Community Calendar

Let’s get #SweatyforScholarships

Proceeds from the Summer Sunrise Watermelon Series goes towards scholarships for Polk County graduates administered through the Polk Education Foundation. The Lakeland Runners Club has contributed to the PEF since 2012 – the list of scholarship recipients is available on the LRC website.

The Summer Sunrise Watermelon Race Series was born out of a desire to have low-cost local races during the hot summer months when it can be hard to stay motivated. The series has become an established venue for competition and an annual celebration of fitness. It continues to be popular with both experienced and casual runners alike. Many of the local high school cross country teams use it as a tune-up for their season. The series is comprised of three 5K (3.1 mile) races, each race hotter than the last.  All are run around Lake Hollingsworth, which is flat and conducive to fast times.

The Summer Watermelon 5k is run on a certified course.  All races are chip timed.  Cumulative results from the three races are used to determine official results.

The first series was run in 1996.

Join us on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland for the Leading Edge Take Heart 10K/5K! This race is more than just miles—it’s about changing lives. Every runner’s bib features the story of a student in Kenya that Take Heart Africa supports, and by scanning the QR code you can learn more and even give directly to their education.

The race includes a scenic course through downtown Lakeland, chip timing, finisher medals, overall and age group awards, and a vibrant finish line celebration on Lake Mirror. Proceeds benefit Take Heart Africa’s mission of transforming the lives of orphans and widows in rural Kenya through education and entrepreneurship.

Come run for a cause, enjoy the community, and make every step count!

The ROAR FLORIDA 5K is a chip-timed road race held at the Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida.

This course offers a unique race environment, taking runners through the active grounds of one of the largest aviation expos in the United States. Participants will run through the heart of the Sun ‘n Fun campus, surrounded by aircraft displays, aviation infrastructure, and open runway and tarmac sections.

This is also a color run, so come ready to stand out. Wear your most colorful outfit, get creative, and expect bursts of color along the course. Whether you’re racing for time or running for the experience, this is your chance to bring the energy and make the course as vibrant as the mission behind it. The course is flat and fast, making it suitable for competitive runners seeking a strong 5K time, while remaining accessible for walkers and recreational participants.

Proceeds from this event support ROAR FLORIDA and its mission to provide inclusive living and community opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Awards & Recognition Overall Awards Top 3 Male Finishers Top 3 Female Finishers Age Group Awards 1st Place male and female in each age group (10 & under, 11–19, 20–29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+) Note: The fastest male and female finishers in each age category will receive an award. (Overall finishers are excluded from age category awards)

The TICK TOCK ULTRA is your 12-hour and 6-hour lake-lapping challenge. You will start at 7:00 a.m. traveling along a paved walkway that frames beautiful Lake Hollingsworth as you challenge yourself to log as many 2.84-mile laps as possible before the race concludes.

HOT GRILLED FOOD @ The Runners Village! Starting with pancakes then hotdogs & hamburgers then quesadilla’s and smoked/grilled chicken! Starting about 3pm is smoked Pork Butt and Brisket! Also all the normal treats you’d see at any Ultra, soda/pop, pickles, snack bars etc!

This unique event is limited to the first 200 entrants! This is a hard cap! 200 max runners so reserve your spot by registering TODAY!
REGISTER BY SEPT 1ST 2026 TO GUARANTEE SHIRT SIZE AND HAVE YOUR NAME PRINTED ON YOUR BIB!

Want to Try It as a Team? — Register for the TickTock Ultra RELAY! For those who want the challenge and experience of participating in an 12-hour ultra marathon event, but don’t want to log the miles alone, the Tick Tock Ultra Relay allows teams of 3 to 5 to log as many laps as they can as a TEAM. One runner per team is allowed on the course at a time. Teams compete to see how many laps they can log cumulatively in 12 hours. Each member of teams completing at least 10 laps receives a Tick Tock Ultra Award. Each member of the overall winning team and 2nd place team ALSO wins a trophy. RELAY IS LIMITED TO 20 TEAMS ONLY

AWARDS:
Top 3 of the 6 & 12 Hour races male & female will receive Overall Awards
The next over 40 male & female runners will receive the Master awards
Each runner or relay team finishing 10 laps will receive finisher awards
Top 2 relay teams will receive Overall Relay Awards

Portions of every entry will go to the Pheel Good Foundation, the creators of this race!

Join us for a fun, Halloween-themed race around beautiful Lake Hollingsworth while supporting the mission of the RCE Foundation, which helps provide financial assistance to families of children with special needs. 👻 Costumes are encouraged, so bring your Halloween spirit!

The LRC will celebrate the 50th running of the Lake to Lake 10k in 2026.  The race has also been designated the RRCA National 10k Championship.

The 10k is the oldest annual race in Polk County and runs through the Lakeland chain of lakes and historic Lake Morton district, encompassing three lakes during the course. The Lake to Lake 10k is run on a certified course (FL19044TY).  The race will be chip timed.

The Lake to Lake 10k was founded in 1977.

This is a Valentine-themed community-driven event to bring together runners, families, and neighbors for a morning of fitness, fun, and local impact. Proceeds from the 5K support the Bartow Community Service Center and Junior Service League of Bartow in their efforts to provide food assistance, emergency resources, and essential services to families in need throughout our community.

Polk Senior Games is a non-profit organization that presents an annual two-week series of Olympic-style sports and games for men and women 50 years of age and over. The Games inspire an active lifestyle, combine an interest in sports and games with fun and fellowship, promote a positive image of seniors and recognize their efforts and achievements, and encourage volunteerism. Polk Senior Games begins on Saturday February 28 and ends on Saturday March 13. Registration begins January 1,

Competition, held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Track, Road Race 5K,  and Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division. $12 for first event; $5 for each additional event up to a maximum $35. Some events have extra facility fees.

Track events include 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, & 1500m by gender and age.

Call 863-533-0055 for the entry booklet to be mailed the first week of January or register online.

Polk Senior Games is an annual two-week series of 33 Olympic-style sports and games for men and women 50 years of age and over. Registration begins January 1. The Games inspire an active lifestyle, combine an interest in sports and games with fun and fellowship, promote a positive image of seniors and recognize their efforts and achievements, and encourage volunteerism. Competition, held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Archery, Bag Toss, Basketball Shooting, Billiards, Bocce, Bowling including Team Bowling, Bridge, Chess, Cribbage, Ballroom and Social Dancing, Darts, Euchre, Field Events, Fishing, Golf 18 Hole Singles, Mixed Doubles & Putt & Chip, Horseshoes, Pepper, Pickleball, Punt Pass Kick, Road Race 5K, Scrabble, Senior Smarts, Shooting – 5-Stand, Pistol, Rifle, Skeet, Sporting Clays & Trap, Shuffleboard, Softball, Sudoku, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track, and Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division.

Polk Senior Games is a non-profit organization that presents an annual two-week series of Olympic-style sports and games for men and women 50 years of age and over. The Games inspire an active lifestyle, combine an interest in sports and games with fun and fellowship, promote a positive image of seniors and recognize their efforts and achievements, and encourage volunteerism. Polk Senior Games begins on Saturday February 28 and ends on Saturday March 13. Registration begins January 1,

Competition, held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Track, Road Race 5K,  and Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division. $12 for first event; $5 for each additional event up to a maximum $35. Some events have extra facility fees.

Call 863-533-0055 for the entry booklet to be mailed the first week of January or register online.

Polk Senior Games is an annual two-week series of 33 Olympic-style sports and games for men and women 50 years of age and over. Registration begins January 1. The Games inspire an active lifestyle, combine an interest in sports and games with fun and fellowship, promote a positive image of seniors and recognize their efforts and achievements, and encourage volunteerism. Competition, held at various locations throughout Polk County, is offered in Archery, Bag Toss, Basketball Shooting, Billiards, Bocce, Bowling including Team Bowling, Bridge, Chess, Cribbage, Ballroom and Social Dancing, Darts, Euchre, Field Events, Fishing, Golf 18 Hole Singles, Mixed Doubles & Putt & Chip, Horseshoes, Pepper, Pickleball, Punt Pass Kick, Road Race 5K, Scrabble, Senior Smarts, Shooting – 5-Stand, Pistol, Rifle, Skeet, Sporting Clays & Trap, Shuffleboard, Softball, Sudoku, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track, and Walking. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division.