What is the Florida Track Club?

Updated

The Florida Track Club (FTC) is a non-profit running organization based in Gainesville, Florida. Its stated mission is to build the local running community and act as a network that supports runners of all ages and abilities. If you're looking for a club that hosts regular races and connects runners in the Gainesville area, the FTC is set up around exactly that purpose.

What the club does

According to its site, the FTC centers on a few core activities:

  • Hosting monthly races of all distances
  • Building a local running community in and around Gainesville
  • Supporting runners of all ages and abilities, from beginners to more experienced competitors

The emphasis on "all ages and abilities" is worth noting — this isn't framed as an elite-only group, but as a network open to a broad range of participants.

What you'll find on the site

The FTC website organizes its content into several sections that hint at what the club offers:

Section What it covers
Join Membership sign-up
Local Races Races in the area
Race Calendar Scheduled events
Running Groups Group running opportunities
Junior Champs Youth-focused program
History / Our Legacy Club background, including founder Jimmy Carnes
Detweiler Racing Scholarship A scholarship program
Sponsors Club sponsors
Contact How to reach the club

A featured event listed on the page is the 2025 Jack Gamble Melon Run.

Who it's for

The FTC suits you if you:

  • Live in or near Gainesville, Florida
  • Want to join organized races without traveling far
  • Are looking for a running group or community to train with
  • Are interested in youth running programs or club history and scholarships

Because the club describes itself as supporting runners of all abilities, newcomers and casual runners are explicitly within its intended audience, not just competitive athletes.

How to get involved

The site's primary call to action is "JOIN THE FLORIDA TRACK CLUB!" Membership sign-up is handled through the Join section. The platform also supports logging in with Google, Microsoft, or Apple accounts, suggesting a member account system for managing your membership.

For anything not covered on the site, the club lists a contact email: [email protected].

A note on membership details

The available page information confirms that membership exists and that the club is a non-profit, but it does not list specific dues, membership tiers, or what each level includes. If cost or benefits matter to your decision, check the Join page directly or email the club before signing up.