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16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra race photo

16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USDec 27, 202636.8M
Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date in 72 days
Dec 27, 2026 Sun
City · Distance
Fort Walton Beach · 36.8M
Entry fee
$55Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTBD ~ Tue, December 22, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 16, 2026
16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra race photo
Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Now in its 16th edition, this race is held on December 27, 2026.

It's a course that loops around Choctawhatchee Bay, with relay and ultra categories.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Full recap

Zed Fifth · Full recap

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Ultra

Entry cost $55

until Dec 1, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra course map and elevation

Your 59.2km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 04:00
EventStartTime limit
Ultra59.2km04:008h 45m
Round the Bay Relay (36.8 mile)59.2km06:00—
START

The Island Hotel, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Elks Lodge, 1335 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Cutoff
Relay: 12:30 p.m.; finish closes at 12:45 p.m.

Show more

A 36.8-mile course around Choctawhatchee Bay, crossing 7 bridges and 9 hills.

The event is divided into six categories,

including the 36.8 Mile 2 Person Relay Team, 36.8 Mile 3 Person Relay Team, 36.8 Mile 4 Person Relay Team, and 36.8 Mile 5 Person Relay Team.

Start line is located at 1335 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL, and the start time is 4:00 a.m. local time.

Course follows a loop course that finishes where it started.

Typical race-season temperature: around 13°C (56°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Event T-shirt

Where and when to collect your 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

12/26 (Fri) The Island Resort
12/26 (Fri) The Island Resort

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo passenger rail/subway system exists in Fort Walton Beach/Okaloosa Island; nearest airport is Destin-Fort…

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No passenger rail/subway system exists in Fort Walton Beach/Okaloosa Island; nearest airport is Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)

Start line is at The Elks Lodge, 1335 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, on Okaloosa Island.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start — no rail/subway station in area

Finish is the Elks Lodge parking lot (loop-style course through Destin, Bluewater Bay, Niceville, Valparaiso, Shalimar, and Fort Walton Beach).

Map

Start shuttle

No organizer shuttle bus service mentioned in official course/race materials found.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Registration is $35 for relay teams and $55 for the ultra Entry fee.

Members of the Northwest Florida Track Club (NWFTC) receive a $5 discount.

Registrations made after December 1, 2026, will incur a $10 late registration fee.

Race materials, including bib, must be picked up in advance on Friday, December 26, the day before the event,

at the host hotel, Island Resort (1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach).

Ultra runners may choose one of five start times, scheduled at 30-minute intervals from 4:00 to 6:00 a.m.,

while relay teams start together at 6:00 a.m. Relay runners must complete their individual legs by 12:30 p.m.,

and finish remains open for ultra finishers until 12:45 p.m.

Times are local to Fort Walton Beach. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott Fort Walton Beach-West Destin

Hotel · 772m

8.7/10(667)
View on Booking.com

La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Fort Walton Beach

Hotel · 265m

8.1/10(1203)
View on Booking.com

Hotels near the 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra start line in Fort Walton Beach

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott Fort Walton Beach-West Destin

Hotel · 772m

8.7/10(667)
View on Booking.com

La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Fort Walton Beach

Hotel · 265m

8.1/10(1203)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Fort Walton Beach with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Fort Walton Beach.

Total cost and budget for 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Fort Walton Beach runners' room

Frequently asked questions about 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra

FAQ
When does 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sun, December 27, 2026 in Fort Walton Beach, FL, United States.

How much is the 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs $55.

What distances does 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra 2026 start?

The race starts at 04:00.

Where does 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra 2026 start?

The Island Hotel, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL.

What is the 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra 2026 course like?

The event is divided into six categories,

including the 36.8 Mile 2 Person Relay Team, 36.8 Mile 3 Person Relay Team, 36.8 Mile 4 Person Relay Team, and 36.8 Mile 5 Person Relay Team.

Start line is located at 1335 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL, and the start time is 4:00 a.m. local time.

Where does 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra 2026 finish?

Elks Lodge, 1335 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL.

What are the 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra 2026 cutoff times?

Relay: 12:30 p.m.; finish closes at 12:45 p.m.

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