JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Registration for the 40th GATE RIVER RUN 15K on March 11, 2017 is now open, announced Race Director Doug Alred. All registration is online at www.gateriverrun15K.com, or at any 1st Place Sports store, or at the Race Expo Mar. 9 - 10 .
The GATE RIVER RUN is the largest 15K race in the U.S. and Jacksonville’s largest participatory sporting event. It will once again serve as the USA 15K Championship with America’s top world-class and Olympic athletes competing for $65,000 in prize money. Last year more than 24,000 runners and walkers participated in one of the five featured events including the 15K, the Florida Times-Union 5K for Charity, the Junior River Run, the Brooks Rehabilitation Challenge Mile and Diaper Dash.
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Alred announced a return to last year’s finish line on the north side of the Stadium. This finish is marked by a 200 meter straightaway directly off the Hart Bridge to the finish line. He also announced a return of the Downhill Mile Challenge which awards $1,000 to the fastest male and female in the last mile of the course, primarily on the decline of the Hart Bridge. Additionally he announced the return of the 15K Adaptive Sports Division which awards prize money in Handcycles, Push Rims (wheelchairs) and Push Rims – Quads classes.
This popular Jacksonville tradition starts and finishes at the Jacksonville Sports Complex, featuring 12 live bands along the course, a 3-day Runner’s Expo, technical shirts for 15K entrants, Top 10% men’s and women’s finisher hats, 15K finisher medals and scrolling results on the Jumbotron at the finish line.
Special events planned for the 40th anniversary year include an evening 5K Retro River Run at the Jacksonville Landing to kick off the week on Sat., Mar. 4. In addition a “40 Days of GATE RIVER RUN” scavenger hunt-type contest will include daily prizes for those locating a city-wide moving race display. The event is hosted by JTC Running.
The top 5,000 runners will be seeded again this year to start in the front. The Equalizer Bonus will again award $5,000 to either the first male or female finisher to cross the finish line, with women starting 6 minutes ahead of the rest of the field. A new Team Competition will offer additional time incentive prize money for runners who break designated time goals. The GATE River Run is the site of both the men’s and women’s 15K American records, women’s Masters record, and is a Runner’s World ‘Top 100 Event.’ The race starts on Gator Bowl Blvd., finishes on the north side of the Stadium and ends with a large post-race party at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds.
The day offers something for everyone: The 15K wave start begins at 8:30am; The Florida Times-Union 5K (3.1 miles) Run & Walk for Charity at 8:30 am; Brooks Rehab Challenge Mile for challenged athletes at 10:00 am; Junior River Run (1 mile) for children 13 and under at 11 am; Diaper Dashes for up to age 4 at 11 am; and a three-day Fitness Expo. All events begin and end at the Jacksonville Sports Complex.
Additional information is available at www.gateriverrun15K.com or at
904-731-1900.