Halloween races are the best. With cooler temperatures and festive atmospheres, they offer the perfect blend of fun and competition. After all, who wants to be beaten by a giant dinosaur?
This year, Race to Restore 5K caught my eye. This race offers a unique experience as participants make their way through the historic Mount Hope Cemetery.
Celebrate the season with the Hot Cider Hustle 5K. This race is set in the picturesque Hawk Island Park in Lansing, Michigan. The course includes beautiful views of vibrant autumn foliage and the tranquil lake. The best part? Once crossing the finish line, unique treats await! All participants receive hot cider and a tasty caramel apple.
It is said that you live a lifetime in an ultra. You have ups and downs. You make new friends. You discover hard things about yourself. You overcome challenges. You fade into darkness. You break into light.
This September I participated in my first 100K. It was hard, uncomfortable, and beautiful.
Don’t be afraid of the name. You’re more likely to encounter mosquitoes than deer flies on this unique and fun trail 5K. The Deer Fly 5 occurs on the pretty, forested trails at Lake Lansing North Park in Haslett, Michigan.
Imagine spending a morning among giant pine trees, fern-covered forest floors, lush bogs, a wide river with waterfalls, and beautiful lakes where moose love to roam. Sound perfect? I thought so. The Tahqua Trail Run takes runners along a spectacular route that has all of those things and more.
Out of all of the races that I have participated in, the Tahqua Trail 25K is one of my favorites. It has everything that I love about trail running on a relatively easy course.
Spend a Saturday morning racing on the Lansing River Trail during the Trail Town 10K and 5K event. Enjoy scenic views of the Grand River, wildlife sightings, and help support the maintenance and expansion of the Lansing River Trail.
Ever since my first ultra three years ago, I have been eyeing the Rock River Canyon 50K. This race is described as a race for runners who want to “immerse themselves in the wild backcountry of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Zen single track”.
Now that I have completed this race, I can honestly say that is a very accurate description.
Trail Weekend is a popular trail race in the area and for good reason. Held in the beautiful Pinckney Recreation Area, it is one of the most challenging courses in the region. Offering 4 distances, it is a fantastic race for anyone who loves the trail.
In 2020, I set off on an adventure to complete my first winter trail run. It was 5 miles through Yankee Springs Recreational Area. It was cold, snowy, and a blast. I’m happy to say I have finally returned to the Winter Trail Fest – West (W.T.F) event and tackled the half marathon. While everything …
Read more “Over the Hills and Through the Creek: Running the Half at Winter Trail Fest – West Side”
When I signed up to participate in the Full Moon 5, I thought it was a great opportunity to get some night-running experience. Little did I know how much fun I was going to have, running on muddy, icy trails in the dark with a bunch of strangers. The sounds of laughter filling the darkness, broken only by an occasional hoot of a Great Horned Owl.
Two days, three races, and a whole lot of hills. The Treetops Trifecta offered everything I could hope for in a trail run, which is why I continue to return to this rugged and challenging race year after year.
I love running in the fall. There is more joy in it for me than any other season. To support that love of the season, I try to squeeze in as many races as possible.
This year I decided to sign up for a Halloween-themed race and that race was the Dansville Halloween 5K.
I chose this race not because the course sounded particularly interesting or because the goodies were enticing (although they were). I chose it because Dansville is my dad’s hometown.
Last year I participated in the Dragons in the Woods 5K trail race at Burchfield Park. The race was cut unexpectedly short by a miscalculation of the course. By over a mile.
Typically I wouldn’t return to a race that is missing that much mileage, especially in a 5K. But because Dragons in the Woods is hosted on one of the trail systems I’m frequently running, I decided to sign up again this year. I’m really glad I did.
If running through hardwood forests and prairie grasslands is your thing, the Legend trail run in Sleepy Hollow State Park is a race for you.
Enjoy the Great Scrap 8K (4.97 miles) run on the beautiful and scenic Lansing River Trail in Lansing, Michigan. Get treated with a tasty popsicle at the finish line and explore the incredible ScrapFest sculptures in Old Town.
Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.
I signed up for the cowbells but I’ll be back for the community.
This fun and fast 5K takes runners and walkers through downtown Elise, Michigan during the Elise Dairy Festival. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. to beat the summer heat, this fun and energetic race is great for all ages and levels of participants
Trail Weekend is a well-known race in the area. It takes place in the beautiful Pickney Recreational Area in Pickney, Michigan, and has a little bit of everything for all trail runners. Participants can choose from 4 different distances, each with its own set of challenges.
The Hippity Hop 5K has become an annual tradition for me. This was my fourth year participating. This year was especially challenging as severe flooding made it impossible to follow the typical route, which ended up being a blessing.
Finding a local 5K trail race is quite the feat. Most races in this area stick to the pavement. Dragons in the Woods is one of the few exceptions. It is 100% a trail race and takes place on one of my frequent stomping grounds – Birchfield Park.
The Timber Trails 5K is an example of an iconic fall race. Cool temperatures, wooded trails, and a scenic course through one of Mid-Michigan’s prettiest county parks.
The “world’s most perfect little trail race” began at sunrise.
With the sound of a buzzer, the Hungerford Games Trail Race started. I was happily on my way to completing my first 50-mile ultramarathon.
Every year multiple cities throughout the United States become the host of a Miles for Migraine 5K event. While there are no races being hosted in the cities near me, for the last few years, I have made it a goal to participate in at least one of these events virtually. My Story For the …
With so many 5Ks occurring in the summer months, it is really hard to narrow it down to which ones to participate in. If you’re looking for a quick and easy summer near Lansing, Michigan, I recommend the Run for Fame 5K.
Spend a day getting to know Robin Hills Farm in Chelsea, Michigan with the Island Time loop race. Choose between a 24-hour, 12-hour night or day, or 6-hour night or day race option and complete as many 2-mile loops as possible.
Hop on the Lansing River Trail and kick off Easter weekend with a fun-filled Hippity Hop 5K!