Cycling & running events in Florence, 2026

Florence-Shoals Training Notes

Running: Locals run the river first when they want easy miles. McFarland Park keeps it simple with lighted jogging trails along the Tennessee River, so Z2 after work feels normal here. The first loop runs 12 km with +83 m when you want a measured effort. The second loop runs 06 km with +71 m for another honest effort. The third option runs 19 km with +26 m. Helping Hands Half Marathon / 5K, Killen Founder's Day 5K, First Friday Fun Run, and The Burnie Run 5K Run/Walk keep the calendar moving.

Cycling: Locals ride west when the legs want gravel. The gravel roads west of Florence are relatively flat, but plenty of wind adds to the challenge, so base miles can feel like intervals by the end. Shoals Cycling Club is based in Muscle Shoals, and its 17 members sit across Florence, Russellville, Red Bay, Muscle Shoals, and Tuscumbia. Farm Rd, Jones Rd, Lauderdale County 180, and Lauderdale County 220 to Lauderdale County 204 give you named dirt to stitch together. Lauderdale County 220 to Lauderdale County 204 runs 5.8 mi, and Jones Rd runs 3.8 mi. The climbs sit west as wind, false flat, and small-gravel grind, not big mountain work.

Season: November treats both sports well here. The average daily high temperature in November is still 63 degrees, so locals can keep running and riding without turning every outing into survival mode. Summer asks for early starts, river-side shade when you can get it, and shorter hard work when the heat stacks up. Winter keeps the rhythm more than it breaks it, with Z2 rides, lunch runs, and weekend long routes still on the table. Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve adds a 15-mile deep-forest option past streams, waterfalls, and scenic outlooks when you want trail time instead of pavement.