5K races near Sarasota

Run The Woods is a 5K and 8K trail race held at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, located at 21 Timber Pointe Lane in Hudson, Illinois. Participants will run and walk on wooded trails bordering Lake Bloomington. A 1-mile hike is also available for those seeking a shorter, less strenuous route. The race welcomes families, experienced runners, casual joggers, walkers, and children. Proceeds benefit Easterseals Central Illinois and the campers at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, which provides adventure-based programs focused on independence and inclusion for children with developmental delays, disabilities, and other special needs. This established event, now in its third decade, concludes with awards, prizes, and a post-race breakfast.

The Poker Run 5K is a timed 5K race in North Port, Florida. It begins at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, located near I-75. This event is structured as a Texas Hold'em-style run, benefiting the Imagine North Port Cross Country and Track & Field Sharks. Net proceeds will be directed to the team's booster account. Participation is open to all, but individuals must be 21 years or older to engage in the poker aspect of the run. The course guides participants from the park to a water stop and poker table situated mid-race. Here, runners collect two playing cards before continuing the 3.1-mile route back to the finish. Prior poker experience is not required; participants simply collect their cards and submit them at check-in, where they will be stapled to their name. The participant with the best poker hand will receive a gift card and medal. The participant with the worst hand will also receive a prize. In the event of a tie, the faster runner will be declared the winner. Standard race awards will be presented to overall, masters, veteran, and age-group finishers. The finish medal is designed as a 3-inch poker chip. Post-race refreshments include hot dogs, chips, and snack bars.

The Flamingo 5K is a morning beach run and walk on Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida. In-person events are based at 948 Beach Road. The series includes the main 5K, a Virtual Flamingo 5K for those who want the swag without attending in person, and the Flock Cancer 1 Mile Frolick for a shorter group option. The route stays on the beach, offering sand, Gulf views, photos, and a relaxed Southwest Florida running crowd. Seasoned runners, casual joggers, walkers, and first-timers are welcome. The event is an annual Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser, honoring those fighting breast cancer, survivors, and those remembered by family and friends.

The Haunted 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon at Heritage Harbor Park in Bradenton, Florida, offers four running distances on the same morning, all themed for Halloween. All races begin at 8:00 AM. Runners must register in advance via RunSignup and collect their packets just before the event; no registration is available on race day. The event's layout is functional and contained, with parking near the playground in the expansive lot and a six-hour time limit for all distances. The races feature short, repeated out-and-back courses, meaning participants will traverse the same section multiple times rather than completing a single, extended loop. The 5K consists of one 3.11-mile out-and-back segment. The 10K covers this segment twice. The half marathon utilizes a 3.28-mile out-and-back course four times, and the marathon repeats this same route eight times. All finishers earn medals, and costume awards complement the Haunted theme. The event also contributes to series points for participants in the broader race series.

Behind Their Smile for 22TOOMANY is a morning 5K run/walk at 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle in Sarasota, Florida, starting at 8:00 AM EDT. The event raises funds for 22 Too Many, a charity dedicated to public awareness of PTS, suicide prevention, and support for families who have lost someone to suicide. The race’s message stems from the idea that everyone has a story behind their smile. The charity remembers veterans and others lost to suicide. The event highlights the reported figure of about 22 veterans taking their own lives daily, and also notes that suicide impacts the broader U.S. adult population. The 5K entry fee is $50, positioning this as a focused run/walk for a cause, not a competition centered on course records or elite athletes.

The Runaway Pumpkin 5K & Family Fest is a fall race morning held at Smith Track in Opechee Park, Laconia, New Hampshire. The main events include a timed 10K run, a 5K run/walk, and a Kids Fun Run on the track. The 10K and 5K begin at 9:00 a.m., with the children's race starting at 10:00 a.m. The event is designed for families and competitive runners alike. The 5K features age groups for participants under 12, while the 10K includes age groups from under 19 up to 70+. Awards are presented to the top three finishers overall and within each age category. Millenium Running provides chip timing, and results will be available online. All proceeds benefit the WOW Trail and the Greater Lakes Region Children's Auction.

The Florida Halloween Distance Classic takes place at Fort De Soto Park on Florida's Gulf coast, a short drive from downtown St. Petersburg. Participants can select a half marathon, 10K, or 5K, with early starts on a fast, flat road course. Costumes are encouraged but not required, and a costume contest with prizes is part of the event, accommodating both runners aiming for fast times and those in creative Halloween attire. All three races begin and end at North Beach within Fort De Soto Park. The course is an out-and-back route along park roads and trails through wooded areas, proceeding towards the island's southern tip and its easternmost point. Runners will encounter sections with white-sand beaches and water views, and minimal vehicle traffic allows for an open course time limit. The half marathon follows the same path as the Florida Beach Halfathon, and previous years have seen over a thousand finishers across all race distances.

The BONT Florida Inline Skating Marathon is an annual inline skating race weekend held at Nathan Benderson Park in Lakewood Ranch, near Sarasota, Florida. It takes place over a November weekend and features a marathon with two primary categories: a World Class category for professional, national-team, and elite skaters, and an Age Class category for advanced, fitness, novice, recreational, and beginner skaters. The event also includes the Foxtail Coffee 25k, the Astro Skate 13k, and the Florida Five-K Fun Skate, which is untimed. A virtual option allows skaters to select distances of 42k, 25k, 21k, 13k, 10k, or 5k. Mike Mason founded the event with a group of dedicated inline skaters, and it rapidly became Florida's largest skate race and one of the larger skate races in the United States. It is also an Associated Race of the World Inline Cup, marking the return of that circuit to the U.S. after a significant absence.

Rock and Run for the Rescue is an annual November race morning in North Port, Florida, featuring a 10K, a 5K, and a 1-mile Dog Jog, all starting at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. The 10K begins at 7:45 AM, followed by the 5K and Dog Jog at 8:00 AM. This event supports Rescue Garage and is designed for both runners and participants with dogs, not exclusively for typical road-race competitors. The course begins and ends within the park, proceeding onto gravel and grass trails before reaching paved roads near Big Slough Canal and Reisterstown Road. All finishers will receive medals, with the first 250 entrants assured one. The 5K and 10K races also offer overall and age-group awards, while the Dog Jog includes awards for small, medium, and large dogs. The event also features packet pickup, race-day registration (card or Apple Pay accepted), post-race refreshments, additional merchandise, and auction items, with all auction proceeds benefiting Rescue Garage.

The Gobbler 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon in Venice begins at Shamrock Park, with the start line situated on the path behind the Nature Center. This is a small-format road and path race offering three distances: a 5K, a 10K, and a 13.1-mile half marathon. All participants must register via RunSignup prior to race day; packet pickup occurs during a brief window on race morning before the start. The course consists of concrete and asphalt, featuring a straightforward out-and-back layout for each distance. The 5K covers the route once, the 10K twice, and the half marathon completes the out-and-back four times, all within a 3 hour 30 minute time limit. Participants receive medals, awards are presented, series points are awarded, and a best costume prize adds a playful holiday theme to the event.

St. Pete Run Fest is a three-day running festival in St. Petersburg, Florida, featuring a certified 13.1-mile half marathon as its primary race. The weekend also offers a 10K, 5K, Dog Walk, and children's races, catering to runners seeking a longer road race and families wanting a shorter event within the festival atmosphere. The half marathon course winds through St. Petersburg streets, incorporating the city’s artsy, street-art-filled setting. Post-race, the festival includes live music, craft beer and wine, and local vendors, creating a weekend street party atmosphere rather than a typical race morning. Good Sweat Foundation Inc., a Florida nonprofit, organizes the event; registration revenue supports operations, with optional contributions available.

The Veterans Day Freedom Run is a running event in the Tampa Bay area, originating in Bradenton, Florida, with the start located at Riverwalk. It takes place around Veterans Day and offers participants multiple distance options: 5K, 10K, and a half marathon. The event structure accommodates diverse participant groups, allowing both short-distance runners and half-marathon participants to compete on the same race day. It is listed on the Run Tampa calendar, which highlights in-person, chip-timed races within the region. The Veterans Day theme serves as the event's primary identifier.