After completing the Full Moon 5 back in January, there was no way I was going to pass up another opportunity to race the trails at night. Nighttime races, outside of ultras, are pretty rare around here. They provide a unique challenge that you won’t find in a typical race.
Nighthawk 5 is a blast! The route is slightly different from the winter version, but the experience is the same. A beautiful run through the dark on a windy trail with only a headlamp and the full moon illuminating the way.
Grab your headlamp (again) and hit the trails!
Nighthawk 5 Course
Nighthawk 5 is a loop course, kind of a lollypop, at Sleepy Hollow State Park near Laingsburg, Michigan.
The start and finish were at the Equestrian Staging Area and connected directly to the park’s horse trails. I had not previously been to this section of the park and I have to say, it was very pretty, especially at the golden hour before the sunset. The majority of the race followed the horse trails, switching over to the typical hiking trails later in the race.
After a heavy rain, it was quite the muddy adventure. From big mud puddles to the squishy black stuff that tries to suck your shoe off your foot. There was mud everywhere, and it was a blast. Despite the mud, the majority of the course was still entirely runnable. There were a few sections where I had to slow down for a few steps. Most of it was easy going.
In terms of scenic views, being a night race, there wasn’t much to look at. However, at one point, we popped out of the woods and into a big, open field under the night sky, full of stars.
The Goodies
One of the things I love about the Michigan Trail Experience races is that each race has its own patch. I’ve been working on collecting all of them over the last two years. For me, it is a fun item to collect, even though I have no idea what I’m going to do with them. Participants also received a Michigan Trail Experience sticker and a tech t-shirt.
Those who finish in their age group receive a $10 gift card to Playmaker’s, the local running store. Those who finish first overall get a $25 gift card. I love getting these gift cards because I’m constantly needing to replenish my fuel options for my longer runs.
Michigan Trail Experience
The Michigan Trail Experience is a local organization that puts on multiple trail races throughout the year. Along with Nighthawk 5, I have also participated in the Full Moon 5, Spring Trot 5K, and the Deer Fly 5K.
The races are well organized, and the community that attends is incredible. I highly recommend their races to anyone who loves trail running or wants to experience trail running.
For more information on the Nighthawk 5 or to sign up, visit RunSignUp.com. Follow the Michigan Trail Experience Facebook for updates and when registrations open.
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