Seven Southwest Florida parks to host Real Florida Run Series | Events

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA – "Seven Parks, seven runs and seven new adventures"- That's what the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) says you can expect from the Realy Florida Run Series this year. 

The Real Florida Run Series, sponsored by FDEP's South district Office, 3D Racing Inc. and the Run Shoppe, will give residents and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida’s environment.

The runs will take place every Sunday afternoon starting Feb. 10 and ending on March 24. Each event features a 5K run or walk and a 10K run.

Participants can register for each of the races individually or receive a discount if the runner registers for all seven races. Awards will be given out at each race for the top three men and women in each category.  For runners who participate in all seven runs of the race series, there will be a Grand Prize awarded to the top three men and top three women over-all.  

The events will take place:

Feb. 10

• Lake Manatee State Park
• 20007 State Road 64
• Bradenton

Feb. 17

• Paynes Creek Historic State Park
• 888 Lake Branch Road
• Bowling Green

Feb. 24

• Highlands Hammock State Park
• 5931 Hammock Road
• Sebring

March 3

• Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
• 12301 Burnt Store Road
• Punta Gorda

March 10

• Koreshan State Historic Site
• 3800 Corkscrew Road
• Estero

March 17

• Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
• 137 Coastline Drive
• Copeland

March 24

• Little Manatee River State Park
• 215 Lightfoot Road
• Wimauma

Register at www.active.com and search for the Real Florida Run Series, or register at the Run Shoppe, located at 3512 Del Prado Boulevard, Suite 107, Cape Coral.  Registration fees are $20 for 5K races and $30 for 10K races. For questions regarding the run series please contact Arielle Poulos at 239.344.5686 or Arielle.Poulos@dep.state.fl.us.