Running In Clermont
The Choice Of Champions, For Good Reason
Ask an Olympian where they spent a winter block and there is a fair chance the answer is here. Clermont earned the nickname "Choice of Champions" the hard way — pristine lakes, genuine rolling hills in a state that mostly has none, and warm weather when everywhere else is frozen. Triathletes, track athletes, and distance runners have been training in South Lake County for decades because of it.
The good news for the rest of us is that the same terrain is open to anyone with a pair of shoes. There are places to run in Clermont, FL for every kind of day: flat lakefront pavement, a hilly clay loop that will humble you, and state park trails under oak canopy. Below are the three we send people to most often.
Three Routes Worth The Drive
Lakefront pavement, a hilly clay loop, and twenty miles of state park trail — all within fifteen minutes of our downtown store.
Waterfront Park
Flat, paved, and right on Lake Minneola between East Avenue and Eighth Street — one block from our front door. The fitness trail here is part of a 30-mile system that feeds into the coast-to-coast trail and connects to the West Orange Trail on a shaded bike path. Best pick for easy miles, stroller walks, and sunrise.
Clermont Clay Trail
A 10-mile loop on back roads with rolling hills, a few of them steep enough to walk, and views the whole way. Local triathletes and running groups have trained on this softer surface for years. Sections have closed for Wellness Way construction before, so check conditions locally or ask us before you head out.
Lake Louisa State Park
Seven miles of paved park road over rolling hills plus 20 miles of unpaved multi-use trail, and a real chance of sharing them with deer, gopher tortoises, bald eagles, or a bobcat. This is the one to bring visiting family to. Trail shoes help on the unpaved sections after rain.
"Being part of the running community and downtown Clermont is a top priority for me. I understand the importance of being good neighbors and giving back. Live Actively is our business mantra and what I live by daily."Kimberly Grogan · Owner, Dash Sports
Where Serious Training Happens
The National Training Center is the reason a lot of athletes end up in Clermont in the first place. An Olympic-sized outdoor pool, a full fitness center, a private track, and a cross country course sit on one USAT-certified campus a few minutes north of downtown. Our own store started life there in 2006 before moving to West Montrose Street.
If you are in town for a training block rather than a race weekend, that is where most of the structured work gets done. Our free social runs on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings fill in the rest, and they are open to visitors.
Making A Weekend Of It
Downtown Clermont is small enough to walk and good enough to linger in — independent shops, a solid range of restaurants, a few bars, and two breweries that see plenty of post-long-run traffic. The Clermont Downtown Partnership keeps the best current list of what is open.
For a standard hotel stay we usually point people toward Home2 Suites by Hilton, Fairfield by Marriott, or the Hampton Inn. If you are traveling with a group or settling in for a longer training block, Siena at Bella Collina has multi-bedroom units with full kitchens, which makes race-week food a lot easier to manage.
Free Socks*
Sign up for Dash Sports emails and get a free pair of socks when you buy your first pair of full-priced, in-stock shoes.
*Valid for new customers only at the time they create a Dash Sports profile. Socks valued at $17.99.
Find Your Perfect Fit — Book a Complimentary Shoe Fitting
Complimentary, unhurried fittings in Clermont and Winter Garden — we measure your feet, watch you walk, and match the right shoes.
Serving Central Florida
Our Locations
Dash Sports fits runners, walkers and workers at two Central Florida stores — downtown Clermont and Winter Garden. Walk in any day for a complimentary fitting.
- Family-owned in Clermont since 2006
- 5.0 stars from 1,100+ Google reviews
- Complimentary 20 minute shoe fittings
- Virtual fittings by Zoom or FaceTime
“Our Orthopedic doctor sent us to Dash sports in Clermont because she fractured her ankle and was hard to find shoes that fit her. We went and glad he sent us.”— S. Parker
Clermont
Flagship741 West Montrose Street
Clermont, FL 34711
| Monday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Winter Garden
Now Open12357 Stoneybrook W Pkwy, Unit 2
Winter Garden, FL 34787
| Monday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM |