November 8: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling events

Upcoming events

If you’re looking for races to run, November is your month to end the wait and lace up those shoes. Here’s what’s ahead:

Thursday, Nov. 11

• Midpoint Madness 5K, a night race across the Midpoint Bridge in Fort Myers.

Saturday, Nov. 13

• The Olde Naples 10K, in downtown Naples as the name suggests (gcrunner.org).
• Naples Distance Classic Half Marathon, 18K & 5K, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples (runeliteevents.com).
• LRC Hams & Gams 5K Turkey Trot, Saturday Nov. 13, Hendry Complex, LaBelle (active.com).
• ISMC 5K Trail Run, Saturday, Nov. 13, Pepper Ranch Preserve, Immokalee (active.com).

Saturday, Nov. 20

• Publix Run to the Arts 5K run/walk, Saturday, Nov. 20, downtown Fort Myers (runsignup.com or runtothearts.com).
• ELCP Turkey Run 5K, Saturday, Nov. 20, 8 a.m., Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, Naples (active.com).

Thursday, Nov. 25

• More Turkey Trots than you can shake a drumstick at… including a new location for an old favorite as  the Fort Myers Track Club’s traditional Thanksgiving event moves to the Edison-Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com).
• There’s also the Gulf Coast Runner’s 5K in Cambier Park, Naples (also virtual) (gcrunner.org).
• Elite Events has two Thanksgiving Day 5Ks – Hertz Arena in Estero and The Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples (runeliteevents.com).
• Finally, there’s the FGCU 10th Annual Gobbler 5K and 1-mile run, Thursday, Nov. 25, 7:30 a.m., FGCU campus (runsignup.com).

If that doesn’t satisfy your running itch, there are a few more races in early December to consider before the holiday break. Check the listings to see what’s planned – and, as always, contact the race organizers (or check their websites) to confirm dates and times (and any special conditions) for events.

As always, remember that most short races – especially Turkey Trots – are meant to be fun first… although a little spirited competition is always welcome. With so many Thanksgiving Day choices, there’s no excuse not to work up a little holiday appetite if you’re so inclined.

And if running alone is not enough (you know who you are), the Nov. 13-14 weekend brings three sprint triathlons nearby:

• Spa Girl Tri, Nov. 13, Marco Island
• Manasota Key Tri, Nov. 14, Englewood
• Over The Hill Tri, Nov. 14, Venice

For longer distances, plan on longer travel… and check trifind.com for choices.

 

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Midpoint Madness 5K, Thursday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m., Midpoint Bridge, Fort Myers
• Turkey Trot, Thursday, Nov. 25, 7:30 a.m. at its new location at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. In-person and virtual.
• City of Palms River Run, Saturday, Dec. 4, 8K run and 2-mile walk downtown Fort Myers.
• SYAL Run for the Youth 5K, Saturday, Jan. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• Olde Naples 10K, Saturday, Nov. 13, 7:30 a.m.
  
• 2021 GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 25, 7:30 a.m. Cambier Park, Naples and virtual
• Coach McGarity 5 Mile Hill Run, Saturday, Dec. 18, Marco Island.
  

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• Naples Distance Classic Half Marathon, 18K & 5K, Saturday, Nov. 13, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples
• Thanksgiving Day 5K (two races), Thursday, Nov. 25, Hertz Arena in Estero and The Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples. 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. respectively
• Christmas Glow Run 5K, 5:45 p.m., Sugden Regional Park, Naples.
• Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, 7 a.m., Sugden Regional Park, Naples.
• Christmas Glow Run 5K, Saturday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m., Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota.
• Sarasota West Coast half marathon and 5K, Sunday, Dec. 19, 7 a.m., Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota.
  

OTHER RUNS

• LRC Hams & Gams 5K Turkey Trot, Saturday Nov. 13, Hendry Complex, LaBelle (active.com) 
• ISMC 5K Trail Run, Saturday, Nov. 13, Immokalee (active.com)
  
• Publix Run to the Arts 5K run/walk, Nov. 20, downtown Fort Myers runsignup.com or runtothearts.com
• FGCU 10th Annual Gobbler 5K and 1-mile run, Thursday, Nov. 25, 7:30 a.m., FGCU campus (runsignup.com)
  
• ELCP Turkey Run 5K, Saturday, Nov. 20, 8 a.m., Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, Naples (active.com).

OTHER RIDES

• Annual Turkey Leg Metric Century, Friday, Nov. 26, 7:30 a.m., 62- and 20-mile routes, starts from Daniels Crossing Shopping Center, Fort Myers.
  
• 17th Annual Iron Joe Turkey Ride, Sunday, Nov. 28, 7:30 a.m., distances of 5, 10, 20, 40 and 62 miles. Eagle Lakes Community Park, Naples.
  

The Caloosa Riders are offering member rides, but some are open to non-members (and it wouldn’t hurt you to join the club); check their ride calendar (caloosariders.org) for a description of the distance and speed, and to see if the ride is open to all.

SW Florida Critical Mass is offering their usual slate of family-friendly rides. Check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times (and to make sure the ride is still rolling).

• SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers. 
• Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
• NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
• Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
• Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction..
  

TRIATHLONS

• St. Anthony’s Triathlon (St. Petersburg) has been rescheduled again, now to May 1, 2022, Olympic and sprint
• Spa Girl Tri, Nov. 13, Marco Island, sprint
• Manasota Key Tri, Nov. 14, Englewood, sprint
• Over The Hill Tri, Nov. 14, Venice, sprint

 

For the very latest, go to Fort Myers Track Club (ftmyerstrackclub.com), Gulf Coast Runners (gcrunner.org), Caloosa Riders (caloosariders.org), and South West Florida Critical Mass (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)