5 events in Citrus County, Florida

The 5th Annual Cake by the Lake 5K and One Mile Cakewalk will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2026 on the Withlacoochee State Trail!

Both events start at Liberty Park in Inverness.

5K Runners will take off as the sun rises over the lake, with "5 K Race Walkers" starting just three minutes behind them.

Another 3 minutes later, the 1-mile walkers will enter the fray.

Both the 5K and 1 mile routes travel along the beautiful shores of the Tsala Apopka chain of lakes.

As all participants return to Liberty Park, they’ll get their finisher’s medals, which come with an elegant neck ribbon unique to 2026 and enjoy great music, festivities, and the signature cake served by the classically beautiful Lake Henderson!

Unique cake plate age-level awards will be three-deep in five-year age increments for the combined 5K races.

These events do NOT have T-shirts, but a specially designed WST Cake By The Lake edition T-shirt will be available for purchase online before the race.

The race swag is sure to please! Free photos will be available online.

This is a wonderfully flat, straight, and well maintained course that has produced many new PR's over the years!

Once again, we're offering $10 registration for kids up to 12 years old, and $15 registration for teens 13-17.

Those 18 and older are considered adults. 17 and under will receive different swag than adults, but it will still be "top shelf swag" including a heavy 3" full-color medal. Of course, youth athlete participants are eligible to win our special cake plate age group awards, as well as overall race awards.

See updates and sneak peeks on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-the-Withlacoochee-State-Trail-Inc-1485120831710155 or visit https://FOTWST.org.

Packet pickup: 6:30 a.m. Race Day

Race Starts at 7:30 a.m. SHARP!

Schoolhouse Hustle 10K, 5K, 1M Run/Walk

Saturday, April 11, 2026

CREST School

2600 S Panther Pride Dr., Lecanto, FL

Please join us for the 13th Annual Schoolhouse Hustle event. The event takes place on Saturday, April 11th and is part of the Education Foundation’s “Educational Fitness” month which helps to raise money for public education while focusing on the importance of healthy minds and bodies.

In addition to all the fun you'll have on race day, you get a super cool event shirt and a custom finisher medal Not to mention, your registration entry still goes towards the Spirit Participation Contest for the Citrus County school of your choice. It’s time to get the family up and moving in 2026!

School Spirit Contest- Wear Your School Colors and Register with your School Name! All participants are encouraged to wear their school colors. Every participant can run/walk on behalf of any Citrus County public school. The school with the most overall participants & the school with the highest participant/student ratio (based on student enrollment) will each win a $1,000 GRANT.

Back Again This Year! In addition to the Spirit Award for the School with the Most Participants, there will be the Group award for the Company or Organization that has the most participation. So get your friends, co-workers or group together and register with your Company/Organization name and just might be this year's winner! WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON RACE DAY!

BACK THIS YEAR! BUS TRANSPORTATION to and from the Race Site will be available from all Citrus County Schools for Students and their Families. You must register and sign up for this option by April 8th. Buses will depart from the schools at approximately 6:00 AM and will be returning back to the school at approximately 11:00 AM.

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5K/1M Entry Fee: Students (12 and Under) $5 Students (13-18) $10

Adults (18+): $25 CCSB Employee: $20

10K Entry Fee: Students (12 and Under) $10 Students (13-18) $15

Adults (18+): $35 CCSB Employee: $30

SCHEDULE

*** NOTE DATE CHANGE TO THURSDAY ***

THURSDAY: (There will be NO early packet pickup on Friday)

4:00 - 7:00 pm Early Packet Pick-up at Gulf to Lake Marine & Trailers, 700 S Thompson Ave, Lecanto, FL 34461

SATURDAY:

7:00 am Packet Pick-Up and Day of Race Registration Opens

7:00 - 11:00 am Family Health Expo & "YMCA Kids Zone Opens

7:30 am Mascot Olympics

8:00 am 10K & 5K Start

8:30 am 1 Mile Walk Start

10:00 am Awards Presentation (approximate)

AWARDS FOR 10K & 5K EVENTS:

Overall Individual Male/Female

Overall Masters (40+) Male/Female

Medals 3 Deep in 5 year Age Groups (Age 15 thru 85 & up) AND Kids 7-Under, 8-9, 10-12, 13-14

Come and support the 8th annual event, CAVEMAN CHALLENGE! This event was started to support The Wil-Power Foundation, Inc, which is a 503 (c) organization formed to honor the life of William Mintner through providing educational and wellness opportunities for our local communities. Wil is a former friend, son, teammate of the YMCA Wahoo's in Ocala, The Ocala Aquatics swim team (AKA the Marlins), and the Florida Southern swim team. Wil is very missed, but with the help of his loving friends and family, we feel like we are able to capture some of the heart of Wil during this event! Wil loved CrossFit, Swimming, running, and his Neon Green Jeep Wrangler. We hope for all of the athletes to have a fun time during this event; and have opened it up to 3 divisions including:

1. Competitive CAVEMAN CHALLENGE: consists of a 5k; followed by a 400 yard swim in the short course pool with fun and challenging strength and plyometric movements in between each lap; all followed by a 25 meter Jeep push.

2. TEAM CAVEMAN CHALLENGE (2 athletes will receive swag but feel free to bring more friends to jump in with your team!) 1 member will run 5K; 2nd member will swim and perform challenges on the pool deck; and both teammates can push the Jeep!)

3. The CAVEMAN MINI (consists of a 5K run/walk followed by the 25 meter Jeep push)

Join us Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Whispering Pines Park in Inverness, FL.