10 events in Lee County, Florida
From big races to Saturday morning group runs—find 5k events and connect with the local endurance sports community.
Lee County
10 events in Lee County-
Sat, Mar 07, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
This 5k is one of the best races in SWFL and precedes the amazing Shrimp Festival and Parade on Fort Myers Beach. The route will take you over the famous Matanzas Pass Bridge and back overlooking the beautiful beach. Throughout the route you will be directed and cheered on by many Shrimp Festival goers as well as our Cypress Lake High School student athletes and coaches!
Proceeds from this race directly benefit student-athletes at Cypress Lake High School by providing necessary equipment to compete at their highest potential.
Thank you for considering joining this event and supporting our local community and athletes!
Awards: Overall Male/Female winner. Age Groups 1st, 2nd & 3rd male/female - 10yrs and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+
Awards announcements will begin as close to 10am.
Early Packet Pickup - Friday 3/6/26, 3-7pm, at Doc Fords FMB.
Race Day Registration - 7am to 8:45am. Price is $40.00. Doc Fords FMB, 708 Fisherman's Warf, Ft Myers Beach, FL 33931
Race Day Packet up - 7am to 8:45am at Doc Fords FMB.
Chip timing is provided by Beach Bum Timing.
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Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Sadly the event has been cancelled - full refunds will be issued to all entrants shortly - thank you for your support.
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Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 8:00 AMSee full details
Turtle Trot 5K & 1miler at Lovers Key State Park – Run/Walk Through Paradise!
Escape the pavement and experience one of Florida’s most scenic races at the Turtle Trot 5K in Lovers Key State Park! This unique and exhilarating course takes runners and walkers through the lush trails of the park, winding through maritime hammocks, coastal dune habitats, and mangrove estuaries. The race culminates in a beautiful beachside setting, where the Gulf of Mexico provides the perfect post-run reward!
Stay and enjoy park afterwards!!!
Whether you're a competitive runner, casual jogger, or nature enthusiast, this event offers a stunning backdrop and a fun, friendly atmosphere. Proceeds support the Friends of Lovers Key, helping preserve and protect this incredible natural paradise.
Why You'll Love It:
🏃♂️ Trail & Beach Course – A rare opportunity to run/walk through scenic park trails and finish close to the activity center of Lovers Key.
🐢 Wildlife & Nature – Keep an eye out for dolphins, shorebirds, and even the park’s famous turtles along the way!
🎉 Post-Race Celebration – Enjoy the breathtaking views, mingle with fellow runners, and soak in the Gulf breeze.
🏅 Custom Race Swag – Receive a unique race shirt
🏅5K AWARDS: Overall M/F, Masters, Grandmasters, Senior Grandmasters & Vetrans Master.
14 Under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75>
Registered 1 Milers will receive a finisher towel.
The 5k & 1Miler both will be Timed Events
Join us for an unforgettable 5K race 1mile run/walk in paradise and make some waves at the Turtle Trot!
Kids 18 under $25 5k fee
Great Cause!
Proceeds for this race go to the Friends of Lovers Key (FOLK) is a 501(c)3, state sanctioned, citizen support organization (CSO) that directly supports the mission of Lovers Key State Park (LKSP). We are authorized to raise funds in support of Lovers Key State Park's objectives through donations, grants and merchandise sales.
Historically, FOLK provides funds to cover budget shortfalls in Lovers Key State Park for items such as:
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Fencing and signs during turtle and bird nesting seasons.
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Cleanup and repairs after storms such as Hurricane Ian.
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We provide needed extras such as new mowers, tram cars and WIFI.
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Boosts LKSP's ability to offer community enrichment programs by recruiting a dedicated staff, and members that provide thousands of volunteer hours annually for basic park services and enrichment programs.
Friends of Lovers Key: https://friendsofloverskey.org/
Enjoy the Park Afterwards!
The park admission fee is included in registration so you can enjoy park afterwards!
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Sat, Apr 25, 2026 at 8:00 AMSee full details
Rock the Run 5K and 2 Miler
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Coconut Point Mall – Estero, FL
Start Time: 8:00 AM
Get ready to turn up the volume and lace up your running shoes for a Rock & Roll themed Rock the Run 5K and 2 Miler, coming to a new location at Coconut Point Mall in Estero, Florida! This high-energy, in-person event is all about music, movement, and making a difference. Whether you’re a runner, walker, or just here for the tunes, you’ll experience an unforgettable morning filled with great Music, cheering crowds, and a rocking atmosphere from start to finish.
The Rock the Run 5K and 2 Miler begins and ends at Coconut Point, featuring a flat, scenic course that’s perfect for runners and walkers of all levels.
Participants can also join virtually, choosing between a 5K or 2-Mile Walk—so everyone can join the movement, no matter where they are. More than just a race, this event supports a life-changing mission. Every step helps raise awareness and funds for Head & Neck Cancer—a preventable and treatable disease that impacts more than 68,000 people in the U.S. each year. All funds raised stay right here in Southwest Florida, providing financial assistance to patients in need and supporting local cancer screenings and education.
Race Events
5K Run/Walk (In-Person or Virtual)
2-Mile Walk (In-Person or Virtual)
Medals & Swag
Custom Rock the Run Finisher Medal
Limited-edition Rock the Run T-Shirt
Timing & Award Categories
Chip-Timed 5K Event
Overall Awards: Top 3 Male & Female Finishers
Age Group Awards: Top 3 Male & Female in each category
0–9 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70+
Free parking available at Coconut Point Mall
23106 Fashion Drive, Estero, FL 33928
This Rock & Roll–themed event is more than a race — it’s a movement for hope, health, and community.
Enjoy live music, festive energy, and a morning filled with purpose as we run and walk together to raise awareness for Head & Neck Cancer.
Let’s make some noise for a great cause — because every step and every beat helps make a difference!
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Sat, May 16, 2026 at 7:30 AMSee full details
Together We Can End Impaired Driving For Good.
The 2026 Move With MADD Fort Myers 5K is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)'s signature fundraising event to help us raise awareness and funds to end impaired driving for good. We hope you will join the movement to ensure safer roads in our community. Register and donate TODAY to help save more lives!
Event Timeline:
In-Person Registration - 6:30 AM
Opening Ceremony - 7:00 AM
Race Begins - 7:30 AM
T-Shirt Deadline:
All registrations received by April 16th will be guaranteed a t-shirt. Remaining shirts will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Thank you.
We Walk. We Run. We Move.
For those who no longer can, and alongside those who are learning to move again.
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Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 7:30 AMSee full details
🔥 The Inferno 5K, 12K & 25K 🔥
Can You Beat the Heat?
Get ready to turn up the heat at one of the hottest races of the summer!
The Inferno 5K, 12K and 25K is coming to Harns Marsh in Lehigh Acres, FL on again Saturday, Saturday July 18th, 2026 — and we’re daring you to take on the sun, the sweat, and the Florida fire! The 5K is for everyone but the 12K and 25K are designed for endurance athletes and heat-hardened runners, this race pushes limits with gritty summer miles through Florida's sun-soaked terrain. This is your chance to prove you can go the distance — and handle the heat.
Race Day Details:
📍 Location: Harns Marsh, Lehigh Acres (Lee County, FL)
🕢 Start Time: 7:30 AM
🏃♂️ Distance: 5K,12K or 25K
🔥 Terrain: Flat and fast — but the real challenge is the heat and the sun!
🕢 Cut Off Time: 12:00 PM (All races) - No Exceptions!
Race Swag:
Custom finisher medal for all participants
Inferno T Shirt
Awards for top overall and age group finishers
Packet Pickup:
📍 Fleet Feet Fort Myers
🗓 Friday, July 17th 2026
🕔 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
5K Course:
Click HERE!
25K:
Click HERE!
Dress light, hydrate early, and bring your sunscreen!
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Sat, Oct 03, 2026 at 8:30 AMSee full details
Join us for the 2026 Running Scared 5K – Pumpkin Challenge on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)! This year we’re switching things up with a morning race starting at 8:30 AM, bringing the same high-energy fun to an exciting new location. Lace up your running shoes and get ready for a race that supports an incredible cause — all proceeds benefit Special Olympics Florida.
But remember — this is not your ordinary 5K… this is the Pumpkin Challenge!
Are you ready to test your strength and endurance? In the Pumpkin Challenge, you won’t just run the course — you’ll carry a pumpkin along the way! At the start of the race, you’ll have the option to choose from pumpkins placed at various points throughout the course. Smaller pumpkins near the start must be carried the longest distance. As you move along the course, the pumpkins get bigger — but the distance you carry them gets shorter. Will you go light and long, heavy and short, or find the perfect balance in between? The choice is yours! And yes — the pumpkin you carry is yours to keep as you get ready for fall.
In addition to the race, participants can enjoy a fun, festive atmosphere with community activities and post-race excitement. It’s a morning filled with fitness, laughter, and purpose.
Race Details
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)
Start Time: 8:30 AM
5K Awards
Overall Male & Female – 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Age Groups (awards based on net chip time):
0–10 | 11–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70+
Top 3 Male & Female in each category will be awarded.
All participants will receive a Running Scared t-shirt and a finisher’s medal.
Packet Pickup
Packet pickup will be held at Fleet Feet Fort Myers and on race morning prior to the start
Friday October 2nd 2026 at Fleet Feet Fort Myers 5:00-7:00pm
Race Moring at FGCU 7:30am-8:15am
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Sat, Nov 07, 2026 at 7:30 AMSee full details
2026 Event Entry Opens Spring 2026
FISH Of SanCap, Sanibel and Captiva islands only wrap–around social service agency provider, is pleased to welcome you for our annual JOG N JAM, a community race and music concert fundraising event. The JOG (race) is scheduled for Sat., Nov. 7 and the JAM (concert) is scheduled for Sat., Dec. 5.
FISH of SanCap is focused on 'neighbors helping neighbors' with a vision to create communities where all people have the support they need to thrive. Our mission is to enrich the lives of all people in Sanibel and Captiva islands by neighbors helping neighbors with social services, education, and assistance.
The races on Nov. 7 will begin and end at the Sanibel Community House, 2173 Periwinkle and a kids’ run will follow at the Sanibel Community Park. Both the 10K and the 5K will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the awards ceremony following. We anticipate the kids’ fun run to start shortly after the awards. Each runner receives a finishers medallion and a T-shirt. Other awards include top female/male overall, 1st place female/male and age group, three deep, and these awards are given to in-person participants only and cannot be shipped. Additional details are provided upon registration. Click here for race maps.
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Sat, Dec 05, 2026 at 7:30 AMSee full details
Caloosa Fest – December 5, 2026
Caloosahatchee Regional Park MTB Trails • Alva, Florida
Get ready for an unforgettable trail experience at the 2026 Caloosa Fest, featuring a Half Marathon and 5K Trail Race on the rugged, beautiful trails of Caloosahatchee Regional Park.
This event brings together trail runners of all experience levels for a day filled with challenging terrain, great views, community fun, and outdoor excitement.
Whether you're tackling the half marathon or cruising the 5K, this event offers something for everyone!
Schedule of Events — Saturday, December 5th, 2026
Half Marathon Trail Race: 7:30 AM start
5K Trail Race: 8:00 AM start
Vendors and demos on-site throughout the morning.
Awards (2026)
5K Trail Race:
• Top 3 Male & Female overall
• All participants receive a finisher medal
Half Marathon:
• Top 3 Male & Female overall
• All participants receive a finisher medal
Friday Night Packet Pickup
Friday, December 4th, 2026
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Fleet Feet Fort Myers
13499 S Cleveland Ave, Ste 209
Fort Myers, FL 33907
Race Day Packet Pickup
Opens at 6:45 AM
Packets must be picked up at least 15 minutes before your race start time.
Caloosahatchee Regional Park (Mountain Bike Park)
18251 N River Rd
Alva, FL 33920
Park opens at 6:30 AM for participants.
5K Trail Race Details
Start Time: 8:30 AM
The 5K course features a fun, scenic loop with rolling terrain and a mix of grass, hard-packed trail, and mild single track. The 5K course will stay on the green trails (beginner friendly)
Half Marathon Trail Race Details
Start Time: 7:30 AM
Cutoff Time: 12:00 PM
The Half Marathon course will use the best parts of the Caloosa trail system, incorporating long stretches of perimeter trail, open grass sections, winding single track, and technical segments.
Aid Stations
Main Aid Station:
Located at Start/Finish — fully stocked with all supplies needed for the race.
On-Course Aid:
Water + electrolyte tabs available at miles 3 and 9.
Hydration Requirement:
All Half Marathon runners must carry a hydration system (handheld, vest, or bottle).
Crew & Canopy Area
Theres plenty of space at the start finish area for canopy tents and crew support.
Parking
All parking will be inside the Mountain Bike Park.
Parking staff will direct you upon arrival.
Parking is on grass near the trail system.