Running Scared 5K
- Date Sat 3rd October 2026
- Time 8:30AM EDT
- Location Fort Myers, Florida
- Price $38.10
- Races 1 race
- Distances 5km
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Event summary
Get ready for a unique and thrilling experience at the Running Scared 5K Pumpkin Challenge on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026! This exciting event will take place at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in Fort Myers, Lee, starting at 8:30 AM. Participants will not only enjoy a traditional 5K race but will also face the fun twist of carrying a pumpkin along the course! Choose your pumpkin wisely—smaller ones near the start require a longer carry, while the larger ones are shorter but heavier. It's a delightful challenge that adds a festive spirit to your race day, and the pumpkin you choose will be yours to take home, perfect for the fall season.
Join fellow runners and community members for a morning filled with fitness, laughter, and purpose, as all proceeds from this event benefit Special Olympics Florida. Participants will be rewarded with a Running Scared t-shirt and a finishers medal, with awards for the top male and female runners across various age groups. Don’t miss out on the fun and festive atmosphere, and come be a part of this one-of-a-kind 5K experience!
Join fellow runners and community members for a morning filled with fitness, laughter, and purpose, as all proceeds from this event benefit Special Olympics Florida. Participants will be rewarded with a Running Scared t-shirt and a finishers medal, with awards for the top male and female runners across various age groups. Don’t miss out on the fun and festive atmosphere, and come be a part of this one-of-a-kind 5K experience!
Organiser's Description
Join us for the 2026 Running Scared 5K Pumpkin Challenge on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026 at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)! This year were 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 wont just run the course youll carry a pumpkin along the way! At the start of the race, youll 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. Its 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):
010 | 1119 | 2029 | 3039 | 4049 | 5059 | 6069 | 70+
Top 3 Male & Female in each category will be awarded.
All participants will receive a Running Scared t-shirt and a finishers 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
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 wont just run the course youll carry a pumpkin along the way! At the start of the race, youll 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. Its 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):
010 | 1119 | 2029 | 3039 | 4049 | 5059 | 6069 | 70+
Top 3 Male & Female in each category will be awarded.
All participants will receive a Running Scared t-shirt and a finishers 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
Races
-
Running Scared 5K
Incl. $3.10 Fee & T-Shirt
Sat 3rd October 2026 (8:30AM EDT)
$38.10
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9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, 10501 FGCU Blvd South, Fort Myers, 33965, FL, United States
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Running Scared 5K
