The Great West Chase

The Great West Chase takes place in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County, on October 31, 2026. The 10K, 6.2 miles, starts at 7:00 a.m., the 5K, 3.1 miles, at 8:00 a.m., and a Challenge Run combining the two, about 9.3 miles in total, also begins at 7:00 a.m.; a kids' fun run closes the morning at 9:00 a.m. Both courses are USATF/RRTC certified and chip timed, so the results stand up.

Certified, professionally measured courses are what you want for a benchmark, whether you are chasing a personal best or setting a baseline for winter training. The Challenge Run is the interesting option: race the 10K, recover for an hour, then run the 5K on tired legs. It is closer to a training block than a race day, and it works well for a club or team entering together. Proceeds go to a local Title 1 school.