Tom Walker Memorial Half Marathon and 5K

Tom Walker Memorial Half Marathon and 5K takes place in Gainesville, in Alachua County, Florida, on November 8, 2026. It is a road race with two options: a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 5K (3.1 miles). The route runs through a natural setting of lakes and ponds, typical of this part of north Florida.

Two distances this far apart let a household race the same morning without training the same way. The 5K needs only a handful of weeks of consistency to be enjoyable; the half marathon deserves 10 to 12 weeks with a long run that climbs toward 10 or 11 miles. If you are aiming for a personal best over 13.1 miles, add one session a week at goal pace, and start the race a touch slower than that pace so the last three miles stay under control.