Thousands flock to Runners’ Expo ahead of Gate River Run with record turnout expected

Thousands of people collected bibs, shopped for gear and sampled Jacksonville hospitality at the Runner’s Expo in Mandarin on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Gate River Run 15K. The energy at the event at the shopping plaza of San Jose Boulevard was upbeat, with first-time participants and longtime runners mixing at vendor booths and the registration area. Organizers said about 20,000 people have registered for this year’s race, which could be record-breaking.