5K races near The Villages

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.

The AdventHealth Great Floridian Multisport Festival takes place over two days in October at Waterfront Park in Clermont, Florida, a World Triathlon Destination. The main event is the full-distance Great Floridian Triathlon, which has been held continuously in the continental United States longer than any other full-distance triathlon. The schedule also includes half-distance, sprint, duathlon, aquabike, aquathlon, relay, run, walk, and virtual race options. The most unique event is the Triple Triathlon, requiring athletes to complete three sprint triathlons consecutively. Triple Duathlon, Triple Aquabike, and Triple Triathlon Relay options are also available. The weekend begins with a 15K and 5K Run/Walk on the South Lake Trail for runners, and teams can participate in various relay categories.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The Hunger Run 5K takes place at Waterfront Park in Clermont, Florida. Participants, including runners, walkers, families, and their supporters, convene near Lake Minneola for a community race focused on a local cause: combating hunger in the Clermont area. The course follows the shoreline of Lake Minneola, offering a straightforward waterfront route. Proceeds from registration and donations benefit River Clermont Food Distribution, a ministry assisting families and individuals experiencing food insecurity, thereby linking the race to tangible support for local residents.

5K with the 5-0 is a 5K held in Oakland, Florida, organized by the Oakland Police Department and directly supporting its community programs. The event offers an in-person 5K, a virtual 5K, and a no-swag entry option, allowing runners and walkers to select their preferred participation method. Packet pickup occurs at the police department prior to race day and again on race morning. Parking, including handicap parking, is directed to Oakland Charter School. The route begins at the police department entrance, proceeds north on Winter Landing Drive, and connects to the West Orange Trail. Participants will run west to the entrance of the Oakland Nature Preserve, turn around, and return to finish at the police department. Water stations are located around the one-mile and two-mile marks. Vendors will be present in the police department parking lot. All finishers receive a medal, and age-group awards are presented to the top three finishers.