9 running 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

COURSE INFORMATION:

Experience trail running at its finest in the heart of the Withlacoochee State Forest. The Withlacoochee Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K take place on the hiking and equestrian trails within the Two Mile Prairie Tract, just outside Lecanto, FL.

Runners will travel through scenic sandhills, oak forests, and wet prairies, with frequent opportunities to spot local wildlife along the course. This is a true Florida trail running experience—beautiful, rugged, and memorable.

Race Distances & Course Details:

Marathon: 2 × 13.1-mile loops

Half Marathon: 1 × 13.1-mile loop

10K: Modified loop course

All races are run on natural trail surfaces. Expect sand, roots, and varied terrain.

Bib Pickup & Registration:

Bib Pickup: Sunday, April 19

Registration opens 1 hour before your race start time

Every registered runner receives a race bib and a cotton event t-shirt.

Start Times:

Marathon: 7:00 AM

Half Marathon: 8:00 AM

10K: 8:30 AM

Course cutoff: All courses remain open until 2:00 PM for all distances.

Aid Stations:

There will be three fully stocked aid stations, approximately every 5 miles, offering: Water, Electrolyte sports drink, Soda, Pickle Juice, Chips, Fruit & PB&Js. Important: Due to the distance between aid stations, all participants must carry hydration, such as a handheld bottle, waist pack, or hydration vest or pack.

Post‑Race Celebration & Awards:

All finishers receive a finisher's award for their distance

The top 3 male and female finishers in each distance receive a specially handcrafted award

After the race, grab a hot dog, set up a camp chair, and relax while cheering on fellow runners as they finish.

Camping Information:

Bear Head Hammock Recreational Area offers primitive camping in the equestrian campground.

Please note:

• No water or power hookups available

• Plan to be fully self-sufficient

• The entire campground is reserved for race participants.

Camping Options:

• Tent camping

• Car camping

• RV “boondock” camping (generators permitted)

Campground access: Saturday, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Local Motels/Hotels:

The Gator Den Motel, 12189 S Williams St, Dunnellon, FL 34432 - 8 miles

Quality Inn Conference Center at Citrus Hills, 350 E Norvell Bryant Hwy, Hernando, FL 34442 - 9 miles

WoodSpring Suites Inverness, 123 S Seminole Ave, Inverness, FL 34452 - 12 miles

Central Motel, 721 US Hwy 41 S, Inverness, FL 34450 - 14 miles

Econo Lodge, 2575 N NW US-19, Crystal River, FL 34428 - 17 miles

ROLLOVER POLICY:

A1 Ultra Events does not have a refund policy. However, registered runners can earn a "rollover credit". The rollover credit option is a 75% credit towards the following year. (Available until 7 days before the race.) Participants who choose this option need to re-register for the race the following year and their credit will be waiting at checkout.

In Loving Memory of Blakely Elizabeth Puckett

Why We Run

Blakely Elizabeth Puckett was born on April 28, 2017 and passed away on February 18, 2018 after living 9½ months with Holoprosencephaly (HPE), a rare condition in which the brain fails to fully divide. Though her life was short, it was overwhelmingly meaningful.

From the moment we learned of Blakely’s diagnosis, we were forced to wrestle with life, death, faith, and God Himself. Through her weakness, Blakely taught us that the meaning of life is not found in strength, length of days, or achievement, but in love - love that is freely given, unearned, and undeserved.

Blakely lived fully dependent on others, yet her life drew people into the presence of God. She allowed herself to be loved, and in doing so reflected God’s love to everyone around her. Even in suffering and death, love was present.

Each year, we run or walk 4.28 miles to honor Blakely and proclaim that her life mattered. This run is a reminder that in a world where everyone dies, life is made meaningful through Jesus - by being loved and by loving others. We run in remembrance, in worship, and in hope of the love that overcomes death.

This run is completely free! We’ve created this page to provide more information and to share the story of Blakely.

If you’d like to purchase a race day shirt, you can do so through Bonfire. All proceeds from shirt sales are donated directly to Families for Hope. Shirts can be purchased here: Bonfire Store.

If you’d like to read or hear more about our time with Blakely, you can find stories here: blakelybumblebee.com, or watch here: YouTube.

Please share this page if you feel led! We love spreading the story of Blakely Bumblebee.

Where We Run

While it’s always special to meet up in person and walk or run together from Liberty Park in Inverness, Florida the Blakely Bumblebee Run has taken place all across the country since 2018 - in Virginia, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Missouri to name a few. You can also join virtually from anywhere, so friends and family everywhere can honor Blakely. This run is a way to come together, remember Blakely, and celebrate her life.

Donations & Shirts

If you feel led to give, all donations go directly to Families for Hope (https://familiesforhope.org), a nonprofit supporting families affected by Holoprosencephaly (HPE). You can give through this race page or directly on their website. Funds help provide education, medical resources, advocacy, and compassionate support to families walking through an HPE diagnosis.

All proceeds from event shirts purchased through Bonfire are also donated directly to Families for Hope. Race day shirts can be purchased here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/blakely-bumblebee/

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.

Please join us for the Crystal River Sprint Triathlon on

Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Triathlon: Swim 0.25 Mile, Bike 12 Miles, Run 3 Miles.

Duathlon: Run 1 Miles, Bike 12 Miles, Run 3 Miles.

Aquabike: Swim .25 Mile, Bike 12 Miles, Run thru the Finish Line

YOU MUST HAVE your USAT card and picture ID at packet pick up

If you want to pick up a packet for someone other than yourself, please request an Affidavit Form at [email protected]. This is the only way to pick up someone else's packet, no exceptions!

FRIDAY:

At this time, there will be NO EARLY PACKET PICKUP for Crystal River Tri You can pick up your packet on Saturday morning at the race site.

SATURDAY:

6:00 AM Registration Opens; Day of Race registration (if available), check-in, packet pick up.

7:30 AM - First Wave Start

10:30 AM - COURSE CLOSED

~ Custom Medal for all Finishers! ~