Flatwoods 5K Sends Runners Through UF's Scenic Austin Cary Forest

GAINESVILLE – The sounds of nature and the feel of leaves and pine needles under your feet are a bonus for runners who take part in the University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (FFGS­­­) annual Flatwoods 5K event.

Hundreds of participants will take off just after sunrise on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, on a trail around the Austin Cary Forest (ACF), a 2,632-acre teaching and research forest northeast of Gainesville.

The forest is not usually open to the public. It serves as a space for FFGS faculty, staff, and students to put into practice the theories and principles of its academic subjects such as silviculture, forest ecology and conservation, timber management, genetics, and prescribed burning.

Race proceeds support forestry education and outreach to help sustain Florida's natural heritage. FFGS Professor of Ecotourism Taylor Stein is the event organizer. His research efforts focus on exploring the benefits of nature-based recreation and tourism and how to best integrate the recreation use of conservation lands into natural resource decision-making and planning.

“You will not find a more scenic race than the Flatwoods 5K,” Stein said. “The Austin Cary Forest is not open for general use, so this is the rare chance people get to experience one of the prettiest forests in the state.”

Scott Sager, FFGS assistant director of undergrad programs, facilities, and forester at ACF agrees. "It's a low-key, fun event in a beautiful setting,” he said. “You run past open pine forests and cypress domes, and around the deepest lake in Florida."

Sager said he has enjoyed running in the race for the past five years. The event is open to the public and is family friendly.

The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and finishes by 11 a.m. The event is chip timed by Start2Finish Race Management. The course is accurately measured (but not USATF certified), with mile markers. There is a water station at the halfway point and post-race refreshments. Strollers are welcome, but please note the road is unpaved.

Registration and race t-shirt. Registration is $20. Runners 12 years and under race for free. Register at https://runsignup.com/Flatwoods5K

Early packet pickup will be Oct. 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Cypress and Grove Brewing Co. (1001 N.W. 4^th Street, Gainesville, FL 32601). Participants can also pick up their packet 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. at the Austin Cary Forest on race day.

Pinecone trophies made from native longleaf, loblolly and slash pinecones go to top open and master runners, and top three in all five-year age/gender groups. All runners 14 years or younger will receive an award.

Registration for the event ends on Oct. 24

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