Santa's Run Fest
calendar_today December 19, 2026
location_on Winter Haven, Central Florida
15K10K5K800 Yards
Central Florida
Running in Winter Haven, FL
Your local guide to races, running stores, and the Winter Haven running community.
2
Upcoming Races
0
Running Stores
Running in Winter Haven 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
10K & 5K
Most popular race distances
Fastest Winter Haven Runners, 2026 Cross Country
Season bests from 24 Winter Haven-area schools, including Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Eagle Lake, Haines City, Lake Alfred and Lake Wales, pulled from the Florida XC database.
directions_run High School
Boys · 5k Full list
| 1 | Gabriel Harris '27 Lake Wales· 3A | 15:25 |
| 2 | Max Zellers '27 Lake Wales· 3A | 17:11 |
| 3 | Devion Pinckney '27 Winter Haven· 4A | 17:56.8 |
| 4 | Maxx De La Cruz '27 Winter Haven· 4A | 18:06.7 |
| 5 | Julius Handford '27 Winter Haven· 4A | 18:29.24 |
Girls · 5k Full list
| 1 | Charlotte Roy '31 All Saints'· 1A | 18:00 |
| 2 | Kylie Cook '31 All Saints'· 1A | 19:04.15 |
| 3 | Lindsey Cook '28 All Saints'· 1A | 20:29.94 |
| 4 | Savannah Simonds '32 All Saints'· 1A | 20:39 |
| 5 | Melody Lopez '30 Winter Haven· 4A | 21:19.61 |
directions_run Middle School
Boys · 3k Full list
| 1 | Aayson Canto '31 | 12:15.80 |
| 2 | Khalil Henry '31 | 12:24.20 |
| 3 | Rafael Miranda '31 | 12:24.6 |
| 4 | Wilfredo Nieves '33 | 12:35.00 |
| 5 | Niam Hren '33 All Saints'· 1A | 12:39 |
directions_run Elementary
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 Winter Haven Running News
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Cross Country · October 12, 2026
Weekend Recap: Pre-State Is Off, Episcopal Wins JAC, Sallault and Thompson Roll, and LaBelle Takes the Sugar Run at Clewiston
Thursday through Saturday, October 8 to 10, meet by meet: with Pre-State canceled for Hurricane Isaias, Episcopal's girls won the JAC Invitational over Bishop Kenny and Nease as Jillian Jakab won the race, Axel Sallault and Quentin Thompson won at South Marion and Wildwood, Spanish River swept the individual titles at Snake Bite while Columbus won the boys' team race, Bolles was eighth in the Eastern States Championship at Manhattan, and LaBelle won the boys' title at the Clewiston XC Sugar Run Invite, with photos from Dr. Bob Cooke.
Cross Country · October 9, 2026
Florida's Top 10 Eighth-Grade Cross Country Runners in the 5K: Boys and Girls (October 2026)
Javier Parker of Doral Academy and Charlotte Roy of All Saints' lead Florida's eighth graders in the high school 5K. The top 10 boys and girls, with Taylor Geraghty second after a runner-up finish at the Great American XC Festival.
Cross Country · September 23, 2026
Florida's Top Eighth-Grade Cross Country Runners: Boys and Girls Top 5
The two fastest eighth graders in Florida race varsity 5ks: Zamari Blumenberg of Holy Trinity and Charlotte Roy of All Saints'. The top five eighth-grade boys and girls in the state, from middle school 3ks and high school 5ks alike.
Cross Country · September 12, 2026
Weekend Recap: Bishop Kenny Opens With a Sweep at Buchholz, Gaona-Zelaya Makes It Four Straight, and Nease Runs Its Five in the JV Race
Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, meet by meet: Bishop Kenny's girls open their season with four in the top seven and a 29-point win at the Buchholz Bobcats Classic, and the Bishop Kenny boys win too. Natalia Gaona-Zelaya wins the Astronaut Invitational by 47 seconds over the 2A state champion, her fourth win in four races. Lake Brantley's Avalyn Thompson and Daniel Georgiev go three for three at Spruce Creek, eighth grader Kylie Cook runs 19:04 to win the JT Memorial, and Nease's top five run the JV race together in Gainesville. Plus Fort Myers, Land O' Lakes, Frostproof, King's Academy, Benjamin, Wildwood and the Tiger Open. Updated Sunday with six more meets: Isaiah Howdeshell and Katelin Wilcox win at Seffner Christian, lightning cancels the Nights of Thunder varsity races, and Luke Lomoriello runs 9:42 at the Gulf Coast Stampede.
Cross Country · September 1, 2026
Middle Schoolers Racing Varsity: Florida's Top 5 in Every Grade, Boys and Girls
An eighth grader finished second at the Kowboy behind the defending 2A state champion. A seventh grader won a varsity race outright in Cape Coral. Two sixth graders ended August one second apart without ever meeting. The top five middle schoolers in every grade, boys and girls, racing Florida high school cross country.
Cross Country · August 28, 2026
Kowboy XC Invitational Preview: Gateway and St. Cloud Return Everyone. Only One of Them Has Raced.
Gateway and St. Cloud both return all seven boys they ran in Kissimmee last August, and only one of them has been on a starting line in 2026. Boone's girls win every version of the math without running a step — and Arabella Duffell is entered with the meet record in reach.
Upcoming Races in Winter Haven
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Frequently Asked Questions About Running in Winter Haven
What running races are in Winter Haven, Florida? expand_more
Winter Haven currently has 2 upcoming running races across distances including 15K, 10K, 5K, 800 Yards. The next race is Santa's Run Fest on December 19, 2026. Browse the events listed above for registration links and full race details.
Where can I buy running shoes in Winter Haven? expand_more
While there are no specialty running stores listed in Winter Haven yet, check our full Florida running store directory for the nearest options.
Are there running clubs or coaches in Winter Haven? expand_more
Winter Haven has an active running community. Check our full directory for local running clubs, coaches, and fitness groups near Winter Haven.
What distances can I race in Winter Haven? expand_more
Runners in Winter Haven can choose from 4 distances: 15K, 10K, 5K, 800 Yards. Whether you're looking for a quick 5K or training for a longer event, Winter Haven has options for every level.
What is the best time of year to run in Winter Haven, Florida? expand_more
The best running season in Winter Haven 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. Winter Haven currently has 2 races scheduled — most Florida races are concentrated in the cooler months.
Running in Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is home to an active running community with 2 upcoming races this season. Whether you're training for your first 5K or chasing a marathon PR, Winter Haven has the roads, trails, and community to support your goals.
Browse all upcoming races in Winter Haven above, or see every upcoming race in Winter Haven with filters for distance, surface, and race date. Running a race in Winter Haven? Submit your event to get listed for free.