2nd Annual Race to Conserve 5K Run (Timed) or 1K/5K Walk and Wellness Forest

Registration is OPEN for our Second Annual Race to Conserve 5K Run (Timed) or 1K/5K Walk on February 18, 2023 at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port:
https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/NorthPort/RacetoConserve
5K Run (Timed): $20.23

1K/5K Walk (Untimed): $10.23
Runners/Walkers under age 8 can participate in the run/walk free of charge.
Timing provided by Beach Bum Timing, [www.beachbumtiming.com.](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beachbumtiming.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3T8rj4G5Jrt64r4qs-1r3n8tRs0w1iUWsNLR0XzpjqgSPH-Peo9jVxCtA&h=AT0ztP_BnllJzFHUAXNaSa01sK6ua1bbc-Tu80Ti5yqUoFTb3ErAd8PstskZ87UiPCuIzG25Sba9N6kYRQjo4_JlMJA1zXEXTca9s3W8Rvg5Wfxa2lmoX18a8oBqzYRDmq40DG6LqlpvXGEBAen7&tn=q&c[0]=AT2tYvrzBZkm59jcAvUrTUtNTgdqnMR8oiYyvLEMNdA0Ca4KvCA25lcxa652iGZwhjd9EFGtlMO9E4bCoXR3cYNZMS_rpliga1-40yxBroyQsADGLjnjDfNZFYEQVAAgsK3Q8R_PQDYKW2Fxm8XbzeYt)
The 5K timed run will take you through almost all of the trails in park (Yellow Trail, White Trail, Red Trail and one of the two Maintenance Trails); 2023 course map is in the works (see 2022 map on the race website as a sample for now). A 1K walk route will be marked; walkers can choose their distance between the 1K or 5K routes. 1K map coming soon. Leashed dogs are permitted in accordance with park rules.
CAUTION: trails are maintained but preserved in their natural state. You may find uneven surfaces, leaves, branches, roots and other elements typical of this type of environment. Please wear appropriate closed-toe footwear and exercise outdoor-activity caution.
Our 2022 event held in February 2022 included a wellness theme with related nonprofits/vendors. The 2023 event will be expanded from just a general wellness theme to a wellness-through-art/nature/outdoors theme. A variety of nonprofits, vendors and sponsors will be on hand to share their like-minded missions with event participants/attendees; our race website will be updated with all entities who register to attend as we receive them.
Event nonprofit/vendor/sponsor tables will be open both PRE-race/walk and POST-race/walk for your enjoyment and learning.
Food trucks will be on site, possibly music too. We are looking into post-race beer as an additional refreshment for participants.
Visit the Event Sponsors tab of the race website to obtain our Sponsorship Invitation Packet if you'd like to be a sponsor.
Race Shirts are guaranteed to participants who sign up by midnight on 1/31/23. Thereafter additional shirts will be available in a limited quantity on a first come, first served basis at the check-in booth on the morning of the race, prior to the start of the race.
In-person awards and post-race refreshments will also be given out.
PACKET PICK-UP: TBA
DIRECTIONS: Take Exit 182 from I-75 and head East. Follow Sumter Blvd. to Tropicaire Blvd. Turn left on Tropicaire Blvd. and turn right on Reisterstown Road. The park is at the curve of Reisterstown Road on the right.
PARKING: Parking is available within the park or along Reisterstown Road/Estates Drive. Please refrain from parking on the residential side of Reisterstown Road/Estates Drive.
All runners/walkers are encouraged to follow the most current COVID-19 CDC Guidelines that are in place on the day of the event.
We truly ARE in a race to conserve. More than 1,000 people are now moving to Florida each and every day and hundreds to thousands of acres of land are being completely cleared not just locally in our neighborhoods, but Statewide, to accommodate our growing population daily; this displaces and threatens the very being of our wildlife, endangered species, flora and trees at the same time, to include Gopher Tortoises such as those pictured in our race website banner.
All of the trees and plants you will see in the park are the same as those being removed in our neighborhoods daily to make way for development. Few to none are saved/protected or planted back.
We hope that in visiting this natural park you will be inspired to learn more about the natural environment in your neighborhood and how to protect it or improve it. Plant back local native trees and plants that once grew on your land, conserve native trees or plants if you are planning to build a home and begin or continue to support our efforts to protect similar natural greenspace in our neighborhoods by joining one of our Neighborhood Conservation Groups (see our Facebook page or Website under "Events" for more information).
Proceeds from this event will be utilized toward future land acquisition purchases. If you'd like to provide the gift of a donation in support of our mission as well, please visit the Donate tab of this website.
The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. dba The Environmental Conservancy of North Port And Surrounding Areas is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation.