We’re Growing!
Join us for the Run for the Natural Areas 5K/10K Trail Race! We are proud to return again to Winding Waters Natural Area to host this awesome event and give you the experience of one of the most authentic and gorgeous trail races in Palm Beach County! You’ll be amazed you’re a few short miles from the hustle and bustle of West Palm Beach!
Yes, we’ve added a 10K distance to our already amazingly beautiful 5K race. And the 10K isn’t just an out-and-back of the 5K course! It’s a completely unique course with areas that take you “off the beaten path” through a lush pineland just west of the wetlands trail, an area usually closed to the public but opened for this race only! The 5K course remains unchanged; a loop around the wetlands trail with a short trip through a wooded double-track fire road. The 10K will give you most of the wetland loop trail with an excursion through the lush pineland west of the wetlands through tree-lined management roads, and a quick trip along the canal that borders the Florida Turnpike! It’s a beautiful course offering a huge variety of surfaces and scenery!
The Race for the Natural Areas aims to showcase the Palm Beach County Natural Areas that the citizens voted to purchase and preserve. Winding Waters is an over 500-acre natural area containing a diversity of habitats, such as mesic flatwoods, hydric hammock, depression marsh, wet prairie, and dome swamp. Several areas were cleared for agricultural purposes and have been restored to shallow-water and deep-water marshes.
The course itself will be a trail ringing the restored wetland offering scenic views of the teeming plant and animal life.
We have a capacity of 300 this year, so it remains a somewhat exclusive event and we expect it to sellout, once again!
Refund Policy
We are a small nonprofit organization holding this event without the help of big corporate sponsors; we host this race entirely with funds generated by registrations. We are proud to be able to put on a great event for and by the people who run our races. Your registration money is put to use quickly after it is received to purchase goods and services to offer you a top notch race, and it is for this reason we do not offer refunds if you drop for any reason, or if the race is canceled due to something beyond our control. We will offer you a full deferral to one of our races in the future. It’s transferable and has no expiration date, so your money will not go to waste. If you disagree with our refund policy, please do not register for this race.
Course Description
The 3.10 mile loop is a mix of shallow sand, grassy areas, and firm flatwoods. Despite being a challenging course, it flows fast! The sandy areas are shallow with only a couple patches of deeper, softer sand that you can get around very easily. There are no hills or water crossings.
The 10K course is very similar to the 5K course, but offers more of the sandy wetlands trail before taking you on a trip through a pineland on management roads, and along canals offering the most variety in both running surfaces and scenery! Both distances have the same start and finish areas
Water/Restrooms
There will be two water stations along the 5K route and three along the 10K. There will be portable restrooms near the packet pickup table two along the 10K route.
Timing
This will be a chip timed event, professional and accurately RFID chip timed by A1 Trailhead Ultras. Timing starts when you cross the start line. Results will be posted onsite as well as to Ultrasignup and our social media channels for all to share.
Awards/Medal
We will have medals for every finisher, and custom top finishers awards, masters and grandmasters awards, and age group awards from local artist and craftsman Brie from Wicked Skins Athletics!
Shirts
Also new for 2021 is gender specific lightweight, moisture-wicking tech shirts: t-shirts for the guys, and short-sleeved, v-neck fitted shirts for the ladies! We’re also offering a sleeveless race singlet as an option, as well as youth sizes for the kids! * NOTE: we have 300+ shirts still leftover from last year’s deferred event! Those who deferred and re-registered will have priority in getting the shirt style and size they originally selected. We will do our very best to accommodate everyone, but please understand shirt style and sizes are not guaranteed. This has been a crazy process of managing this deferred event, so please be understanding and kind. If the shirt is going to make or break your enjoyment of this race, please do not register.
Race Day Schedule
6:00 am Park opens for parking
6:00–7:30 am Race Day packet pick-up
8:00 am 5K start
8:15 am 10K start
9:30 am Awards
Location/Parking
Located at Winding Waters Natural Area, 6161 Haverhill Road, WPB, 33407. Parking is along Dyer Blvd with Dyer Park.
Event's current local time: 6:12 PM ET
