Ocala · United States
5K races near Ocala
16 races in 2026
next one in 3 days
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Race calendar
Upcoming 5K races near Ocala
This week 4
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
Eagle 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Ocala, FL (27)
Ocala
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
48th Annual Jack Gamble Melon Run
Gainesville · 55 km away
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
2026 Freedom 5k - Keystone Heights
Keystone Heights · 67 km away
4JUL
Run · road · 5K
Eagle 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Ocala, FL
Ocala
JUL 3
11JUL
Run · road · 5K
Eagle 5K & 10K, at Gainesville, FL (28)
Gainesville · 55 km away
+11 more 5K racesShow fewer ↓
18JUL
Run · road · 5K
Eagle 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Ocala, FL (29)
Ocala
25JUL
Run · road · 5K
Eagle 5K & 10K, at Gainesville, FL (30)
Gainesville · 55 km away
AUG 6
1AUG
Run · road · 5K
Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Ocala, FL (31)
Ocala
8AUG
Run · trail · 5K
Preseason Preview
Wildwood · 38 km away
8AUG
Run · road · 5K
Ninja 5K & 10K, at Gainesville, FL (32)
Gainesville · 55 km away
15AUG
Run · road · 5K
Ninja 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Ocala, FL (33)
Ocala
22AUG
Run · road · 5K
Ninja 5K & 10K at Gainesville August
Gainesville · 55 km away
22AUG
Run · road · 5K
Retro Run 5k
Ocala
SEP 3
5SEP
Run · road · 5K
Run the Resort 5K
Howey In The Hills · 62 km away
20SEP
Run · road · 5K
AdventHealth Waterman Shades of Hope 5K
Leesburg · 47 km away
26SEP
Run · road · 5K
Ranch Run at the U
Chiefland · 77 km away
Ocala · 80 km
16 races mapped
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Recurring 5K races near Ocala
Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly
Fca 5K
The FCA 5K is a local run/walk in Bellevue, Kentucky, offering both a 5K and a 1-mile option. The race begins at Frisch’s Big Boy on Landmark Drive. All proceeds support the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, enabling local student athletes and coaches to attend leadership camps and events.
Following the race, awards will be presented at the Callahan Center on Van Voast Avenue. The event emphasizes community support alongside the race itself. Volunteers, runners, walkers, local sponsors, and in-kind donors contribute food, drinks, items for swag bags, finisher prizes, printing, and signage.
DeLeon Dash 5K
The DeLeon Dash 5K is a run, walk, or jog within DeLeon Springs State Park in De Leon Springs, Florida. Beginning at the park, located at 601 Ponce Deleon Boulevard, the race offers a straightforward 5K through the woods, near one of Central Florida’s historic spring landscapes.
The course follows the spring, passes the Old Sugar Mill, and travels under large oak trees. The Friends of DeLeon Springs State Park organize the event, with proceeds supporting their efforts to preserve, interpret, and restore the park’s natural and cultural resources. Participants can enjoy the spring pool, nature trail, wildlife viewing, kayaking, paddleboarding, the visitor center, an eco-history boat tour, and the park’s pancake house after the race.
Pink Ribbon 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run
The Shannon Pink Ribbon Run is an annual October community race supporting the Shannon Breast Center, with registration opening in August. Runners can choose a chip-timed 5K or 10K, while walkers and families have a 1-mile walk/run option.
The event centers breast cancer awareness, especially the importance of early detection. Breast cancer survivors can enter for free and receive a special Survivors Shirt, and proceeds support local patient-focused programs at the Shannon Breast Center.
Hernando Hustle 5K Walk & Run
The Hernando Hustle 5K Walk & Run is a 5K race held at Tom Varn Park in Brooksville, Florida. Check-in and race-day packet pickup begin at 7:00 a.m. The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce organizes this event, which is designed for runners, walkers, joggers, teams, and families, not exclusively competitive racers.
The event features separate pricing for adults and participants under 18, along with a team registration option for groups. All participants will receive race shirts and finisher medals. Awards will be presented to the top three male finishers, top three female finishers, and the top three finishers under 18.
Camp Spirit 5K
Camp Spirit 5K is an annual morning run and 1 Mile Walk held at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida. The 5K begins at 8:00 a.m., followed five minutes later by the walk. Both events take place within a private, gated golf community, not on typical city streets.
The course winds through Black Diamond Ranch, with food and drinks provided post-race. Each participant receives a custom finisher medal, an event shirt, and a commemorative bib. Awards are presented to overall winners, masters runners, and age-group finishers ranging from young children to those 85 and older. The event also includes virtual 5K and 1 Mile options, with shirts and medals mailed after the race. All proceeds benefit Eckard Youth Alternative Camp E-Nini-Hassee.
LSSC Monster Dash
The LSSC Monster Dash is a Halloween 5K/10K fun run held at Lake-Sumter State College’s Leesburg Campus in Leesburg, Florida. The race begins on campus at 9501 U.S. Highway 441 and follows a loop around Silver Lake behind the college, offering participants a campus-and-lake route instead of city streets. This event welcomes families, encourages costumes, and allows runners to select between the 5K, 10K, or a virtual participation option.
Despite its fun-run atmosphere, the race is timed, and top finishers will receive recognition by age category, with additional prizes for age group and gender winners. Participants who register will receive race merchandise, such as a shirt, medal, or gift bag, based on their registration specifics. Proceeds benefit the LSSC Foundation, supporting scholarships and education at Lake-Sumter State College, thereby functioning as a community fundraiser for the institution.
2025 Turkey Trot Trail 5k & 10k
Gobbler 5K, 10K,13.1M & 26.2M at Ocala, FL (45)
The Gobbler in Ocala, Florida, is a paved running event starting at 8:00 AM, offering 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon distances. Registration is exclusively through RunSignup prior to race day, as no on-site sign-ups are available. Packet pickup occurs at Pavilion 1 shortly before the event begins.
The 5K and 10K races follow a 1.56-mile out-and-back course, with the 5K completed once and the 10K twice. The half marathon and marathon utilize a distinct 1.64-mile out-and-back route, run four times for the half marathon and eight times for the marathon. Participants in longer distances should anticipate a course with numerous loops. The event has a 6-hour cutoff, provides finisher medals, awards, series points, and a prize for the best costume.
Jack and Allie Superhero 5K
The Jack and Allie Superhero 5K is an annual late-afternoon run and walk at Waterfront Park in Clermont, Florida. The start and finish are on the grassy area in front of the Highlander Building, and the event uses professional timing for runners who want a recorded result.
The race raises money for Jack and Allie grants for children with special needs in Central Florida, helping families pay for therapies and tuition. Each registration covers the cost of a therapy session co-pay. Many participants dress as a favorite superhero or villain, and the event includes a costume contest, finisher medals, snacks and drinks after the race, raffle entry, and awards for overall, masters, and age-group finishers. People who cannot come in person can run virtually and receive a shirt and medal by mail.
The Florida Run Lake Louisa State Park Trail Run
BIGFOOT CHALLENGE 5k Veterans Day Sunset Run/Walk 5:00Pm
The BIGFOOT CHALLENGE 5k Veterans Day Sunset Run/Walk is an evening race in Clermont, Florida, starting at 5:00 PM from 330 3rd St. It offers a 5K plus a shorter 1.6 km option, allowing participants to choose between a standard neighborhood race distance and a quick out-and-back effort.
The event is tied to Veterans Day, and the sunset start provides a distinct atmosphere compared to a typical morning 5K. The run/walk format suggests a mixed field, accommodating families, casual walkers, and individuals observing the holiday with a community event.
Landbridge Trail 5k
The Landbridge Trail 5k is a November trail race in Ocala, Florida, starting and finishing at 11100 SW 16th Avenue. It is a 5K loop with about 95% unpaved trail, making it a dirt-and-roots run rather than a road race. The event is hosted by WTF Events, with participation from the host of the Where’s The Finish Podcast. No prize money is awarded.
The route is well marked and ascends to the top of the Landbridge within the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. Participants follow the Blue and Orange blazed trails, with the choice to race competitively or stop on the Landbridge for a photograph. Each finisher receives a custom wooden medal. The post-race gathering features trail-running discussions, social interaction, and a hot pancake breakfast.
Looking for something else near Ocala?
About 5K races in Ocala
Ocala Training Notes
Ocala hosts 40 5K races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.
Ocala runners get a park-heavy setup with real choices for Z2 days and sharper work. The Florida Trail gives the best long-run feel from Santos, with about 24 miles running west to Dunnellon and over 10 miles heading east. The Cross Florida Greenway’s equestrian trail network adds dirt underfoot when pavement gets old. Local runners use the Historic District for race-day rhythm, especially around the Mother's Day 5k Run / Walk. The Mother's Day 2M and other short races keep the calendar moving.
Ocala riders have the better-known club scene, because Ocala Mountain Bike Association maintains Santos. Santos gives beginners and expert riders more than 80 miles of bike trails, so singletrack is not a side dish here. The main loop runs 3 km with 703 m of gain. The route includes 1 km of pavement. The climbs are not mountains, but the rollers, sand, ruts, and dirt descents make intervals honest. The local anchor is more gran fondo than crit.
Winter gives Ocala its best training block, with December weather moving from a 34°F low to a 61°F high. Local runners can stack longer Florida Trail days without the summer bite. Local cyclists can start later, ride gravel, and still come home with clean Z2 miles or a hard Santos session. Summer brings hot, humid air, so locals shift runs and rides earlier and keep the work simple. The forest still works in summer, but the effort feels bigger. Winter changes the mood for both sports, because longer rides, half marathon work, and back-to-back trail days feel normal again.