JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The Gate River Run, the nation\u2019s largest 15k race has been a Jacksonville tradition since 1978 and returns this weekend.<\/p>\n
However, this year\u2019s event comes with a few challenges. Renovations at EverBank Stadium and several road closures forced organizers to adjust some longstanding plans.<\/p>\n
Longtime race director Doug Alred says this has been one of the most difficult years in his decades leading the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, this has been the most trying year that I\u2019ve had directing River Run. It\u2019s, you know, we\u2019re actually, since last year; we had planned on starting in one place and then found out we\u2019ve planned that for months and then found out only in January that wasn\u2019t going to work. So, we had to shift up to the shipyards where we\u2019re at now. And so, it\u2019s been a little different, and challenging because once you get all these plans made in place.<\/p>\n
Then of course, one of my biggest challenges this year has been the expo. For a while there, we thought we were end up going to have to do the expo in chance because we just couldn\u2019t find any place to do it. Because the one thing I can tell you about Jacksonville that has brought the light, this city needs a lot more meeting space, convention type space, because the convention center is about the only place that\u2019s available now.<\/p>\n
The time we got around to looking at it, it\u2019s booked, and you can\u2019t even get in there for the next three years, which is how long we\u2019re going to have this, probably have this challenge to find a place to do our expo. So, we went private and worked with Sleman Enterprises, and they have given us an old bell store, which is huge. I mean, it\u2019s bigger than what we need, but it\u2019s not at the race site.<\/p>\n
So this is the first time I\u2019ve ever had the Expo that\u2019s not right at the race site.”<\/p>\n
Despite logistic hurdles, organizers expect a record number of participants this year.<\/p>\n
The Runners\u2019 Expo takes place today and Friday, from 10am to 6pm at Mandarin Point Shopping Center.<\/p>\n
The race begins Saturday, March 7 at 8am.<\/p>\n