Name: 24th Annual Manatee River Run 2026 5 Mile RRCA-FL State Championship
Start: 2026-1-31T08-08-00-00
End: 2026-1-31T09-09-30-00
Location: Emerson Point Preserve

Emerson Point Preserve

4681 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL 34221

Events at this location

Event Organizer

january

sat31jan8:00 am9:30 am24th Annual Manatee River Run 2026 5 Mile RRCA-FL State Championship8:00 am - 9:30 am Emerson Point Preserve, 4681 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL 34221 Event Organized By: Bradeton Runners Club

Event Details

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Beautiful Emerson Point Preserve on Snead Island in Palmetto, Florida

AMAZING SHIRTS: The Manatee River Run features a soft and stylish moisture wicking long sleeve quarter zip shirt in both women’s and men’s sizes with a cool manatee design, professional chip timing, yummy snacks and drinks, and one of the most beautiful courses in the state. Shirt guarantee deadline is January 5, 2026. Register before 12/31/2025. Price increase on 1/1/2026.

AWESOME AWARDS: Overall female and male divisions will be awarded RRCA State Champion medals and Fleet Feet/New Balance gift cards as follows: $100 to Overall, $70 each to these masters divisions – Masters (40+), Grand Masters (50+), Senior Grand Masters (60+), Veteran Grand Master (70+). Age group medals will be awarded to winner in the following age groups: 9 & under, 10-12, 13-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+.

BEAUTIFUL COURSE: The 5 mile course at Emerson Point Preserve is a scenic adventure on a combination of hard shell-packed winding trails and paved road. From the course you will see a variety of native ecosystems including beaches, lagoons, salt marshes, mangrove swamps, tropical hardwood hammocks, and coastal strands.

GREAT CAUSE: The Bradenton Runners Club has hosted this event since 2000 and the proceeds fund the BRC scholarship program which benefits local distance runners planning to attend college or summer running camp. SIGN UP: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Palmetto/ManateeRiver5MileRun

Time

(Saturday) 8:00 am - 9:30 am

Location

Emerson Point Preserve

4681 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL 34221

Event Registration

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Organizer

Bradeton Runners ClubRae Ann at scholarships@bradentonrunnersclub.com

Event Organizer

sat28mar7:30 am9:30 amLakeland Runners Club Event4th Bonnet Springs Park 5k 2026Presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union7:30 am - 9:30 am Bonnet Springs Park Event Organized By: Lakeland Runners Club

sat09may7:00 pm9:00 pmLakeland Runners Club Event47th Mayfaire 5k Road Race & Walk 2026Presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Lake Mirror Auditorium, 121 S Lake Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801 Event Organized By: Lakeland Runners Club

sat13jun7:00 am9:00 amLakeland Runners Club Event31st Summer Sunrise Watermelon 5k | June 2026Presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union7:00 am - 9:00 am Lake Hollingsworth Park, 929 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803 Event Organized By: Lakeland Runners Club

Event Details

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.

Time

(Saturday) 7:00 am - 9:00 am

Location

Lake Hollingsworth Park

929 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803

Event Registration

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Organizer

Lakeland Runners ClubThe Lakeland Runners Club, Inc. is a nonprofit organization and member of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), whose mission is to promote running and fitness for runners of all ages and abilities in the community through fellowship, education and running events.races@lakelandrunnersclub.org PO Box 1484, Lakeland, FL 33802

sat11jul7:00 am9:00 amLakeland Runners Club Event31st Summer Sunrise Watermelon 5k | July 2026Presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union7:00 am - 9:00 am Lake Hollingsworth Park, 929 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803 Event Organized By: Lakeland Runners Club

Event Details

Let’s get #SweatyforScholarships

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.

Time

(Saturday) 7:00 am - 9:00 am

Location

Lake Hollingsworth Park

929 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803

Event Registration

Calendar GoogleCal

Organizer

sat08aug7:00 am9:00 amLakeland Runners Club Event31st Summer Sunrise Watermelon 5k | August 2026Presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union7:00 am - 9:00 am Lake Hollingsworth Park, 929 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803 Event Organized By: Lakeland Runners Club

Event Details

Let’s get #SweatyforScholarships

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.

Time

(Saturday) 7:00 am - 9:00 am

Location

Lake Hollingsworth Park

929 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33803

Event Registration

Calendar GoogleCal

Organizer

sat07nov7:30 am10:30 amLakeland Runners Club Event50th Lake to Lake 10k 2026 | RRCA National 10k ChampionshipPRESENTED BY MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION7:30 am - 10:30 am Lake Mirror Promendae, 121 S. Lake Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801 Event Organized By: Lakeland Runners Club