Mote hatches 30th Run for the Turtles

In 1986 Dean Cutshall signed up for the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Run for the Turtles 5K on a whim. 

He arrived at Siesta Key Beach for his regular morning run along the shore, when he noticed the race and signed up just before the start. 

“I gained an interest in turtles,” Cutshall said. “I thought it was a great experience for me and a way to learn about marine life and turtles. It promotes not only awareness for the turtles but also love for the turtles.”

Cutshall has run for the turtles ever since. Saturday morning Cutshall wore the bib number 30 to commemorate the anniversary when he joined more than 1,000 runners at the starting line.

The Run for the Turtles included a 5K and 1-mile Fun Run to help bring awareness to sea turtle nesting season along the Sarasota County shoreline. Mote Senior Biologist Kristen Mazzarella hoped that runners noticed along the route just how many obstacles a turtle will encounter when they come ashore to nest. 

“This is about bringing awareness about sea turtles in general, to protect them and to be aware that they nest on our beaches and to teach people how they can help,” Mazzarella said. “They can shut off their lights, knock down their sandcastles, fill in their holes and take their stuff off the beach…to have them free of obstacles that the turtles might encounter on their way up to nest at night.”