Cycling & running events in Jacksonville, 2026

Jacksonville Base Miles

Running: Locals get their base miles around the old Front Gate routes, Camp Johnson Scenic Loop, Riverwalk Crossing Park, and the New River side of town. The typical loop covers 20 km with +56 m gain. The brief names no formal run club, so locals lean on race mornings and steady meetups around familiar loops. Running with the Law 5K/10K - Sunset Pursuit puts people on riverfront and city streets at sunset, while Beat the Bridge 10k/5k, Stars & Strides 5k, and YMCA Chevy Shuffle 5k carry the anchor-event feel.

Cycling: The route runs 2 miles from Camp LeJeune to Marine Boulevard. The Rails to Trails Greenway gives the city a bigger goal, with a planned 172-mile network linking toward Riverwalk Crossing Park. Richlands Loop Bicycle Route gives road riders a 50-mile rural spin, and its shorter 20-mile option sits south of Gregory Crossroads. The park has 2 miles of singletrack-style bike and walking trails. 9%.

Season: Spring and fall feel like the cleanest training blocks here, especially for Richlands Loop and longer base miles. Summer in Onslow County gets extremely hot and humid, so locals move runs early, keep intervals honest, and treat long rides like bottle math. Winter weather in Onslow County turns unpredictable, but the flat coastal layout keeps Z2 work possible when the day opens up. Riverwalk Crossing Park, the Rail-to-Trails path, and Big Branch Bike Park stay useful when schedules shift, and race mornings like White Elephant 5k FUN RUN or the Turkey Trot keep people moving.