Your race day, minute by minute
Key West Half Marathon · Sunday, January 17, 2027 · gun at 7:00 AM local. Built for a 2:15:00 half marathon — change it below and every clock time updates.
The night before
- 6:00 PMDinner
Carbs you've practiced with in training — nothing new, nothing heavy, done by 8. Hydrate normally; don't tank up.
- 8:30 PMLay everything out
Bib pinned, chip on, kit + throwaway layer, breakfast on the counter, phone charging. Race morning should require zero decisions.
- 9:30 PMLights out
You'll sleep badly — everyone does. The night that matters was two nights ago, so don't panic-watch the ceiling.
Race morning
- 4:30 AMWake up
Two and a half hours before the gun. Eat your practiced breakfast within 15 minutes — it needs time to digest.
- 6:00 AMLeave for the start
Small race, small buffer — but parking still fills early. Walking from a nearby hotel removes the variable.
- 6:20 AMArrive: bag check, then porta-potty line
Get in the porta-potty line immediately — it's always longer than it looks, and you'll want it twice.
- 6:40 AMEnter your corral
Line up by expected pace. Shed the throwaway layer at the line, not before.
- 7:00 AMGun
Goal: 2:15:00. The first miles will feel absurdly easy. That's the plan working — bank calm, not time.
On the course
Clock times at each split for a 2:15:00 finish — send these to your people so they know where to stand.
| Point | Clock time | Race time |
|---|---|---|
| Mile 4 | 7:41 AM | 41:12 |
| Mile 8 | 8:22 AM | 1:22:23 |
| Mile 11 | 8:53 AM | 1:53:17 |
- Mile 4: Early and settled — an easy first cheer spot before the crowds bunch at halfway.
- Mile 8: your runner will be working now. A familiar face here sets up the last 5K.
- Mile 11: The grind. This is the one not to miss — then hustle to the finish.
The finish
On goal pace, you cross at 9:15 AM. Realistic arrival window: 9:11 AM – 9:24 AM — tell your people the late end, then beat it.
Agree on a post-finish meeting spot now (most races use lettered signs in the family reunion area) — phones are useless in a finish-line crowd.
Send it to whoever's coming to watch — it opens straight to this timeline with the split clocks.
- · Clock times assume even pacing at goal pace — first-timers usually drift later, not earlier.
Where to stay
Stay within walking distance of the start corrals — a 6am rideshare on race morning is a gamble. Book a refundable rate now and forget about it; inventory tightens in the final month. The links below are pre-filled for race weekend (January 15, 2027 → January 18, 2027).
Not sure what goal time to plan around? Get a projection from your training history.
Get your verdict →