Name: Flatwoods 5K
Start: 2026-10-31
End: 2026-10-31
Location: Gainesville

About the 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.

Races Offered

Flatwoods 5K

Oct 31, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:30

sell

$20.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for October in Gainesville.

thermostat Temperature

17.3° / 27.1°

wb_sunny Feels like

17.3° / 27.1°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

9h 36m

water_drop Avg rainfall

2.2 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

10.8 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

High

terrain Course conditions

Hard and dry surface

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (4.8)

humidity_mid Humidity

75.5%

wb_twilight Sunrise

07:31

nightlight Sunset

18:57

About Gainesville

Learn more about the host city, Gainesville.

Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Alachua County, Florida, United States. It is the most populous city in North Central Florida with a population of 141,085 at the 2020 census, while the Gainesville metropolitan area has an estimated 360,000 residents. Gainesville is home to the University of Florida, the third-largest public university campus by enrollment in the United States as of the 2023–2024 academic year. The university is represented by the Florida Gators sports teams in NCAA competitions.