MEDIA ADVISORY: Jan. 25, 2013

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA STATE PARKS TO HOST REAL FLORIDA RUN SERIES

~Seven runs in seven weeks at seven state parks to promote spending time outdoors, healthy living~

Highlands Hammock State Park offers many trails for running and hiking.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service is pleased to host the Real Florida Run Series in seven Southwest Florida state parks. The Real Florida Run Series is a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida’s environment.

Sponsored in part by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s South District Office and in conjunction with 3D Racing, Inc. and the Run Shoppe, the Real Florida Run Series features seven runs, seven parks and seven new adventures. 

The runs will take place every Sunday afternoon starting Feb. 10 and ending on March 24. Each event features a 5K run or walk and a 10K run.

Participants can register for each of the races individually or receive a discount if the runner registers for all seven races. Awards will be given out at each race for the top three men and women in each category.  For runners who participate in all seven runs of the race series, there will be a Grand Prize awarded to the top three men and top three women over-all.  

The events will take place:

Feb. 10

Lake Manatee State Park

20007 State Road 64

Bradenton

Feb. 17

Paynes Creek Historic State Park

888 Lake Branch Road

Bowling Green

Feb. 24

Highlands Hammock State Park

5931 Hammock Road

Sebring

March 3

Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park

12301 Burnt Store Road

Punta Gorda

March 10

Koreshan State Historic Site

3800 Corkscrew Road

Estero

March 17

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

137 Coastline Drive

Copeland

March 24

Little Manatee River State Park

215 Lightfoot Road

Wimauma

Register at www.active.com and search for the Real Florida Run Series, or register at the Run Shoppe, located at 3512 Del Prado Boulevard, Suite 107, Cape Coral.  Registration fees are $20 for 5K races and $30 for 10K races. For questions regarding the run series please contact Arielle Poulos at 239.344.5686 or Arielle.Poulos@dep.state.fl.us.

About Florida State Parks, Greenways and Trails

Florida’s 171 award-winning state park and trail properties have inspired residents and visitors with recreation opportunities and scenic beauty that helps to strengthen families, educate children, expand local economies and foster community pride. With 161 parks, 10 state trails, nearly 800,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and more than 1,500 miles of multi-use trails, visit soon and often to enjoy Florida’s natural treasures. For more information, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.

 About DEP's South District

The South District provides environmental permitting assistance and support to a wide variety of industries in nine counties in Southwest Florida, including the Florida Keys. DEP’s South District includes 10 Aquatic Preserves, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. DEP’s South District is home to many scenic waterways, including the portions of the Myakka and Peace Rivers, the Great Calusa Blueway and includes portions of Lake Okeechobee.  Some of Florida’s finest nature-based recreation and educational sites can be found in the 25 State Parks in the South District. For more information visit: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/south. 

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