It's not too late to help support Amelia Island's sea turtles. Just head to Fernandina Beach's Atlantic Rec Center on Atlantic Avenue (near Fort Clinch) between 6 to 7 am Saturday, September 5, 2009, to register for the Turtle Trot Run or Walk. (No registrations after 7 am, so don't be late!) The "Walk" is a non-competitive 1.5 mile walk that will begin sharply at 7:35 am, after the runners depart. Proceeds from the Turtle Trot help benefit the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch, turtle patrols in Fort Clinch, as well as Amelia Island Runners Club's youth running programs.
The Amelia Island Turtle Trot Race, is an annual event organized by the Amelia Island Runners club. The run is a 5K/10K starting at 7:30 am on September 5th at the Atlantic Rec Center, located at 2500 Atlantic Avenue in Fernandina Beach, followed by a "Kid's Fun Run" at 9 am.
KIDS FUN RUN FOR AGES 10 AND UNDER
The Kid's Fun Run is free, but parents must register their kids before the event, and the Kid's Fun Run registration is open until 8:45 am on race day. All kids finishing the race will receive a ribbon, and parents are encouraged to run with their kids (the parents don't require to be registered, just the children). There will be two lengths for Kid's Fun Runs, a half mile and one mile for kids aged 10 and under.
DRAWING FOR DOOR PRIZES
Runners can utilize the Rec Center's showers after the race. Save your bib number for door prizes to be awarded at the post-race awards ceremony, to be held in the Rec Center auditorium after the kid's runs end. The top door prize is a stay at Amelia Island Plantation resort. Also, a runner's bib will gain you free entry into Fort Clinch State Park for the day on Saturday (it's normally $6 per vehicle to enter the state park). Fort Clinch offers beautiful beachfront, hiking, biking trails, a fishing pier and more (check out some Fort Clinch scenes, photos taken last weekend, posted on Amelia Island Living's Social Network.)
Want to learn more about sea turtles? Read Amelia Island Living's recent article about Amelia Island's sea turtles and how you can experience a sea turtle nest excavation on Amelia Island. The Associated Press has just published an article covering the threat of fishing to loggerhead sea turtles. See this latest news reported September 3, 2009 indicating sea turtles are endangered, at risk from fishing....
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The Turtle Trot entry fee (after August 28th through the day of the race) is $25. Runners will receive (only while supplies last) a Turtle Trot T-shirt with original artwork by Fernandina Beach artist and turtle volunteer, Sandra Baker-Hinton (her artwork is pictured, and the original painting is for sale at a local art gallery). Further detailed info about the Turtle Trot, including the running routes, online entry forms and more is available at www.AmeliaIslandRunners.com
Also visit the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch website, for details on marked nests and the schedule of upcoming nest excavations on Amelia Island. Watching a sea turtle volunteer excavate a sea turtle nest is a wonderful learning experience for kids and adults -- a great activity at the beach held in the evening during the latter part of sea turtle season. Take time to learn more about the amazing sea turtles.
