Run Manatee - Rye Preserve 5K concludes a three-race 5K series focused on Manatee County’s parks, beaches, and preserves. This event is a 5K run/walk held at Rye Preserve in Parrish, Florida, featuring mixed terrain instead of a standard road course. The race accommodates various activity levels and includes a short kids’ Fun Run, a guided warmup, and a yoga cooldown.
The course follows Rye Preserve’s trail system, winding through sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, oak hammocks, and river habitat. These environments contribute to the event’s appeal, as the preserve is home to gopher tortoises and Florida scrub-jays, making the run feel more like a nature excursion than a typical neighborhood 5K. The day also features local food, vendors, awards for top male and female finishers and children 12 and under, and a donation presentation to Foundation for Dreams. Entry to the event, warmup, yoga, and fun run/walk are complimentary, but the 5K requires advance registration.