designed to be small, or a “boutique event,” by design. With a one-mile loop, it is hard to fit 500 or more people on the course. With the smaller athlete number, it allows our staff and volunteers to focus on the athletes individually as they run.

Early Packet Pickup is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 - time and location TBD

Preview Registration: (ends 01/27):

-Marathon: $75
-Half Marathon: $45
-Virtual Races: $30

Early Bird Registration: (ends 02/27):

-Marathon: $85
-Half Marathon: $55
-Virtual Races: $40

Regular Registration: (ends 11/28):

-Marathon: $95
-Half Marathon: $65
-Virtual Races: $50

Late Registration: (ends 12/05):

-Marathon: $105
-Half Marathon: $75

Race Day Registration:

-Marathon: $115
-Half Marathon: $85

*All participants registered by 11/26 are guaranteed race swag in your size. Afterwards, swag will be while supplies last.

New to Virtual Running?  Here's how it works:

Step 1

Get excited, grab some friends and buddies to join you!  Sign up and register for the virtual Boston Bound Marathon or Half!

Step 2

Hydrate, grab your buddy (or not) and get ready to get moving!  Download your downloadable custom bib below!

Step 3

Get out there and run or walk! You can run at the park, your favorite route in your neighborhood; anywhere you want.   Please remember to be safe!

Step 4

HAVE FUN!~

Share your distance, a selfie, or a picture along your race route and use the hashtag #boundforboston2026

Step 5

You can submit your race time HERE on the Virtual Results page anytime until end of race day.

Step 6

View your Virtual Results HERE Monday after the Event Date.

Register by November 28th to guarantee your shirt & size!

All participants will receive a custom Finisher Medal!

The primary goal of this event is for everyone to GO FAST, but we'll have some great awards for everyone.  Each race will have awards in the following categories:

• Top 3 Overall M/F
• Top 3 Master M/F
• Top 3 Overall Grand Master (50+)
• Top 3 Overall Sr. Grand Master (60+)
• Top 3 in all Age Groups (M/F)19 & Under through 80+

Both the marathon and half marathon course are USATF certified, which means the Marathon will be a Boston Qualifier.  

Here's a link to the Boston Standards   https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/enter/qualify

Make sure you have plenty of hydration to keep you going on your run!  We will have water, a gatorade-type drink & bananas.

2 stations along the course

• 1 station with cups of water along with bananas.
• 1 station with your (Bring Your Own) personal aid (drinks & gel)  Please make sure you drop your personal aid off in enough time before the Race Start!  We'll have volunteers to hand off your items.  Aid Station tables will be set up according to bib numbers.

Course
1 mile FLAT & FAST loop
Both the Half & Full are USATF certified...so the Full will be a Boston Qualifier

Sarasota Boston Bound Course Map

Yes...It's a 1 mile loop.

NO...We've never had any one say it was tedious, we have had hundreds of people say it was loads of fun.

USATF Course #:  FL22058JK

Timing:

• Chip timed Start & Finish
• Chip timed split every mile
• Mile splits are displayed on timing clocks as you pass by the mile point...helping you keep on pace.

Entertainment

•  We realize that it might get a little repetitive running a 1 mile loop...so we'll have music & entertainment along the course to keep you going and motivated!

Course Cut Off

• Because of the nature of the event, the course will close at 10:30 am (4 hour race time).

Notes when running:

1. Run the tangents...that means always run the shortest possible route.

2.  If you want to walk or run slower, no problem...we just need you to run on the right so the faster participants can get through on the shortest path.

3.  Remember...it's a one mile loop, with the .1 or .2 going from the lap count to the finish.

Location

November 26th:       Last Day to Guarantee shirt & Size

December 5th: Early Packet Pickup (all participants strongly urged to come to Early Packet Pickup...we can't get to race location until 6 am)

• Time and place TBD

December 6th:  Event Day! 

• 6:00 AM - Race Day Check in Opens
• 6:30 AM - Races Start
• 11:30 AM - Course Closes

All participants will automatically qualify for 1 FREE entry into one of the 2025 Five Star Turkey Trots.  See event website for details.

Top finishers will also qualify for entry into the Five Star 5K/10K Championships to be held January, 2025.

Our events are designed to be fun for the entire family. With that in mind; any competitor, spectator, parent, volunteer, or sponsor, exhibiting unsportsmanlike
conduct or interfering with the positive, competitive atmosphere of the event will be asked to leave the venue and course immediately with no refunds.

All registrations are final. There are no refunds, deferments, or transfers.

Event will take place rain or shine. In the event of extreme weather, we will cancel for the safety of the participants...there are no refunds in this case.

Participants that do not show up to race/event forfeit their right to any swag.

No COVID-19 Refunds.  If unforeseen circumstances arise due to COVID-19, including any Federal or State Health Emergency, refunds will not be provided.  The event will go 100% Virtual & shirts will be shipped to participants.