16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra
calendar_today December 27, 2026
location_on Fort Walton Beach, North Florida
36.8 Miles
North Florida
Running in Fort Walton Beach, FL
Your local guide to races, running stores, and the Fort Walton Beach running community.
5
Upcoming Races
1
Running Store
Running in Fort Walton Beach at a Glance
wb_sunny Best Running Months
Oct – Apr
Cooler temperatures, lower humidity
thermostat Typical Weather
45–92°F
Year-round running climate
terrain Terrain
Flat
Road, trail, and beach routes
directions_run Popular Distances
36.8 Miles & 5K
Most popular race distances
Fastest Fort Walton Beach Runners, 2026 Cross Country
Season bests from 6 Fort Walton Beach schools, pulled from the Florida XC database.
directions_run High School
Boys · 5k Full list
| 1 | Nolan Ibsen '27 | 17:26.4 |
| 2 | Ryan Linder '27 | 17:26.40 |
| 3 | Ammiel Silva '28 Choctawhatchee· 3A | 17:31.89 |
| 4 | Jordan Silva '29 | 17:32.26 |
| 5 | Nic Smith '29 | 17:42.70 |
Girls · 5k Full list
| 1 | Mia Jucha '30 | 20:04.7 |
| 2 | Charlotte Ibsen '30 | 21:49.9 |
| 3 | Delilah Jucha '29 | 21:56.40 |
| 4 | Lyla Scott '29 | 22:03.0 |
| 5 | Brooklynne Sansom '29 | 22:06.7 |
directions_run Middle School
Boys · 3k Full list
| 1 | Jaxson Warnecke '31 | 10:57.10 |
| 2 | Philip Higginbotham '32 | 11:04.70 |
| 3 | Camaal Reid '31 | 11:27.70 |
| 4 | Grayson Sansom '32 | 11:33.60 |
| 5 | Freddy Copening '31 | 11:49.90 |
Girls · 3k Full list
| 1 | Sophia Underwood '32 | 10:58.60 |
| 2 | Harper Atstupenas '32 | 12:02.60 |
| 3 | Ashton Ruiz '31 | 13:19.50 |
| 4 | Eden Neuman '31 | 13:35.30 |
| 5 | Ryann LeBlanc '31 | 13:38.83 |
Times are as run, on the course each athlete raced, so they are not course-adjusted. Regular season and postseason meets in the database only. Missing a school? Let us know.
Latest Fort Walton Beach Running News
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Cross Country · October 4, 2026
Weekend Recap: Mantecon Wins Great American in 14:35, Moss and McMenemy-Hoang Take flrunners, Ross Runs 15:59 as Ponte Vedra Edges Vanguard at Speziale
Thursday through Saturday, October 1 to 3, meet by meet: Marcelo Mantecon of Belen Jesuit wins the COROS Race of Champions at the Great American XC Festival in Cary in 14:35.9, the fastest time by a Florida boy this season, with Armando Cruz sixth and Belen second of 40 teams on a hilly, humid morning that slowed the rest of the Florida contingent. Will Moss and Eva McMenemy-Hoang win the Race of Champions titles at flrunners.com in Lakeland and Fort Myers and Chiles take the team races, Luke Ross runs 15:59 as Ponte Vedra beats Vanguard twice at the Craig Speziale Invitational, Jaxon Kiper returns with a 15:24 at Don Bishop, Brody Johnson beats Luis Rivera by half a second at Harmony, Lainee Mercer runs 18:24 at Wild Bulldog, and Madison Muller stays unbeaten at Venice. David Barton of Maclay runs a 22-second personal best of 15:28 at the Alexander Invitational in Georgia. Bishop Kenny's girls are 16th of 44 in the Nike XC Town Twilight Race of Champions in Indiana. Twenty-six meets and more than 20,800 results.
Cross Country · September 27, 2026
Weekend Recap: Strombeck and Hartley Win Bale-N-Trail, Gaona-Zelaya Runs 17:34, Muller Stays Unbeaten, and Osceola Sweeps Todd Howsare
Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26, meet by meet: JP Strombeck and Avery Hartley win the Elite races at Bale-N-Trail and Bolles takes the boys' title, Natalia Gaona-Zelaya runs 17:34.6 at the Stampede Sprint, Madison Muller wins Lakewood Ranch by 88 seconds, Axel Sallault wins West Orange, Osceola sweeps the Todd Howsare Memorial, and Arabella Duffell and Lake Minneola race in Huntsville.
Cross Country · September 23, 2026
Florida's Top Seventh-Grade Cross Country Runners: Boys and Girls Top 5
Colette Heffernan is unbeaten and the No. 1 middle school girl in Florida in any grade. The boys' top four project within four seconds of each other. The top five seventh-grade boys and girls in the state, from middle school 3ks and high school 5ks alike.
Cross Country · September 10, 2026
HOKA Nights of Thunder, Run Through the Race Simulator: Niceville Sweeps, Fort Walton Beach's Pack Is Second, and the Middle School Girls' Race Flips With the Toggle
We put every Florida team on the Nights of Thunder entry list into our Race Simulator and scored all four Saturday night races at Apalachee Regional Park. Niceville's boys win by 94 with Bryant Olson first, Niceville's girls by 27 on a pack that goes 6-7-12-13-14, Chiles is second in the girls' race with two of the first three, and the middle school girls' race changes winners depending on which clock you use.
Cross Country · September 10, 2026
HOKA Nights of Thunder Preview: Niceville and Chiles Meet Again on the State Course, Two Points Apart Since August
The No. 1 girls team in Florida and the team that finished two points behind it at Cecil Field are both entered at Apalachee Regional Park on Saturday night. Bryant Olson and Jonathan Kiros get a rematch, the No. 1 boys in 1A and 2A are in the same race, and Leon and Lincoln finally have something to show the 3A list. What every result would do to the rankings.
Cross Country · September 7, 2026
Week 3 Middle School Top 10s: Florida FLYRA Cross Country Rankings
RJ Destremps went under ten minutes at the Florida Horse Park, Colette Heffernan beat Alice Ilea in the first meeting of the top two girls, and four boys ran their way into the ten. FLYRA week 3 rankings, boys and girls.
Upcoming Races in Fort Walton Beach
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Fort Mardi Gras Fun 5k Run/Walk & Fest
calendar_today February 20, 2027
location_on Fort Walton Beach, North Florida
5K
Inaugural Race to Eden 5k
calendar_today February 27, 2027
location_on Fort Walton Beach, North Florida
5K1 Mile
Running Stores in Fort Walton Beach
All Florida stores →
Frequently Asked Questions About Running in Fort Walton Beach
What running races are in Fort Walton Beach, Florida? expand_more
Fort Walton Beach currently has 5 upcoming running races across distances including 36.8 Miles, 5K, 1 Mile. The next race is 16th Annual Round the Bay Relay and Ultra on December 27, 2026. Browse the events listed above for registration links and full race details.
Where can I buy running shoes in Fort Walton Beach? expand_more
Fort Walton Beach has 1 specialty running store: Run With It. Services available include shoe fitting, gait analysis, custom orthotics, running footwear, walking shoes. See the stores section above for hours, locations, and contact info.
Are there running clubs or coaches in Fort Walton Beach? expand_more
Fort Walton Beach has an active running community. Check our full directory for local running clubs, coaches, and fitness groups near Fort Walton Beach.
What distances can I race in Fort Walton Beach? expand_more
Runners in Fort Walton Beach can choose from 3 distances: 36.8 Miles, 5K, 1 Mile. Whether you're looking for a quick 5K or training for a longer event, Fort Walton Beach has options for every level.
What is the best time of year to run in Fort Walton Beach, Florida? expand_more
The best running season in Fort Walton Beach is October through April, when temperatures average 55–75°F with lower humidity. Summer months (June–September) are hot and humid, so runners should plan for early morning or evening runs and stay hydrated. Fort Walton Beach currently has 5 races scheduled — most Florida races are concentrated in the cooler months.
Running in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fort Walton Beach is home to an active running community with 5 upcoming races this season. Whether you're training for your first 5K or chasing a marathon PR, Fort Walton Beach has the roads, trails, and community to support your goals.
Find your perfect pair at one of 1 running store in Fort Walton Beach. Local specialty running stores offer professional shoe fitting, gait analysis, and expert advice to help you train smarter and race faster.
Browse all upcoming races in Fort Walton Beach above, or see every upcoming race in Fort Walton Beach with filters for distance, surface, and race date. Running a race in Fort Walton Beach? Submit your event to get listed for free.