Seaside School Half Marathon Presents Taste of the Race with Emeril Lagasse

By J.L. Meyer

Photography by Natasha Jasperson

On February 27, 2015, VIE joined the picturesque town of Seaside, Florida, for Taste of the Race, a culinary event presented by the Seaside School Half Marathon and 5K, which were subsequently held on March 1. Featuring special guest Chef Emeril Lagasse, along with almost twenty of the Gulf Coast’s top chefs, Taste of the Race took place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Seaside Lyceum. Twinkling lights hung from the ceiling of the tents while a packed house mingled and enjoyed bites and beverages from some of the area’s best chefs and restaurants. Nashville country music group Trick Pony performed live, while a silent auction was held in a tent in Seaside’s Central Square. All proceeds from the evening benefited the Seaside School Foundation.

Guests enjoyed complimentary beer from Grayton Beer Company, wine from Wine World, craft spirits from Buffalo Trace, and Coca-Cola products. Delicious culinary creations were served up by chefs from some of the area’s finest restaurants, including Emeril’s Orlando, Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, The Bay, Great Southern Café, Fish Out of Water, Bud & Alley’s, 723 Whiskey Bravo, V Seagrove, Bijoux Destin, Acme Oyster House, Wine World, Cuvee Bistro, Signature Catering of 30-A, Havana Beach at The Pearl, Stinky’s Fish Camp, Crust Artisan Bakery, and Local Catch Bar and Grill.

Twinkling lights hung from the ceiling of the tents while a packed house mingled and enjoyed bites and beverages from some of the area’s best chefs and restaurants.

Each year, the Seaside Neighborhood School hosts a half marathon and 5K event, inviting visitors and locals alike to participate. The half marathon course spans Scenic Highway 30-A from the Seaside Post Office to Gulf Place and back again, offering runners a chance to achieve personal records on this relatively flat road course with bridges crossing five unique coastal dune lakes. A postrace celebration took place at the Seaside Amphitheater for all runners and their friends and families. The event is known to sell out annually, with more than 2,500 participants in the half marathon and more than 1,200 in the 5K.

Each year, the Seaside Neighborhood School hosts a half marathon and 5K event, inviting visitors and locals alike to participate.

The 2015 Seaside School Half Marathon and 5K Presenting Sponsor was Vera Bradley. Diamond Sponsors included Visit South Walton, Emeril’s Florida, VIE, the Alys Foundation, OmegaFi, Destin Plastic Surgery, Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Sunburst Beach Vacations, Grayton Beer Company, Coastworthy, the St. Joe Community Foundation, Sunburst Beach Vacations, Bud & Alley’s, and Wine World. Platinum sponsors included Silver Sands Premium Outlets, the Hub, Dr. Scott Runnels, WaterColor Vacation Rentals, Duckies Shop of Fun, Mercantile, the Hilton Sandestin Beach, the Storyteller Agency, Tents of Northwest Florida, CopySystems, 30A Deluxe Properties, Emerald Coast Magazine, Premier Island Management Group, Lilybell Hope, SoWal.com, Beachy Beach Real Estate, Cottage Rental Agency, and 30A.

— V —