There was nothing slow about the pace kept by runners and walkers during the second annual Vero Beach Half Marathon and Sea Turtle 2-Miler at Riverside Park put on recently by the Running Zone Foundation to benefit Coastal Connections.
The sun hadn’t even risen that Sunday morning, as half marathon participants began their 13-mile journey over the Barber Bridge and through the streets of Central Beach. And while the long haulers were still pounding the pavement, the 2-miler crowd made quick work of their short journey.
“We are so thrilled to be the beneficiary for the second year in a row for this event. It’s been such a pleasure to get to work with Running Zone,” said Kendra Cope, Coastal Connections founder and executive director. “We are excited about the programs that it’s going to support and the children’s lives that we’re going to be able to impact this year thanks to that funding.”
Proceeds will support their efforts to protect coastal habitats for sea turtle survival by educating the community about turtle research and rescue, and connecting people to the environment.
“Sea turtle nesting season officially starts on March 1. So, eight months out of the year, we’re in nesting season,” Cope explained.
“We’re still learning the cycle of sea turtles. They are an interesting species that take an extremely long time to mature. We are only in the infant stages of learning what the greater cycle is for their recovery story. We have many more years of monitoring their nesting activity and collecting important data about where they travel and how many are in certain areas at a certain time, before we can get the best and most accurate understanding of how that population is doing.”
On Feb. 26, Sailfish Brewery Vero Beach is teaming up with Costal Connections as sponsors of a 9 a.m. Coastal Cleanup, followed by a celebration from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the brewery to salute the restaurant’s commitment to going plastic-free through Coastal Connection’s Vero Goes Zero initiative.
“Check out all of their new plastic alternatives and celebrate with us that they’re going plastic-free,” said Cope. She added that Sailfish is the third Vero Beach restaurant that they have worked with to promote the transition from plastics to sustainable options.
And don’t put your running shoes away just yet. Coastal Connections will host its Tipsy Turtle 2-Mile Run/Walk fundraiser beginning at 8 a.m. April 9 at Sexton Plaza, which generally includes some family-friendly, turtle-centered activities.
For more information, visit coastal-connections.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
