Mullet Run 5K RUN/WALK

Mullet Run 5K Brings Community and Conservation Together in Jupiter

Support Marine Research on the Treasure Coast at the Mullet Run 5K!

On February 7, 2026, runners and walkers will gather in Downtown Abacoa for the Mullet Run 5K, a community-driven race with a mission that reaches well beyond the finish line. The event combines fitness, fun, and environmental awareness, with 100 percent of proceeds supporting marine conservation and research efforts that help keep Florida’s coastal waters healthy and productive.

The Mullet Run 5K is hosted by Sarah Machesko and Cody Rubner, a local couple whose shared interests in wellness, the outdoors, and conservation helped spark the idea for the event.

Machesko, a longtime employee of Civil Society Brewing in Downtown Abacoa, started what would become the Duck Boot Run Club as a small, informal group run with just a few friends. In just over a year, that group has grown into dozens of participants of all fitness levels who meet weekly to run/walk a Wednesday night 5K together. Along the way, members have improved their times, formed strong friendships, and traveled together to races across Florida, creating a supportive, health-focused community that welcomes runners of all levels. 

Rubner brings a background rooted in Florida’s coastal waters. A professional fishing guide and conservation advocate, he has spent more than a decade working in the outdoor industry, promoting healthy fisheries, clean water, and responsible stewardship of marine resources. His work reflects a broader understanding that thriving oceans support not only wildlife but also local businesses, tourism, and coastal communities.

Together, Machesko and Rubner saw an opportunity to connect these worlds — using a community run to support ocean conservation in a way that reaches new audiences. Rather than focusing solely on traditional fishing or industry-centered events like fishing tournaments, the Mullet Run 5K offers an accessible, family-friendly way for the broader community to engage learn more about environmental stewardship while testing their physical fitness.

 Proceeds from the event will help support the American Saltwater Guides Association. Widely known as ASGA, the Association leads marine research initiatives, including efforts that track fish and wildlife movement and improve understanding of how coastal species use Florida’s waters. Expanding this kind of research benefits a wide range of marine life — from fish to sharks, rays, and sea turtles — while also helping inform future conservation and management decisions. For more information visit: https://www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/

Funds raised through the Mullet Run 5K will support acoustic telemetry research, a widely used tool that helps scientists better understand how marine animals move through coastal waters. Acoustic telemetry works much like a network of underwater “telephone poles.” Small acoustic tags are placed on fish or other wildlife, and when those animals pass near submerged listening devices — called receivers — the receivers log their presence. When many receivers are deployed along the coast, researchers can piece together migration routes, habitat use, and seasonal movement patterns. Adding more receivers increases the value of the entire network, benefiting research on a wide range of species including fish, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. In short, more receivers in the water means better data, stronger collaboration among scientists, and a clearer picture of how Florida’s coastal ecosystems function.

Members of the Duck Boot Run Club have played a key role in making the event possible, volunteering their time and talents to help plan and promote the race. This includes Jose Gomez and Brianna Dachisen. The first year of an event is always difficult, so the crew was humbled by the support of sponsors Civil Society, Hobby Lobby Card Shop, Cohen & Cohen Law and Lityx. The race garnered attention at a national level with well known, premium apparel brand Free Fly apparel getting involved all the way from Charleston, SC. Free Fly donated a $55 performance tee for the first 150 participants!

The Mullet Run 5K is a reflection of Jupiter’s coastal lifestyle — active, community-oriented, and deeply connected to the water. By blending fitness and conservation, the event highlights how local action can support healthier oceans while bringing people together for a meaningful cause.