Manatee County Government is calling runners back to the trails one more time this year, announcing that the final leg of its 2026 Run Manatee 5K Series will take place at Rye Preserve in Parrish on Saturday, November 21. The race caps a three-part series that has already taken runners through Tom Bennett Park in Bradenton and Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach earlier this year, and finishers who complete all three stops earn an interlocking medal series.
The county made the announcement in a post from its official Manatee County Government account, sharing the registration link at mymanatee.org/runmanatee and encouraging locals to lace up for the trail race or simply show up for the on-site activities. According to Manatee County Government, the Run Manatee 5K Series expanded into a second season for 2026 after all three events in its inaugural 2025 season sold out, a sign of how quickly the county-run race circuit has caught on with area runners.
🏅 Come run with us at Rye Preserve!
— Manatee County Government (@ManateeGov) August 27, 2026
Register for the next Run Manatee 5K Series race, sponsored by RWP Runs, taking place Saturday, November 21!
Lace up, hit the trails and help us finish the interlocking medal series! Whether you're running the race or just coming out to… pic.twitter.com/H36mgaGAUz
A Course Through Scrub, Sand and River History
Rye Preserve itself is the draw for many participants. Per the Manatee County Government parks portal, the preserve spans 530 acres northwest of the Lake Manatee Dam and offers miles of unpaved multi-use trails along the upper Manatee River. The Manatee County Audubon Society notes that the property shelters four distinct habitats — sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, oak hammocks and river communities — that are home to protected species including the gopher tortoise and the Florida scrub-jay.
The land also carries a deeper backstory than most local race courses. As documented by Florida Hikes, Rye Preserve contains the remnants of the 1840s pioneer settlement of Rye and the historic Rye Family Cemetery, which trace back to a military post established during the Third Seminole War before the area grew into a river-crossing timber community. The cemetery remains the last physical marker of that 19th-century river town, according to the outlet's historical account.
Race-Day Schedule and Family Activities
Fleet Feet's race program for the event lays out a full morning of activity beyond the main run. The schedule includes an 8 a.m. quarter-mile kids' fun run, an 8:15 a.m. chip-timed 5K, a pre-race warm-up led by F45 Parrish, and a post-race yoga cool-down from Yoga Barre at 9:30 a.m. Awards will be handed out for top overall finishers as well as under-12 half-mile category winners, following the format used at earlier stops in the series.
Race management for the series falls to RWP Runs, described in its own organization profile as a Sarasota/Manatee-based company that runs community races while directing a portion of proceeds to local charities. The series is presented by Ford, and Manatee County Government has said the initiative is designed to serve a dual purpose — promoting community fitness while steering donations toward local causes.
Race Proceeds Support Children's Charity
For the Rye Preserve race specifically, 10 percent of registration fees will go to Foundation for Dreams, a regional charity that supports children with special needs and chronic illnesses, according to details published by Fleet Feet. That follows a pattern set earlier in the 2026 series: RunSignup event records show the April race at Tom Bennett Park benefited Bradenton Kiwanis, while the July race at Coquina Beach directed proceeds to The Center of Anna Maria Island.
Runners who completed the earlier legs of the series reported a strong turnout experience, describing high energy, a well-organized course and a variety of terrain, alongside vendors and children's activities at the park. Some also praised the volunteers along the course and said free swag was available after crossing the finish line.
A Preserve Still Growing
The race also arrives as the county continues to expand Rye Preserve itself. As Hoodline previously reported, Manatee County Commissioners approved an $858,000 purchase in the summer of 2025 of a 10-acre pine flatwood parcel at 950 Rye Road in Parrish, funded through voter-approved environmental dollars, to add to the preserve's footprint. With northern Manatee County seeing rapid residential growth, that kind of land acquisition reflects an ongoing county effort to keep pace with development while preserving public access to trails like the ones runners will cover on November 21.
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