Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k
The Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k offers a fast, paved trail experience from a local brewery.
Race Date
Nov 8, 2026
Location
Gainesville, FL
Quick facts
- Date
- Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Location
- Gainesville, Florida
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 5K
- Course
- Loop Course
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 5,118
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k winds through the scenic Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail, a paved path offering a serene running environment. Starting from the popular First Magnitude Brewing in Gainesville, this race has become a staple for local runners and attracts participants from across approximately 18 states.
The course is USATF certified and designed for speed, with minimal elevation change and a net drop that favors quick times. Runners can expect a 3.5-hour time limit for the half marathon, with pacers available for various finish times to help achieve personal bests. The event is volunteer-led, fostering a strong community atmosphere.
With 25 editions on record and a growing field size, recently around 664 finishers, the Tom Walker event shows consistent popularity. A loyal 18% of participants return each year, highlighting its appeal. The race concludes with a festive atmosphere, celebrating the efforts of all runners.
Race-provided description
The iconic and popular Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k will return, to the beautiful Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail (this is a paved trail), We will again be starting from First Magnitude Brewing in Gainesville. Half Marathon Starts at 7:30 AM with the 5k starting at 8:00 AM. Half Marathon Course Time limit is 3.5 hours. We plan to provide pacers for the Half Marathon at 1:30 (6:52 pace), 1:40 (7:37 pace), 1:50 (8:24 pace), 2:00 (9:09), 2:10 (9:55), 2:20 (10:40). **These will be Run Only and not Walk/Run pacers. Reach out to Enoch Nadler at teamfloridatrackclub@gmail.com if you're interested in pacing. Registration will be available online until 1 hour prior to the race start. Volunteers are NEEDED for this race, please go to the "Volunteer" tab on the menu bar at the top of this page and sign up. This event is volunteer-led so please help us make this event successful for our local runners! Individual yearly membership to the Florida Track Club is only $40, family membership $65, and student membership $25. Senior membership (65+) is $25 for an individual and $40 for a family. Please email us to set up Senior membership.
Logistics
Race Day
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Start Time
7:30 AM
Giveaway
TBD Shirt
Start Location
1220 SE Veitch St, Gainesville, FL, 32601
Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Loop Course
Terrain
road
Scenery
Park
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Ultra-Flat
Net Drop/km
0 m (Flat)
Separation
0.0%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
FL21032JK · Tom Walker Memorial Half Marathon
Relatively flat with minimal net elevation change. Loop course — start and finish are close together.
Course Map
Quality Score
Runner Favorite8325 years running
~409 finishers a year
growing or steady
18% returning runners
USATF certified · 5 timing sources · 3 photos
runners from 18 states
winner 1:13:59
typical high 77°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
59°
Afternoon (High)
77°
Warm — hydration strategy is key, start conservatively
0.2"
Precipitation
10 mph
Wind
77%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 5,118 finishers actually crossed the line across 25 years.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
5,118
Median time
2:09:44
Latest turnout
339
States
36
Turnout by year
2017–2025
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k?
The Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k is held on Sunday, November 8, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM.
Where does the Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k take place?
It takes place in Gainesville, Florida.
What distances does the Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 5K.
Is the Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k course flat and good for a PR?
The Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k is a ultra-flat, loop course course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k?
HalfRuns has finish records for 5,118 runners who have completed the Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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