East Lake Firefighters 5K

East Lake Firefighters 5K takes place at Ozona, in Pinellas County, Florida, on February 27, 2027, with a single 5K (3.1 miles) starting at 8:00 a.m. Runners and walkers share the same start, and no elevation figure is published for the course, which is consistent with the low-lying ground on this stretch of the Gulf coast.

Community 5Ks like this one make a good opening race of the season: the distance is short enough to attempt without a long build, and the walk option means nobody in the group has to sit it out. If you want to run it hard, spend two or three weeks on short repetitions at faster than 5K pace and arrive early enough for 15 minutes of easy jogging and a few strides. A first-timer can simply aim to hold one steady effort all the way to the line.