Community Calendar

July 4th marks our Nation’s birthday, the middle of summer, and THE HOTTEST 5K PARTY IN LAKELAND!! Get out your most red, white and blue running and walking gear and come celebrate America’s birthday at FITniche! Join your friends in kicking off your day off with a 5k, and FREE PANCAKES!! In addition to the pancakes, you have the choice to pick an awesome shirt, a headband, or a beach towel, fun finisher’s medal, complimentary root beers, and a brew from neighboring Brass Tap! We will also have a “Lil’ Firecracker Run” for the kids, and encourage team participation!

NEW FOR 2019: Virtual Option and choice in swag!

Going away for the holiday, but still want to participate? Click the virtual option to have your race goodies mailed to you so that you can still join the fun! You also get to choose your race swag this year! We heard from participants that you all have too many shirts! Well this year we are giving you an option to get something else! Junk Brand headbands, a race shirt, or a fun beach towel!

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.  Your mission is to get faster with each race.  So ask yourself:  #CanYouBeatTheHeat

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.

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, and funded ten $1,500 scholarships for May 2019 graduates. Lakeland Runners Club, Inc. has donated $67,000 for scholarships since 2012.

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.  Your mission is to get faster with each race.  So ask yourself:  #CanYouBeatTheHeat

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.

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, and funded ten $1,500 scholarships for May 2019 graduates. Lakeland Runners Club, Inc. has donated $67,000 for scholarships since 2012.

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?

There is a post-race party and awards ceremony at Fresco’s Basement, 132 South Kentucky Ave, Lakeland.  7:30 pm – 10:00 pm.

The Aching Quad Four Race Challenge was established in 2006.

The second 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. Race will start at the Yacht Club and go around Lake Hollingsworth. Details about the race will be emailed to all participants at least a month before the race.

For sponsorship opportunities e-mail michellem@leptclinics.com.

The 2018 Double Down 5k will be held on a portion of the Three Parks Trail in Curtis Peterson Park.  The course will be a double loop along Westover and the trail connecting the park to New Jersey for multiple opportunities to see the competition and your friends.  See Course Information for a course map.  The race will be chip timed.

The Double Down 5k was started in 2017.

The Double Down 5k will be a collection site for specific pantry items for Kids Pack, a  nonprofit organization with a simple mission – to feed kids.

In addition to the items collected on race day, Lakeland Runners Club will make a donation for each finisher of the Double Down 5k.

Use coupon code SUMMER19 for $5 off the 5K and 1-mile race options.

5K and 1-Mile Race Starts – 6:30pm Kids Races start at 7:15pm

The 8th Annual Joggin’ for the Noggin! 5K presented by Regal Lakeland in partnership with Florida Blue benefits Polk State College students and promises to be a fun and SCARY, Halloween themed race – because Polk County would be a SCARY place without Polk State. In its eighth year, this family-friendly event offers a little something for everyone. Participants can run, jog, or walk the 3.1-mile course that includes pavement on the Polk State campus and a trek along the Fort Fraser Trail. The 1 – Mile Walkin’ while Talkin’ sponsored by Citizens Bank & Trust is an option for those not ready to fully engage in a 5K. This race will be chip timed and awards will be presented to the top 3 in standard 5-year age groups, overall male and female, masters and grand masters. Runners are encouraged to wear costumes. This is a family friendly race and will include spooky and fun activities for all ages. Great food for race participants. Adult and children’s costume contest will take place during the Monster Mash. Proceeds from Joggin’ for the Noggin! 5K will benefit student scholarships and programs on the Lakeland campus.

For more information on Joggin’ for the Noggin! 5K, please contact Marianne George at 863.292.3741 or e-mail at mgeorge@polk.edu.

Packet Pickup will be at the Polk State College Lakeland Campus on Thursday, October 17 5pm – 7:30pm.

Race Day packet pickup and on-site registration will be 4pm – 6:15pm. Packets can be picked up in the LTB auditorium.

The Lake to Lake 10k is run on a certified course (FL09124EBM).  The race will be chip timed. 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.

See race information for seeded athlete entry.

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.

InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce an exciting change in the Red Ribbon Run Event for 2019! This year we will offer a 15k rather than a Half Marathon which we believe will enable more athletes to run/walk and families to catch ALL the races that day.

We will continue to have the 5k and the Kids Fun Run and we will be encouraging teams from corporations, organizations, and even neighborhoods to compete in the 2019 TEAM Challenge. As many as 10 runners can compete per team and the winning teams will be determined by the top 4 scores. This is a great team building and conditioning opportunity.