LAKE WALES, FL (Feb. 20, 2017) – Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing announced that the sixth annual Carillon Classic 5K Run & Walk will be on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida.
Marc Zimmerman, Senior Sales & Events Manager at Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing, is the race director.
According to Zimmerman, Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing will run the race in partnership with Bok Tower Gardens and corporate sponsors. The Carillon Classic was established in 2012 as a charity fundraiser by the Dick Pope/Polk County chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). Over the five years FPRA managed the race, it drew 2,000 runners and raised $20,000 for charity.
“FPRA did an outstanding job of growing the Carillon Classic into one of Polk County’s premier running events. Our main goal for 2017 is to sustain this momentum and building on the solid foundation established by FPRA by using our resources to bring a record field of runners to Bok Tower Gardnes,” Zimmerman said.
The Carillon Classic 5K Run & Walk features what many consider Florida’s most challenging 5K course where runners experience elevation changes and a variety of running surfaces, including paved roads plus grass, gravel and mulch trails. Last year’s course also included a boardwalk in a new wetlands area.
As they compete high atop “Iron Mountain,” which is one of the highest points on the Florida peninsula, runners will hear soothing music from the famed Bok Tower carillon and get a close up look at rare species of plants, beautiful gardens and citrus groves, as well as new attractions made possible by a recently completed $12-million capital improvement project.
Zimmerman said the course layout is currently being reviewed in response to suggestions from runners who participated in the 2016 Carillon Classic. The final course layout will also be designed to give runners and walkers a close up look at the new attractions at Bok Tower Gardens.
General information about the 2017 Carillon Classic 5K Run & Walk, including corporate sponsorships, can be obtained by calling Zimmerman at 863-551-4726 or by sending him an e-mail at zimm@centralfloridasports.com. On-line registration and a 2017 Carillon Classic Facebook page will be up shortly.
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