Windermere hosting annual run Saturday

Set your alarm for an early wake-up call Saturday, Oct. 15, and head over to Windermere for the town’s 21st annual fall 5K and 10K event.

More than 1,000 runners have signed up, and a crowd of 3,000 people is expected.

Packets can be picked up from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, and Friday, Oct. 14, and the day of the race from 6 to 7:15 a.m. at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St.

Runners will start the 10K route at 7:15 a.m., and walkers and runners take off at 7:45 for the 5K. This year’s route begins at Town Hall and winds through the town’s dirt roads, under huge oaks and along several lakes — south to 11th Avenue before heading northeast. At West First Avenue and Maguire Road, 5K participants go straight on First while 10K folks go north on Maguire.

All participants end at Windermere Town Hall.

All runners receive race shirts and finisher medals. Awards are given to the top three in each division, as well as overall winners. The medals are sponsored by Windermere Brewing Company and are bottle openers featuring the company’s pelican logo.

Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute is sponsoring the Recovery Zone, and participants can receive post-race stretching, trigger-point massage and a video biomechanical assessment. Additional sponsors will set up booths around Town Hall; a race deejay will provide music; and the town will have water, bananas and bagels for participants.

This is a family-friendly event benefiting the Town of Windermere Parks and Recreation, which is responsible for all the town’s parks and which provides capital improvements such as playgrounds, docks, exercise equipment, pavilions and tennis courts.

All the funds raised by the department are used for community events, such as PetFest, Run Among the Lakes and the Halloween Parade, and for improvements to the parks. In 2022, the town added a playground, fencing and a walkway to Windermere Rec Center, as well as new screens for the tennis courts. The funds raised from this event are earmarked for a new shade structure at a park that recently lost several old oaks.

Those who sign up for the event and use the code WINDBREW at checkout will be entered to win a $50 Windermere Brewing gift card.

There is no registration for the Kids Run, which is free to children 7 and younger. Youth will receive their own medal.

For information, email [email protected].

Family and friends can download RaceJoy for free live participant tracking, cheer sending and results.