JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 49th Gate River Run on Saturday morning has been filled with more challenges than usual, but the iconic Jacksonville race is poised for another exciting year.
More than 15,000 runners are expected to line up for the annual 15K run that serves as one of the best events in Jacksonville every year. The course winds through San Marco and St. Nicholas and over the Main Street and Hart Bridge, referred to as the dreaded “Green Monster” on race day.
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Five Olympians are in this year’s elite field, led by reigning women’s winner Calli Hauger-Thackery of Great Britain. Will another record fall? Last year, it was Wesley Kiptoo who broke a 30-year-old record set by Todd Williams to put an exclamation point on the 2025 race. Kiptoo clocked a time of 42 minutes, 10 seconds to push past Williams’ mark (42:22) set in 1995.
Hauger-Thackery returns to defend her crown, although the weather may determine whether she seriously challenges for a repeat. She and husband, Nick, are expecting their first child. At 16 weeks pregnant, Hauger-Thackery said Friday that the heat will be a big factor in how hard she’s able to push herself during Saturday’s race.
When does it start?
The first wave of runners will go off at 8 a.m. Viewers can watch the race on WJXT Channel 4 or on News4JAX.com.
Other elite runners to watch
Fiona O’Keefe, USA: 2024 US Olympic marathon trials champion / 2024 Paris Olympic marathon
Rachel Smith, USA: 2020 Tokyo Olympian 5,000 and the 2024 River Run Champion
Chloé Herbiet, Belgium: 2024 Paris Olympian marathon
Ruben Sanca Cape Verde: 2012 London Olympian 5,000
The streakers
The list of runners who have competed in every River Run since it began is down to 17 this year.
The changes
Construction in Downtown have forced race organizers to get creative (and have some patience) this year. The parking situation will be perhaps the most congested that it’s ever been. Typical places where runners parked like Lot J are off limits this year due to construction at the stadium. The big change for runners will be the start and finish lines. Those have moved to the Jacksonville Shipyards on East Bay Street.