Tampa's Race for Education is trading its old riverfront course for the University of South Florida campus this fall, as the fifth annual run shifts location and season at once. The 5K and 1-mile walk/run is set for Saturday, November 7, with the chip-timed 5K starting at 8 a.m. and the 1-mile walk/run following at 9:15 a.m., according to RunSignup.
The event debuted in 2022 under Hillsborough County Public Schools' Healthy Schools initiative, with its first three races run along North Boulevard and over the Hillsborough River starting near Blake High School, according to Hillsborough County Public Schools. This year marks the first time the race has been held on USF's campus at 4202 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa, and the first time it has been staged in the fall rather than the spring, as reported by the Osprey Observer. The USF College of Education has joined HCPS and the Hillsborough Education Foundation as a primary co-host for the campus run, marking the university's formal debut as an event partner, per a Facebook event listing.
Who's Behind the Race
AnnMarie Courtney, director of partnership engagement for HCPS, said the race brings students, families and staff together while promoting physical health, mental well-being and community, according to the Osprey Observer's report. She added that the event creates a culture of wellness by showing that being active can be enjoyable and inclusive, the outlet notes.
Anna Corman, president and CEO of the Hillsborough Education Foundation, said the race brings people together to celebrate public schools. “Seeing so many people come out and participate is a powerful reminder of how much our community values its schools and the students and educators within them,” Corman said, per the same report. Corman and Courtney both expressed gratitude to participants, business sponsors and USF for its new partnership, the Osprey Observer notes.
Corman took the helm of the Hillsborough Education Foundation in April 2024 following a nationwide search that drew more than 120 inquiries, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Under her leadership, the foundation has also shown it can move quickly in a crisis: following the 2024 hurricane season, HEF raised $1.3 million within 30 days to help local public school teachers replace storm-damaged instructional materials, according to Capital Analytics Associates.
Why the Race Matters for Classrooms
Proceeds beyond event costs will support the Hillsborough Education Foundation's school and classroom grants, the Osprey Observer reports. HEF's classroom grant program supports district educators, according to the Hillsborough County Public Schools. State reporting for the 2023–2024 academic year showed HEF's grant initiative delivered $168,703 to 179 teachers across 106 schools, reaching nearly 42,000 students, per the Florida Department of Education.
That grantmaking is just one piece of a larger philanthropic push. In October 2025, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation contributed $320,000 to the Hillsborough Education Foundation to fund student enrichment and educator support programs, according to the Hillsborough Education Foundation.
Participants Lace Up for a Cause
Last year's race drew just over 1,200 community members, the Osprey Observer reports. Genna Custard, a Florida Virtual School teacher and former HCPS educator, runs the race every year. She told the outlet she does it to give back to teachers while enjoying the chance to track her own fitness progress and support friends and colleagues along the course.
Runners and walkers can move at their own pace, whether running, jogging or walking, and organizers say participation promotes connection, school spirit and healthy choices that extend beyond race day, per the Osprey Observer. The event will feature on-course entertainment from HCPS student groups, and the 5K portion will be professionally timed, with awards going to top age-group finishers. All 5K and 1-mile walk/run finishers receive a race shirt and finisher's medal.
Registration and Pricing Details
Standard 5K registration runs $40 to $45, while the 1-mile run/walk costs $20, according to RunSignup. Promotional discount codes are available to school district staff, public school students and USF students. Registration for the race is open now through RunSignup.
