Our Bonnet Springs Park 5k water stop sits just north of the Family Lawn on the Circulator Path—right around the halfway point. It’s the perfect spot to give runners a boost and cheer them on as they cruise by. You can view our interactive Google map if you need help navigating to the Family Lawn.

What to Wear: dress for adventure!
All our volunteer magic at the Bonnets Springs Park 5k happens outdoors, which means you’ll be sharing the same weather as the runners — sunshine, breezes, surprise sprinkles, or that classic Florida “is it hot or cold, no one knows” morning air. Come ready for anything the sky decides to offer.

Every volunteer receives a special orange Lakeland Runners Club volunteer shirt — your badge of honor and the easiest way for runners to spot the heart & soul that makes race day possible. Pair it with comfortable shoes, because you might be standing, strolling, cheering, or hustling around for a while.

Think of it as dressing for a friendly outdoor adventure: bright shirt, comfy shoes, and whatever layers help you feel fabulous in the Florida elements.

No volunteer shirt or lanyard yet? No problem—you can grab both at packet pickup.

Set the stage for success:
When you arrive at the water stop location, you’ll find everything ready for setup, including:
• three 6' tables
• four 5‑gallon water coolers
• pitchers
• paper cups
• trashcans and trash bags
• rakes and scoop shovels
• a feather flag with an X‑base and weight

Tips for setup:
• Space the tables far enough apart so runners can step off the path, grab a cup, and merge back in without bumping into anyone.

• Fill cups about one‑third full (roughly 3 oz—just a quick swallow). This makes them easier to grab without splashing.

• Expect the first runner around 7:40 AM. Because our races attract many first time participants, call out "water" as you hold out your cup so they know what you're handing out.

• Most runners grab water from the first table they reach, so place more volunteers there to hand out cups. Once that table is empty, break it down and shift the team to the next table.

• Work in teams of two or three to fill cups and keep sliding them forward as runners pass.

• Runners start based on estimated finish time. Bib numbers and corrals follow that order, so you’ll have a sense of how many runners are left based on the the bibs of the runners passing by.

• Runners in the later corrals typically take more water, so be ready for a busier stretch as the pack grows.

• You can begin teardown after the sweeper—a person with balloons—passes your station. Please clean up all trash and stack equipment neatly for the setup team to collect.