If the 5K Dash isn't your speed, you might enjoy the Draft Party

This is a very important weekend for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the team thinks you should be involved.

Buccaneer scouts, executives and coaches will spend Saturday fully immersed in the NFL Draft, and you can, too. The team has organized two draft-day events that are open to everyone and bound to raise your heart rate, though in different manners.

While the Bucs' brain trust is doing some last minute strategy work on Saturday morning, you can run in the fifth annual Draft Day Dash, presented by TECO Energy. Later, while the Bucs are huddled in their Draft Room at One Buccaneer Place, you can follow the team's selections at the Official Draft Day Party, presented by Miller Lite.

One of the most popular road races in the Bay area every year, the Draft Day Dash is a 5K run that begins and ends at Raymond James Stadium and winds through scenic Al Lopez Park. Each entrant finishes the race the way Buccaneer players begin their games, by running through a stadium tunnel and out onto the field to the sound of cheers.

Fans can register for the Draft Day Dash ahead of time here or sign up on the morning of the event. The entry fee is $27.

Final registration for the Draft Day Dash begins at 7:00 a.m. ET on Saturday morning. There will be a warmup, led by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders, at 8:30 a.m., and the race begins at 9:00 a.m. Runners are encouraged to stick around for the Post-Race Party, which will include music, food, drink and a prize drawing.

All runners will be entered into a prize drawings to be held during the Post-Race Party. In addition, the top 100 male and top 100 female finishers will receive a commemorative medal from the Draft Day Dash. The top male and female runners and wheelchair participants will be honored with Special Awards of Merit

Buccaneer linebacker Ryan Nece will be at the stadium to serve as the race's official starter. He will also hand out the prizes during the Post-Race Party.

For more details on the Draft Day Dash, please visit the race's information page.

Whether or not you run in the race, you'll want to relax and follow all of the Bucs' picks at the Official Draft Day Party, also held at Raymond James Stadium.

The party, to be held in the stadium's luxurious West Club Lounge, offers free admission and open to all Buccaneer fans. Refreshments and Buccaneer merchandise will be available for purchase. It begins at 11:30 a.m., just 30 minutes before the beginning of the draft, and runs through 5:30 p.m.

The Buccaneers have four draft picks in the first three rounds, which will be conducted on Saturday. They will likely exercise at least the first two – fifth overall in the first round and fourth overall in the second round – before the conclusion of the Official Draft Day Party. Those two players are bound to be important building blocks for the franchise's future, and you can witness the selections along with hundreds of your fellow Buccaneer fans.

Several prominent Buccaneer players, as well as the Buccaneers Cheerleaders and team mascot Captain Fear, will also be on hand to watch the selections and mingle with the fans.

The Official Draft Day Party is the best way to experience this year's draft. You can watch every pick on the huge video walls at each end of the Club Lounge, and on a variety of TV monitors throughout the space. Live radio coverage will be provided by 620 WDAE The Sports Animal. Plus, a raffle drawing will allow fans to leave with autographed Buccaneer merchandise and Miller promotional items.

No pre-registration is necessary to attend the Official Draft Day Party. Just show up on Saturday and join your fellow Buccaneer fans in the draft experience. Free parking will be available in Lots A and 3 on the Northwest corner of the stadium.

For more information on the Bucs' Official Draft Day Party presented by Miller Lite, please click here.