Schedule and packet pickup
PACKET PICK UP
Pre-race packet pick up will be held on Saturday, November 1 from 3 - 5 pm at The Running Center - Tampa on 14427 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL, 33618.
Buddy Run 5K and Fun Run 2026
- Date
- Sunday, November 1, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Lutz, Florida
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $40 on Oct 20, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5K | 5K | Nov 1, 20268:00 AM | $35$40 after Oct 20, 2026 | – |
| Buddy Dash | Other | Nov 1, 20268:50 AM | Free | – |
| 1 Mile | 1 Mile | Nov 1, 20269:00 AM | $20$25 after Oct 20, 2026 | – |
| Virtual 1 MileVirtual | 1 Mile | Nov 1, 2026 | $25 | – |
| Virtual 5KVirtual | 5K | Nov 1, 2026 | $40 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Register on RunSignup
The 5K fee goes up to $40 on Oct 20, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K: $35 until Oct 19, then $40 until Nov 1.
- Buddy Dash: Free until Nov 1.
- 1 Mile: $20 until Oct 19, then $25 until Nov 1.
Online registration closes Nov 1, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Florida ($34.50).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Florida runs 37:38, about 12:07 a mile, based on 1,089 races with published results. Women typically finish in 40:57 and men in 33:05.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:40 AM, and the 5K starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 90 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Lake Park, Lutz, FL 33548
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (4 years)5K
149
finishers
32:58
median (10:37 /mi)
18:37
winning time
52% / 48%
women / men
1 Mile
34
finishers
12:37
median (12:37 /mi)
6:37
winning time
68% / 32%
women / men
Aggregated from official results for Buddy Run 5K and Fun Run. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Buddy Run 5K and Fun Run?
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 24:28 or better, the top quarter in 27:20, and half the field in 32:58; the last tenth came in after 48:33.
At the 2025 1 Mile, the fastest tenth finished in 7:39 or better, the top quarter in 8:49, and half the field in 12:37; the last tenth came in after 19:14.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 25:58 | 20:44 |
| 20-29 | 35:02 | 29:47 |
| 30-39 | 30:36 | 25:19 |
| 40-49 | 27:20 | 25:13 |
| 50-59 | 29:07 | 24:06 |
| 60-69 | 33:35 | 27:07 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 17 percent since 2021.
157
2021
200
2022
161
2023
183
2025
All events combined, from official results.
Buddy Run 5K and Fun Run 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 130 to 149 finishers, and the median time dropped from 33:36 to 32:58.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 149 (+14%) | 32:58 | under 24:28 | 18:37 |
| 2023 | 131 (-29%) | 34:41 | under 24:58 | 19:12 |
| 2022 | 184 (+42%) | 36:43 | under 25:41 | 19:50 |
| 2021 | 130 | 33:36 | under 25:23 | 19:05 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Florida 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:20, against 29:59 in a typical Florida 5K, so times here run 9 percent faster.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around November 1 the day usually runs from 65°F at dawn to 82°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 11% of days. Cold snaps dip to 54°F and hot years reach 85°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
From the race's page
What the organizers of Buddy Run 5K and Fun Run cover on their registration page, in brief.
Course
5K Course Route
The course at Lake Park has not changed, see the map below. It is an out and back route with the start and finish in front of the Eagle Shelter. If you are signing up for the virtual option, run anywhere you want to! That's the beauty of a…
Parking and travel
NEW ROAD & COUNTY PARKING FEE
The road to the back parking lot has been raised and paved! Please note, a $2 cash fee per vehicle will be charged upon entry to the park. This usage fee is standard for all Hillsborough County parks and helps maintain this beautiful green…
Shirt and medal
REGISTER BEFORE OCTOBER 20 TO GUARANTEE YOUR SHIRT!
Choose Unisex or Ladies cut before 10/20 to guarantee shirt and size.
Rules and FAQ
Referral Program
Once you register you will receive a unique referral link that will allow you to share with your friends, family, coworkers, ANYONE! If you get five people to run, you receive a refund of up to $20 as our way of thanking you for spreading…
Race details
- Where
- Lake Park, Lutz, FL 33548Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 90 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 1 Mile, 5K, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 1, 2026), 2025 (Nov 2, 2025), 2024 (Nov 3, 2024), 2023 (Nov 5, 2023), 2022 (Nov 6, 2022), 2021 (Nov 14, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Buddy Run 5K and Fun Run?
- Sunday, November 1, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $40 on Oct 20, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 1, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Florida?
- At $35, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Florida ($34.50).
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 1 Mile, 5K, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 149 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 32:58 and the winner ran 18:37.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:20, against 29:59 in a typical Florida 5K, so times here run 9 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Lake Park, Lutz, FL 33548.
From the organizers
We are back at Lake Park for our sixteenth year and excited for the chance to support Buddy Baseball, the incredible organization that provides kids with special needs the opportunity to play ball! If you are local, you can participate in our in-person race, and we also offer a virtual option to allow people from all over the country to participate. So sign up today and refer your friends and family. Referrals can even lead to registration rebates!