WILDSIDE EVENT
7 Mile Bridge Run
EVENT DETAILS
An iconic, highly exclusive 6.8-mile race held annually in April over the longest segmental bridge in the Florida Keys
April 11th, 2026
Date
6:45 AM
Time (ET)
1 Knights Key Blvd
Where
7 Miles
Distance
WHAT MAKES THIS RACE UNIQUE
- You run across the ocean. The entire course runs the Seven Mile Bridge — one of the longest segmental bridges in the world, connecting Knight's Key to Little Duck Key. One of the few races on earth that takes place entirely over water. There is no other 5K, 10K, or anything-K like this on the planet.
- You have to beat the bus. The Sheriff closes the bridge from 6:45 to 9:00 AM. The race goes off at 7:30. Runners have 90 minutes to traverse the bridge — and if they can't keep pace, a fleet of yellow school buses scoops them up. "Beat the Bus" isn't a slogan. It's the actual stakes.
- Only 1,500 spots. Period. Entry has historically been capped at 1,500 for safety reasons, with demand far outstripping the spots available. Bridge closures don't bend for anyone. If you get in, you got in.
- It's the original Keys race. Started in 1982 to celebrate the completion of the new Seven Mile Bridge, the 2026 edition is the 45th Annual. Run as a benefit for youth activities in Marathon, Florida — every entry feeds the kids of the Keys.
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RACE HISTORY
The Seven Mile Bridge Run was first held in 1982 to commemorate the completion of the Florida Keys bridge rebuilding program — a dedication run across one of the longest segmental bridges in the world.