RCE Foundation's Spooktacular 5K
calendar_today October 31, 2026
location_on Lakeland, Central Florida
5K
Central Florida
Running in Lakeland, FL
Your local guide to races, running stores, and the Lakeland running community.
9
Upcoming Races
1
Running Store
Running in Lakeland at a Glance
wb_sunny Best Running Months
Oct – Apr
Cooler temperatures, lower humidity
thermostat Typical Weather
55–92°F
Year-round running climate
terrain Terrain
Flat
Road, trail, and beach routes
directions_run Popular Distances
5K & 10K
Most popular race distances
Fastest Lakeland Runners, 2026 Cross Country
Season bests from 18 Lakeland-area schools, including Mulberry, pulled from the Florida XC database.
directions_run High School
Boys · 5k Full list
| 1 | Aidan Alam '29 McKeel· 2A | 15:55 |
| 2 | Ryder Dempsey '29 Geneva Classical Academy· Independent | 15:57.2 |
| 3 | Benaiah Lawton '28 Geneva Classical Academy· Independent | 16:04.6 |
| 4 | Kayanni Walters '29 Geneva Classical Academy· Independent | 16:24 |
| 5 | Cal Howard '28 McKeel· 2A | 16:33 |
Girls · 5k Full list
| 1 | Emma Wilkinson '28 | 18:28.3 |
| 2 | Kennedy McDonald '28 Mulberry· 3A | 19:32.6 |
| 3 | Ella Feder '27 Geneva Classical Academy· Independent | 20:19 |
| 4 | Alison Knowles '30 George Jenkins· 4A | 20:45 |
| 5 | Sophie Yates '29 Geneva Classical Academy· Independent | 20:47 |
directions_run Middle School
Boys · 3k Full list
| 1 | Reed Corbett '32 | 10:46.7 |
| 2 | Sawyer Dempsey '31 Geneva Classical Academy· Independent | 10:59 |
| 3 | Taylor Bentley '33 | 11:10.8 |
| 4 | Wyatt Jones '32 McKeel· 2A | 12:35.1 |
| 5 | Sawyer Fox '32 | 12:48.0 |
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 Lakeland Running News
All news →
Cross Country · October 17, 2026
Weekend Recap: Mantecon Runs 14:24 at New World, Belen Goes One-Two-Three, and Gaona-Zelaya Wins the Showdown
Thursday through Saturday, October 15 to 17, meet by meet: Marcelo Mantecon set the New World Fall Spectacular course record at Cecil Field in 14:24 as Belen Jesuit went one-two-three and beat Nease for the team title, Natalia Gaona-Zelaya won the girls' Elite race over Annabella Tomasic and Emma Balaban as IMG Academy won the team race, Lakewood Ranch and Dunedin won at Clearwater Central Catholic, Fort Myers swept Lee County Under The Lights, and seven more meets around the state.
Cross Country · October 9, 2026
Florida's Top 10 Sixth-Grade Cross Country Runners in the 5K: Boys and Girls (October 2026)
James McDonald of Oak Hall and Adrianna Mattera of The Pine School lead Florida's sixth graders in the high school 5K. The top 10 boys and girls who are racing varsity and JV 5Ks at eleven years old.
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 23, 2026
Florida's Top Sixth-Grade Cross Country Runners: Boys and Girls Top 5
A sixth grader ran 18:09.6 in a varsity 5k at Buchholz, and another ran 11:25.5 for third of 257 in the middle school race at Spanish River. The top five sixth-grade boys and girls in Florida, from middle school 3ks and high school 5ks alike.
Cross Country · September 22, 2026
Florida's Best Elementary Cross Country Runners: Top Fives for K-2 and 3rd-5th Grade
Fourth grader Brody Milek ran 10:54 for 3k against middle schoolers, and Aliana Alvarez is three for three. Our elementary top fives, girls and boys, now split the way FLYRA races them: kindergarten through second grade, and third through fifth.
Cross Country · September 15, 2026
FLYRA Top Fives and the Team Race in Four Divisions: Florida Middle School and Elementary Cross Country
The five best middle schoolers and elementary runners on each side, then the FLYRA team race division by division: Public, Private, Charter and Club, with Red Sea and Tavares scored as one program and the jersey questions that will decide Lakeland.
Upcoming Races in Lakeland
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State XC Meet through Gulf Coast Runners
calendar_today October 31, 2026
location_on Lakeland, Central Florida
3K
InnerAct Alliance Red Ribbon Run
calendar_today October 31, 2026
location_on Lakeland, Central Florida
1K
Miles for Impact GHI Virtual 5k
calendar_today November 7, 2026
location_on Lakeland, Central Florida
5K
50th Lake to Lake 10k | Lakeland, FL
calendar_today November 7, 2026
location_on Lakeland, Central Florida
10K
White Elephant 5K/10K - Lakeland
calendar_today November 28, 2026
location_on Lakeland, Central Florida
10K5K
Holly Jolly Jingle Bell Jog 5k
calendar_today December 12, 2026
location_on Lakeland, Central Florida
5K
Freakin Freezin 5K - Lakeland
calendar_today January 16, 2027
location_on Lakeland, Central Florida
5K
Running Stores in Lakeland
All Florida stores →
Frequently Asked Questions About Running in Lakeland
What running races are in Lakeland, Florida? expand_more
Lakeland currently has 9 upcoming running races across distances including 5K, 3K, 1K, 10K. The next race is RCE Foundation's Spooktacular 5K on October 31, 2026. Browse the events listed above for registration links and full race details.
Where can I buy running shoes in Lakeland? expand_more
Lakeland has 1 specialty running store: Fleet Feet Lakeland. Services available include gait analysis, shoe fitting, apparel, accessories, group runs. See the stores section above for hours, locations, and contact info.
Are there running clubs or coaches in Lakeland? expand_more
Lakeland has an active running community. Check our full directory for local running clubs, coaches, and fitness groups near Lakeland.
What distances can I race in Lakeland? expand_more
Runners in Lakeland can choose from 4 distances: 5K, 3K, 1K, 10K. Whether you're looking for a quick 5K or training for a longer event, Lakeland has options for every level.
What is the best time of year to run in Lakeland, Florida? expand_more
The best running season in Lakeland 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. Lakeland currently has 9 races scheduled — most Florida races are concentrated in the cooler months.
Running in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is home to an active running community with 9 upcoming races this season. Whether you're training for your first 5K or chasing a marathon PR, Lakeland has the roads, trails, and community to support your goals.
Find your perfect pair at one of 1 running store in Lakeland. 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 Lakeland above, or see every upcoming race in Lakeland with filters for distance, surface, and race date. Running a race in Lakeland? Submit your event to get listed for free.