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 (FL15070EBM).  All races are chip timed.  Cumulative results from the three races are used to determine official results.

The first series was run in 1996.

As our community joins the nation in commemorating the lives lost that day on 9/11, we will also be remembering and honoring the many public safety professionals who have lost their lives this past year,  as we host our 5th annual Lakeland Police Foundation Fallen Heroes Memorial 5K in Lakeland. During this year’s race, all in attendance will have the opportunity to run/walk in honor of the 9/11 victims, all former and presently serving members of our armed forces and our nation’s fallen law enforcement officers, including our seven fallen heroes at the Lakeland Police Department.

The Annual Fallen Heroes Memorial 5K run generates funds to maintain Lakeland’s Fallen Heroes Memorial and to support the families of police officers in their moments of need, just as they support us in our greatest moments of need.

The Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida is going live with the inaugural POWer in Pink 5k at Tiger Town Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, FL on Saturday, September 18, 2021!

Together we can help local, Central Florida breast cancer patients, and their families, pack a POWerful PUNCH to situational poverty, stemming from a breast cancer diagnosis! Proceeds will help provide non-medical financial assistance for necessary household expenses, while a breast cancer patient is in active treatment and additional assistance for each child in the home of the patient.

Awards will be given out to the Male and Female Overall, Masters (40+) and Grand Masters (50+) winners, and also top three Male & Female in the standard 5 year age groups (9 & Under, 10-14, 15-19… up to 80+). Best “pink-i-fied” dressed male and female participants will also receive a special award!

The POWer in Pink – 26.2 Virtual Month-Long Marathon Challenge is also available during the month of September. Information for the virtual challenge is located at the same event link.

The fourth annual 5k is being presented by Leading Edge to benefit Take Heart Project. Take Heart will use the funds raised by this event to provide housing, education, job training, and medical care to women and young teenage girls and will aid in the prevention of these women and girls falling victim to human trafficking, disease, and poverty. The race will be at Lake Hollingsworth.

Conquer four races in 24 hours! All races will be chip timed. Cumulative results from the four races are used to determine official results.  All courses are on pavement or sidewalk and are generally flat. The two-mile course does reward participants with a tough little hill near the finish. The first 5k is around Lake Hollingsworth. The one-mile race is around Lake Morton. The two-mile race is around Lake Hunter. The final 5k repeats the course around Lake Hollingsworth. Can you run the Saturday 5K faster than you did the Friday 5K?

The Aching Quad Four Race Challenge was established in 2006.

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.

A portion of the proceeds from the Lake to Lake 10k will benefit the YMCA of West Central Florida.

Find your holiday spirit at the Holly Jolly Jingle Bell Jog 5k & Reindeer Dash Kids Run this year at Three Parks Trail on December 11th!

Holiday attire and cheer are welcome!!

Winter Haven Optimist Club proudly presents the Santa’s Run Fest – A Run for Our Kids runs along Winter Haven’s past famous Citrus Classic course. Choose a Half Marathon, 10k or 5k and be stunned by one of Florida’s most beautiful, classic run courses! The Start and Finish will be located Close to the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Building in Downtown Winter Haven, FL.

Winter Haven is a beautiful city of approximately 35,000 friendly folks. As the Chamber of Commerce mentions, “To some we’re the perfect haven from the harsh winter months up North, and to others we are the opportunity to be involved in a town with over 55 lakes to enjoy with fantastic sunrises and sunsets over the water” …AND an absolutely superb terrain for running.

These courses include gentle rises, enough to cause pressure for the advanced competitors but not so much to frustrate the average person. This trek will pass by three pristine lakes and many lovely holiday decorated homes. It will be well marked with security and volunteers all along the route. The Half Marathon route will additionally take runners out and back along the TRAIL (about 3.5 miles) with additional water stops and volunteers along the way.

Runners will receive a custom shirt (sizes guaranteed if pre-registered before November 28, 2021), a custom bib, and a finisher medal when you cross the line on race day! Race packets will also include goodies from race sponsors.

Join us for a scenic twilight run around beautiful Lake Hollingsworth and then up Buckingham Avenue to finish next to Common Ground Playground (our beneficiary).

Wider start-the first mile will be run in the street before moving onto the Lake Hollingsworth trail.

Finisher medals to the first 700. M/F age groups are “under 10”, “over 80”, and all five year groups in between. M/F overall, masters and grandmasters plaques.

Bib chip timing by FitNiche Events.

Long-sleeved ladies, unisex and youth tech shirts.

Kids fun zone, fun dashes with glo-stick bracelets and more.