5K races near Saint Marys

The Amelia Island Half Marathon, held in Fernandina Beach, Florida, offers a 12k option for those seeking a shorter run. This event is organized by women, for women, with female planners, coaches, and athletes guiding the race's design. The course winds through historic Fernandina Beach and Old Town before proceeding onto the shaded roads near Fort Clinch. Participants will also see ocean vistas, contributing to its recognition as a notable beach half marathon.

Run Up for Heroes is a 5K race in Jacksonville, starting at the pier of the USS Orleck Naval Museum. This event commemorates the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary and generates funds for local veterans, aiming to honor service members and provide housing for Jacksonville veterans requiring assistance. The event offers more than just the run: Jacksonville Jaguars personnel, JAX Legends, and the ROAR of the Jaguars will be present. Local vendors, food trucks, a DJ, a photo booth, children’s games, bounce houses, and fall harvest activities are also scheduled. Costume contests provide a fun element, with a category for runners or families dressed as superheroes.

The Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon & Freedom 5K starts runners and walkers downtown Jacksonville near Riverfront Plaza, with both distances sharing the start on Hogan and Water Street. The half marathon is a 13.1-mile road race, paired with a shorter 5K, and the event is one of Jacksonville’s larger running days, drawing more than 3,000 participants in a past running. The race formerly used the Marine Corps Half Marathon name, and the starting area sits where the Jacksonville Landing once stood. The half marathon route is mostly flat and uses an out-and-back layout along city streets near the St. Johns River. Early on, runners encounter the main climb of the day with a bridge crossing toward Friendship Park, then return to the north side by way of the Acosta Bridge and follow Riverside Avenue along the river. The course continues through neighborhood streets, with turns near Willow Branch Park, St. Johns Avenue, Boone Park, Fishweir Park, and Yukon Street, where runners reach the halfway point before heading back over much of the same ground toward the finish.

The Oktoberfest Beer and Brats 5K begins in Jacksonville's San Marco Square, with the 5K starting at 5 PM and a one-mile run/walk at 6 PM. Hosted by 1st Place Sports, this evening race includes chip timing, live results, prize money for top 5K finishers, and awards for overall and age-group winners. The event offers reduced 5K entry fees for participants aged 17 and under, and 65 and over. The course winds through San Marco before the post-race festivities commence with beer, brats, music, and games. Participants receive a shirt, a medal, and a custom beer mug, along with a complimentary beer and bratwurst. Tepeyolot Cerveceria provides the beer and has brewed a special Festbier for the occasion, a golden German lager with a clean malt profile. The Oktoberfest theme is evident in the Oom-Pah-pah music, the encouragement for runners to wear Tracht, dirndls, or lederhosen, and pre-race games including axe throwing, basketball shoot, and football pass and kick.

UF Health Jacksonville's Turkey Trot 5K is a Thanksgiving running event in Atlantic Beach, Florida, starting at One Ocean Resort and Spa on Ocean Boulevard. The main race is a 5K, with a 1.6 km option for those seeking a brief, relaxed run or walk. The setting is a beach town east of Jacksonville, with the course following the coast rather than a downtown road. UF Health Jacksonville organizes the event, and the two distances accommodate regular runners, families, and holiday participants beginning their day with a short race near the oceanfront.

The Omni Turkey Trot 5K is a Thanksgiving-season 5K held at Omni Amelia Island Resort in Nassau County, Florida. It begins and ends at Racquet Park, adjacent to the Verandah restaurant, and utilizes chip timing to provide runners with an official result. The route remains within the resort, winding through tree-canopied sections of Amelia Island. A 1-mile option is also available, suitable for families and children. A portion of the proceeds benefits the First Coast YMCA.

Run Jekyll is a race weekend on Jekyll Island, Georgia, featuring a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. The races take place in January, offering cool running weather with daytime temperatures typically in the low 60s and nighttime temperatures in the low 40s. Participants can also opt for a double-race option, accommodating those seeking a short island run alongside others aiming for a two-day challenge. The routes highlight the island's scenery: live oak canopies, salt marsh, open beach views, nature trails, and parts of Jekyll’s historic district. The course crosses the Jekyll Island Club National Historic Landmark, a resort area linked to a significant restoration initiative in the southeastern United States. Packet pickup is located at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, complementing the event’s historic island atmosphere.

Run Rare 5k offers two participation options: the in-person Run Rare 5k and the Run Rare: Virtual Rarety 5K. Check-in begins at 9:30 AM, with the race commencing at 10:00 AM. This event welcomes participants of all ages and prioritizes rare-disease awareness over competitive finish times. Rarety, the nonprofit organizing the race, was established by Taylor, a student who has lived with a rare disease for years. Her personal medical history, which includes a week of study at the National Institute of Health, shapes the event's focus. The race serves to honor rare warriors whose experiences are often overlooked, particularly young individuals managing rare conditions.

Turtle Crawl is a spring race on Jekyll Island, Georgia, tied to the start of sea turtle nesting season on the Georgia coast. The event offers a beachside 10K, a beachside 5K, and a one-kilometer fun run, with morning starts from the race site on James Road. It is an annual fundraiser for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, so the entry fee supports sea turtle rehabilitation, research, and education rather than just paying for a race shirt and timing mat. The event began as a fundraiser for the Center, and runners have raised more than $100,000 for sea turtle work. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center has cared for more than 3,000 patients, including sea turtles and other coastal wildlife. Families can join the short fun run, meet the Center’s mascot Scute C. Turtle, and stay after the races for Shell-e-brate, a family event with staff, educational activities, and animal ambassadors. Participants receive a commemorative shirt, age-group placers get medals, and supporters who cannot travel to Jekyll Island can still join through the virtual Ghost Crawler option.