The 4th Annual VyStar Emerald 5K/10K presented by JTC Running and 1st Place Sports is headed to the Northbank Riverwalk downtown on September 30, 2023. The 5K and 10K Run/Walk begin at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K/10K ride follows at 9 a.m. JTC running covers all race costs so that 100% of proceeds benefit Groundwork Jacksonville, the City’s nonprofit partner in building the Emerald Trail, and restoring McCoys Creek and Hogans Creek.
The event begins at the Duval County Courthouse at 501 West Adams Street. The 5K course will take runners, walkers and cyclists south on Pearl Street and along the Northbank Riverwalk to Riverside Arts Market. 10K participants will continue over the new Shared Use Path (SuP) to San Marco.
Participants and supporters will enjoy pre- and post-race activities including libations from Manifest Distilling. Additional event sponsors include Miller Electric, HALFF Associates, Humana Healthy Horizons® in Florida, Lewis Longman & Walker PA, UF Health Jacksonville, Tom Bush Family of Dealerships and HDR.
Everyone receives a race bag courtesy of VyStar Credit Union and a race t-shirt, and all finishers earn a custom Emerald Trail 5K/10K medal. Top male and female runners overall and in several age categories will receive awards.
Registration for the event is underway at 1stplacesports.com/races/emeraldtrail/. Registration is $35 through August 31. The cost increases to $40 on September 1, and $50 on race day. Registrants under 13 and over 65 receive a $10 discount. Members of Groundwork Jacksonville, VyStar Credit Union, JTC Running and North Florida Bicycle Club receive $5 off. For more information email info@GroundworkJacksonville.org.
The Emerald Trail is a 30-mile urban trail and linear park system that will connect 14 historic neighborhoods to downtown, the St. Johns River, McCoys Creek and Hogans Creek. It will link 16 schools, two colleges, 21 parks and three hospitals among other destinations like cafes, shops, festivals and events. The Emerald Trail will be the place where people of all ages, races, cultures and walks of life come together to run, walk, ride and to connect with nature and one another. Learn more at groundworkjacksonville.org or follow on all social media @GroundworkJax.
