The Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Fl, is the largest 15K in the United States and this year the 35th annual event takes place on March 10, 2012 . In 2010, the event had more than 19,000 participants total. The 15K is the main event with over 17,000 runners. The Gate River Run will once again serve as the USA 15K Championship with America’s top Olympic athletes competing for $85,000 in prize money. The other featured events are The Florida Times-Union 5K for Charity and the adidas Junior River Run, both events had over 2,000 participants in 2011.
The course starts at EverBank Field and continues through the heart of downtown Jacksonville where the race crosses the St. Johns River over the Main Street Bridge, continuing through historic San Marco, down Atlantic Blvd to the beautiful and scenic St. Nicolas area, and then crosses the river for the second time over the Hart Bridge, and features a one mile downhill to the finish at back at EverBank Field.
Live bands perform at ten different locations on the course and thousands of spectators come out for yard parties all along the route which makes this event more than a regular race – it is a major happening in Jacksonville.
