Gare di 5K vicino a Lake Wales

Pink on Parade è una corsa/camminata di 5K e 1-mile per la comunità a Sebring, Florida, e il ritrovo è al 4200 Sun N Lake Boulevard. L'evento è legato alla AdventHealth Sebring Foundation e supporta chi è colpito dal cancro al seno: si corre o si cammina per onorare chi è in cura, celebrare i sopravvissuti e ricordare i propri cari che non ci sono più. Offre anche una 5K virtuale, così chi vuole supportare può partecipare anche senza essere sul Sebring course. La mattina della gara si inizia presto, con il ritiro del pettorale, una cerimonia di apertura e la partenza di entrambe le distanze in presenza alle 7:30 am. Questa è più una raccolta fondi per la comunità, con tutti in maglietta rosa, che un evento di gara vero e proprio, anche se ci sono premi dopo la corsa e la camminata. Le famiglie sono parte della giornata, con giochi e food truck dopo il percorso. Più di 300 uomini e donne hanno partecipato ogni anno negli ultimi sei anni, di solito indossando il loro abbigliamento più rosa. Dal 2017, l'evento ha destinato più di $275,000 all'AdventHealth Sebring Breast Center, contribuendo all'acquisto di tecnologia per la cura del seno e supportando le persone nelle contee di Hardee e Highlands che non possono permettersi gli screening per il cancro al seno.

Allora, c'è questo Faith and Freedom 5K, è una corsa/camminata per il Veterans Day a Sebring, Florida. Parte alle 8:00 del mattino, dentro l'Highlands Hammock State Park. L'organizzano i Bob's Vets of Highlands County, che sono una no-profit 501(c)(3) a base religiosa. La gara serve per onorare i veterani e dà ai runner e camminatori del posto la solita distanza di 5K. Il percorso è proprio lì, all'indirizzo del parco, su Hammock Road, così la gara resta legata a una delle aree all'aperto principali di Highlands County. I Bob's Vets, tra l'altro, usano le gite outdoor come terapia per i veterani disabili, offrendo escursioni di caccia, pesca e kayak con tutte le spese coperte. Come premi, ci sono delle "dog tags" personalizzate per i primi tre uomini e donne di ogni categoria d'età, e poi ci sono anche le categorie Overall Open, Master e Grand Master. Le fasce d'età vanno dai bambini piccoli fino ai partecipanti di 80 anni e più.

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.