26Dec
FUN 1 Mile-ish walk
Running
- Distance
- 1.6K
- Start time
- 09:00
- Entry fee
- $30.00
William R, Gaines Jr Freedom Run 5K
Port Charlotte,
Florida,
United States
53 days left
runsignup.com
Date
26 Dec, 2026
Races
2 distances
Entry fee
$30.00
Runner rating
Be the first to rate
Website
Official website
William R, Gaines Jr Freedom Run 5K
About the event
Join us for one of the last 5k's of the year and let's leave 2025 in the dust! The race will start and end at the William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park. All proceeds will go toward the William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Fund.
9am start time
The 5K Freedom Run at the William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park will take place at 9 a.m. on December 27, 2025.
The park is located at 20499 Edgewater Dr, Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
Packet Pickup race morning:
@ 20499 Edgewater Dr, Port Charlotte, FL 33952. starting at 7:30am
(ALL Registration will be open ONLINE. You must bring a phone to register.) NO CASH
The run will start in the park beginning the newly completed Beirut Peacekeepers Memorial Tower Plaza. Runners will make their way past athletic courts, as well as a Military themed playground and the Charlotte County Liberty Tree, on their way to the scenic Port Charlotte
Beach. The runners will follow their way back to the park for refreshments and the announcements of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd winners by age category.
This is a chance for the whole family to bring in the New Year. Runners will receive Freedom Run t-shirts, and dog tag shaped medals for the top runners in various age categories.
To sign up, please visit wrgainesjr.org/5k.
For more information
please contact Michael Gaines at 813-785-6709 or
michael.gaines@wrgainesjr.org.
Family/Dog-Friendly event.
Fruit, energy bars, water will be available after the run.
View the course Map Please stay on the Sidewalks as the streets will not be closed.
Course Map
Veterans Discount is available
Per USATF rules, gun time is used to determine prize money winners and time bonus recipients. Tag time (chip time) will be used to determine all age-group
Races offered
26Dec
William R, Gaines Jr Freedom Run 5K
Running
- Distance
- 5K
- Start time
- 09:00
- Entry fee
- $30.00
Weather history
3-year monthly averages for December in Port Charlotte.
Temperature14.4° / 24.2°
Feels like13.0° / 23.2°
Sunshine hours8h 42m
Rainfall1.7 mm
Snowfall—
Wind12.1 km/h (Gentle breeze)
Humidity75.5%
Max UV indexLow (2.4)
Sweat lossModerate
Course conditionsFirm and slightly soft
Sunrise08:09
Sunset18:38
About Port Charlotte
Learn more about the host city, Port Charlotte.
Port Charlotte is a city in Southwest Florida roughly 30 miles north of Fort Myers and 40 miles south of Sarasota on the gulf coast of Florida. Nestled in Charlotte Harbor, visitors can take cruises through the harbor, play a round of mini-golf or swim in the harbor.
Read moreHotels & places to stay
Things to do nearby
Tours and activities near Port Charlotte, powered by Viator.
Video
Watch highlights and course previews from previous years.
Race results
Official finishing times from previous editions of William R, Gaines Jr Freedom Run 5K.
| Place | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Katherine O’Sullivan Sams | 18:34.7 |
| 🥈 | Lucy Cook | 18:48.9 |
| 🥉 | Ryan Geer | 19:30.5 |
| 4 | Gary Cook | 19:38.2 |
| 5 | Dale Ruby | 22:11.7 |
| 6 | Matthew Beaulieu | 22:21.3 |
| 7 | Katrina Machado | 23:04.9 |
| 8 | Colin Wilburn | 24:24.5 |
| 9 | Juan Hidalgo | 24:24.6 |
| 10 | Patrick Vasquez | 24:41 |
| 11 | Shannon Glidden | 24:47.8 |
| 12 | Bethany Heslam | 24:50.2 |
| 13 | Brian Triola | 24:51.4 |
| 14 | Ramon Martinez | 24:52.3 |
| 15 | Deb Dyer | 25:07.6 |
| 16 | Jerry Giuliano | 25:24.9 |
| 17 | Liz Cruthers | 25:34.4 |
| 18 | John Reed | 25:39.3 |
| 19 | Michele Boethig | 25:50.1 |
| 20 | Marcus Morgan | 25:58.6 |
| 21 | K. Cook | 26:35.7 |
| 22 | Shane Mcfarland | 26:42.6 |
| 23 | Stephen Fleming | 26:50.1 |
| 24 | Marti Stetter | 26:51.1 |
| 25 | Marija Vojnovic | 26:55.7 |
| 26 | Tatjana Stojkovic | 27:00.1 |
| 27 | Dave Gammon | 27:13.3 |
| 28 | Jessica Karpen | 27:20.5 |
| 29 | Lori Vasquez | 27:26.8 |
| 30 | Michele Wagstaff | 27:33.7 |
| 31 | Wendy Mastripolito | 27:54.9 |
| 32 | Richard Meyerholz | 28:10.1 |
| 33 | Sean Karpen | 28:37.4 |
| 34 | Polly Pierce | 28:39.6 |
| 35 | Abby McEwen | 29:12.7 |
| 36 | Carolyn Hinrichs | 29:28.6 |
| 37 | Roberto Labrador | 29:31.5 |
| 38 | Patricia Carter | 29:37.5 |
| 39 | Andrea Paladino | 31:29.7 |
| 40 | Edith Hull | 31:32.6 |
| 41 | Bret Burrow | 31:34.5 |
| 42 | Teresa Bastide | 31:49.5 |
| 43 | Canyon Gaines | 31:55.8 |
| 44 | Jill Turner | 31:57 |
| 45 | Cami Fenton | 32:18.1 |
| 46 | Betty Ridenour | 32:20.4 |
| 47 | Olga Triola | 33:12.2 |
| 48 | J. Triola | 33:13.1 |
| 49 | Katherine Triola | 33:14.5 |
| 50 | Debra Anlauf | 33:22.8 |
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