Photography by Emily Will.
The sun smiles down on Upham Beach as reggae beats drift through the salty air. Barefoot early risers gather in small groups, stretching in the morning light. At first, many linger quietly, still waking up as the beach comes to life around them. At 9am, a whistle cuts through the air and the action begins. The warm-up starts with a popular variation of the childhood game Sharks and Minnows, where "sharks" stand along the shoreline and attempt to tag a larger group of "minnows" as they sprint from one side to the other.
Following the playful warmup, participants gather in small huddles to introduce themselves before the main workout begins.
They move through quick challenges—snake runs, wheelbarrow relays and bursts of jumping jacks between rounds. Loose sand adds resistance underfoot as teammates cheer one another on by name.
The format is a cross between a beach olympics and a middle school field day, where competition meets camaraderie and fitness feels a little more like play.
That energy defines 727FIT, a beach fitness meetup founded by Sydney Gault and Ava McGuire last Spring.
McGuire, who designs the group’s workouts, followed her parents to the Gulf Coast from Wisconsin. She has since established herself as a local coach while pursuing graduate studies in sport and performance psychology for athletes. Gault, who attended high school in St. Pete and works in marketing, manages the group’s branding and social media presence.
The two crossed paths at a beach workout in Sarasota in 2025. Over brunch afterward, they started talking about how the beaches around St. Pete might be the perfect setting for something similar, less about performance and more about bringing people together.
So, they decided to give the idea a trial run.
“I said, ‘Invite 10 of your friends and I’ll invite 10 of mine,’” McGuire recalls. “We just wanted to see if people would enjoy it.”
Word spread quickly. Friends told friends and word of mouth met its modern match on social media.
727FIT was simply launched through an Instagram account to promote their activities—no traditional website, just posts about upcoming workouts alongside photos and videos of the group hitting the sand, splashing into the water and enjoying an opportunity to socialize.
Gault says capturing that energy through this specific channel was an essential part of their strategy.
“With our age range, people check social media before they go to something,” she explains. “So, we wanted people to see exactly what it looked like. When you look at the photos and videos, everyone’s smiling and laughing.”
“We wanted people to feel like they were a kid on the playground again,” McGuire says. “Just having fun.”
That element of playfulness is why the workouts intentionally start with games, which the pair say help newcomers relax and ease the pressure often associated with fitness culture. Both 25, they are keenly aware of the expectations to appear perfect, flawless, or "unreal" on social media, a phenomenon often called socially prescribed perfectionism.
“In today's world, you see people that just look unreal all the time,” Gault shares. “We’re all out here sweating in the sand. Just be comfortable and no one's gonna care.”
“It’s not a beauty pageant,” McGuire echoes.
The twice-monthly workouts draw those seeking a more social way to stay active than a typical gym can offer. Most attendees fall somewhere between their early 20s and mid-30s, though the workouts are open to anyone interested in attending. Participation is typically free, though some workouts are donation-based or carry a small $5 fee to help fund equipment for future events. They have also hosted special fundraising workouts for local groups like the Children’s Dream Fund, raising $600 for a local nonprofit that fulfills dreams for children and youth with life-threatening illnesses through experiences, gifts and trips.
For regulars like Ava Moncayo, who has been attending since the beginning, the workouts have become something of a Sunday Funday.
“You wake up, run into the water, get those ocean vibes and already feel accomplished,” Moncayo says.
That’s exactly the feeling the founders hoped to create.
“Technology is taking over and we're trying to help people get away from their phones and get outside. Be in the sun, feel the sand, enjoy the environment that St. Pete gives us,” Gault enthuses. “For anyone who's putting themselves out there or moving to the city, it's so hard to actually meet people in person. We really want to foster a community that allows people to just come, be themselves and have a good time.”
“It’s intimidating to walk into a fitness setting. You don’t know what to wear or what people might think,” McGuire offers. “Here you just come to the beach. You either love fitness or you love the beach—and you're going to meet 20 other people who feel the same way.”
That openness is part of the draw for participants like Kemper Reback, who makes the drive from Tampa to attend.
“I’ve made several new friends here,” Reback offers. “Everyone feels welcome.”
Isaac Martin, a Massachusetts transplant now living in Pinellas Park, says the beach workouts offer a refreshing break from the usual indoor fitness routine.
“I have a gym background, but in Florida my gym is my backyard and the beach,” Martin shares.
Partners and sponsors are also part of the mix. This morning they are partnered with the Reggae Rise Up festival with a drawing for tickets up for grabs and attendees refuel with protein muffins from Ideal Nutrition.
These added elements keep the atmosphere light while giving participants another reason to stay engaged.
Looking ahead, the founders hope to expand 727FIT with pop-up workouts in downtown St. Pete and other beach towns across the region.
Plans are also taking shape for a special 727 Day workout in July as part of the annual citywide celebration of St. Pete’s community spirit.
As the morning winds down, some attendees stay for an impromptu beach day, cooling off in the surf or mingling with new friends, while others drift toward nearby coffee shops or the Corey Avenue Market.
Connections continue online and in person as participants share photos, tag teammates and make plans to return for the next meetup.
While reflecting on the community they’re building, the pair share how they live their best lives by intentionally pursuing what sparks joy for each of them.
“I’m stepping out of my comfort zone continuing to learn and challenge myself—and to find joy in failure,” McGuire says reflectively. “That has been really, really big for me.
I also think there's a shift from, ‘This is what you should do, this is what is normal to do,’ to ‘This is actually what I want to do and this feels a lot better.’ There’s power in choosing yourself. It's not selfishness. When you're choosing yourself and doing the things that make you feel good, you can show up for the people in your life more positively.”
“Life is meant to be lived every day,” Gault adds. “It's up to you to decide what that life is going to be. There are going to be good things and bad things that happen to you. At the end of the day, it's how you deal with those things. I choose living in the moment and doing things that make me feel like the most positive, happy, real version of myself.”
Follow @727fit on Instagram to learn more.
