River Run champ offers runners advice

Gate River Run less than 2 months away

The entrance to the Gate River Run Expo is also the entrance to the Publix Post Race Party.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville's annual Gate River Run is less than two months away and runners are getting ready all over town. They're out in full force preparing for the largest 15K in the U.S.

Channel 4 met up with a group of runners in Jacksonville Beach Wednesday night who are doing what it takes to get ready for the 9.3 mile trek through Jacksonville.

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"Jacksonville is just a great, active community," said Todd Williams. "It's one of the best running communities in the United States."

Gate River Run Champion Todd Williams spent Wednesday night at First Place Sports, the beach with a group of runners who have their minds on finishing the River Run with ease.

"The Gate River Rune, bottom line is kind of like the Super Bowl of running for a lot of people, not just locally, but nationally, people know what the Gate River Run is all about," Williams said.

Williams, a former Olympian, knows what the Gate River Run is all about; he's won the race five times, and holds the 15K American Record.

"A lot of questions are about nutrition: ‘What should I have the night before?' or ‘When should I cut back on my mileage getting ready for the river run?,'" said Williams.

Williams flagged questions along with specialists from Heekin Orthopedic about what it takes to run a strong river run.

"Biggest piece of advices I can give for the Gate River Run is finish it, and want, you know, finish the race and want to do another one," Williams said. "Don't go out too hard, and be patient, and then run like crazy when you get to up to the top of the bridge, and feel good when you come across that finish line."

Click here for more information on the Gate River Run and the other races being held on March 15.