Flatwoods 5K
About This Event
About the Flatwoods 5K. The Flatwoods 5K is touted by many local runners as Gainesville’s most beautiful, memorable 5K venue, run just after sunrise on a scenic limerock loop road around UF's Austin Cary Forest (10625 NE Waldo Rd, Gainesville, FL 32609). The sights, sounds, and smells of the Forest, shared with friends and family, are sure to create lasting memories. Race proceeds support forestry education and outreach to help sustain Florida's natural heritage.
The race is chip timed by Start2Finish Race Management. The course is accurately measured (but not USATF certified), with mile markers. There is a water station at the halfway point, and post-race refreshments. Strollers are welcome, but please note the road is unpaved. Note also that parking and the starting line will be approximately 2 miles (5-8 min. drive) from the main gate on Waldo Rd.
Start time is **8:30 AM. **
**Registration and race t-shirt. **Registration is $20. Runners 12 years and under race for free. You can purchase a race t-shirt for an additional $15. T-shirt orders will stop two weeks before race day - October 18.
Early registration ends Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 11:59 pm. You can register on site, but given that there will be many people checking in, it's best to do it early.
Early Packet pickup will be **THURSDAY October 30 **from 4:30 to 7:00 at First Magitude Brewing Company. (1220 SE Veitch St, Gainesville, FL 32601). Participants can also pick up their packet 7:00 am to 8:15 am at the Austin Cary Forest on race day.
**Pine cone trophies **made from native longleaf, loblolly and slash pine cones go to top open and masters runners, and top 3 in all five-year age/gender groups. All runners 14 years or younger will receive an award.
Please contact Taylor Stein, Flatwoods 5K Race Director, with any questions: tstein@ufl.edu.
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Local Running Stores
Gainesville, North Florida
Fit2Run at Celebration Pointe brings Gainesville runners a full-service specialty running experience in one of the city's most vibrant retail destinations. Staff are trained runners who use video gait analysis to match each customer with the right shoe for their foot type and training goals. The store carries an extensive selection of performance footwear from leading brands including Brooks, Hoka, On Running, and ASICS, alongside technical apparel, hydration gear, and recovery tools. Whether you're prepping for the Gate River Run or logging easy miles around Depot Park, the team here can set you up from head to toe. Fit2Run Celebration Pointe also hosts community group runs and connects local runners with upcoming race events throughout North Florida.
phone (352) 519-4942 language Visit WebsiteGainesville, North Florida
Lloyd Clarke Sports has been a Gainesville institution since 1976, serving the University of Florida community and the broader North Florida running and outdoor population for nearly five decades. Located on NW 13th Street near the UF campus, the store is deeply embedded in the daily life of Gainesville runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts. The store carries a curated selection of performance running footwear from brands including Brooks, ASICS, On Running, and Saucony, alongside technical apparel and accessories. Staff bring genuine expertise and a community-first approach that has kept generations of Gainesville runners coming back. As one of the longest-running specialty sports retailers in the region, Lloyd Clarke Sports represents the kind of locally rooted running store that defines a city's running culture — a place where runners of all levels feel at home.
phone (352) 372-7836 language Visit WebsiteFlatwoods 5K
October 31, 2026