Courses de 5K près de Lake Wales

Le Pink on Parade, c'est une course/marche de 5K et 1 Mile pour la communauté à Sebring, Florida, qui part du 4200 Sun N Lake Boulevard. La course est organisée par l'AdventHealth Sebring Foundation et ça soutient les personnes touchées par le cancer du sein : les participants courent ou marchent pour honorer ceux qui sont en traitement, célébrer les survivants et se souvenir de ceux qu'on a perdus. Ils proposent aussi un 5K virtuel, comme ça les gens peuvent participer même s'ils ne sont pas sur le parcours à Sebring. Le matin de la course, ça démarre tôt : tu as le retrait des dossards, une cérémonie d'ouverture, et les deux distances en présentiel qui partent à 7:30 am. C'est plus un événement pour la communauté, un truc pour lever des fonds avec tout le monde en rose, qu'une vraie course où ça frotte, même si tu as des récompenses après la course et la marche. Les familles sont aussi de la partie, avec des jeux et des food trucks après le parcours. Plus de 300 hommes et femmes ont participé chaque année ces six dernières années, et la plupart du temps, ils sont habillés le plus rose possible. Depuis 2017, l'événement a reversé plus de $275,000 au AdventHealth Sebring Breast Center, ce qui a aidé à acheter du matériel pour le dépistage et à soutenir les habitants des comtés de Hardee et Highlands qui n'ont pas les moyens de se faire dépister pour le cancer du sein.

Le Faith and Freedom 5K, c'est une course/marche organisée pour le Veterans Day à Sebring, en Floride. Le départ est à 8h du matin, dans le Highlands Hammock State Park. C'est Bob's Vets of Highlands County qui organise ça, une association à but non lucratif 501(c)(3) à caractère religieux. L'idée, c'est de rendre hommage aux vétérans et de proposer aux coureurs et marcheurs du coin un 5K classique. Le parcours se trouve à l'adresse du parc, sur Hammock Road. Ça permet de garder l'événement connecté à un des principaux espaces de plein air de Highlands County. Bob's Vets se sert d'ailleurs des sorties en plein air comme thérapie pour les vétérans handicapés, en finançant des excursions de chasse, de pêche et de kayak tous frais payés. Côté récompenses, il y aura des plaques militaires personnalisées pour les trois premiers hommes et femmes dans chaque catégorie d'âge, ainsi que pour les catégories Overall Open, Master et Grand Master. Les catégories vont des jeunes enfants aux participants de 80 ans et plus.

The Battle Buddy 5K is a 3.1-mile run and walk in Kissimmee, Florida, starting from 201 Lakeview Dr. Victoria Helping Veterans, Inc. hosts this event on a Saturday morning. The entry fee is $25, with a start window from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST. The event focuses on supporting veterans, not on speed or exclusivity. All levels of runners and walkers are welcome. All proceeds benefit Victoria Helping Veterans, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing emergency assistance, resources, and community outreach to veterans and their families. The name “Battle Buddy” signifies loyalty, trust, and the principle of mutual support.

The Jingle Bell 5K Fun Run is a holiday-season 5K, with a 1K fun run option, held at Santa Rita Middle School in Liberty Hill. The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce organizes it as a community fundraiser for LHEF and LHISD schools; a recent running saw nearly 600 participants. The course proceeds from the school onto local streets, focusing on participation over racing. Participants often wear Christmas outfits, and the event awards prizes for the best dressed, making Santa hats, bells, and festive costumes as common as running shoes.

The Jingle Bell 5K and Kids Santa Fun Run begins and ends at The Historic Jacaranda Hotel in downtown Avon Park, Florida. This holiday evening event features a one-block kids’ race at 6:30 p.m. and a 5K run/walk at 7:00 p.m. For over 20 years, the race has been a fixture of Avon Park’s Christmas season, centered on running, walking, children racing Santa, and gathering gifts for local children in foster care. The 5K course winds through Avon Park’s mile-long decorated mall. Runners begin first, followed by walkers, and then special needs and IDD children and adults. The event supports The Who I Am Foundation, benefiting local foster care children and those with special needs. Participants with special needs from Ridge Area ARC and the surrounding community are included, with reduced entry fees and free participation for their caregivers. Kids in the Fun Run get a goodie bag, all participants receive a swag bag at registration and a Christmas ornament at the finish, and new pajamas are collected on race night for foster care children via Heartland for Children and Worthy and Known Family Project.

Santa Hustle Orlando is a December holiday run held at SeaWorld, located at 8000 Fins Up Circle in Kissimmee, Florida. This event is part of the Santa Hustle Race Series and features a 10K, 5K, and Kids Dash. The main races commence in the morning, following the Kids Dash. The event is designed for both runners and walkers, welcoming participants of all ages and ability levels. The course is a road race within a park-like setting, offering fast, flat terrain suitable for beginners or those seeking a relaxed, enjoyable run. Field sizes typically range from 100 to 500 participants. The Santa theme is central to the event: participants often run or walk in Santa attire, holiday music is played along the route, and candy canes and cookies are provided on the course.

The AdventHealth Nighthawk Trail Run takes place at Colt Creek State Park in Lakeland, Florida. Runners begin in the late afternoon and conclude after sunset. Participants can choose between the Night Owl 5K Run/Walk, the Coyote 10K, or the Nighthawk Challenge, a 15K combining the 5K and 10K on the trails after dark. Remote participation options are available for those wishing to complete a 5K, 10K, or 15K outside the park. All routes within the park are loops on unpaved trails. 5K participants are required to use a headlamp at the start. The event caters to trail runners, walkers, and those seeking a challenge, distinct from a road-racing audience. Park entry is managed via a day pass or a Florida State Parks annual pass. All participants receive a cotton race shirt, and all finishers are awarded a medal. Nighthawk Challenge finishers receive an additional bonus medal for completing both distances.

Run for the Cherubs is an annual 5K and walk supporting Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, offering a virtual 5K option for remote participation. The Graham J. Cowan Foundation hosts the event, raising funds in Graham’s memory for the hospital’s services for women, babies, and families. The race centers on remembrance and running. The foundation shares Graham’s story with families who have experienced loss, providing a space for them to gather, walk, run, and support each other through grief. Over $54,000 has been raised for Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies via the foundation.

The Hunt for Sasquatch is a Polk County trail race at Bone Valley, presented by Polk County Parks and Recreation. Participants can select 10K, 5K, or 1-mile distances, with each option featuring a color run and a Sasquatch-spotting theme. The event focuses on short off-road racing, suitable for families, casual runners, and trail runners seeking a less intense format. The appeal lies in the combination of trail running, color throws, and the Sasquatch hunt setup.

The AdventHealth Orange Blossom Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K take place in Frostproof, a town on the Lake Wales Ridge in South Central Florida. Participants can select a half marathon, 10K, 5K run/walk, or a virtual option. The Orange Blossom Challenge is also available, which is a 15K event combining the 10K and 5K races. The course features gently rolling, hard-packed red clay roads that wind through active citrus groves and older grove land, offering a distinct Florida character away from beaches or cityscapes. The finish line is at Frostproof Middle-Senior High School. Post-race amenities include BBQ, snacks, beverages, and Florida orange juice. Frostproof is accessible from Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida, making the event suitable for a local race or a weekend getaway.