With my first 100-miler looming, this year isn’t just about logging miles. It’s about intentionality. Every race I’ve picked for 2026 serves a purpose. Whether it’s a training milestone, a technical challenge, building mental endurance, or running a race as a training run to help break up the miles a bit.
These days, there are so many excellent races out there that we unfortunately can’t participate in them all. So here are my (current) picks of the year and why I’m choosing to run them.
Full Moon 5
Date: January 31, 2026
Location: Sleepy Hollow State Park
Distance: 5 Miles
Registration: Run Signup – Full Moon 5
Why I Picked It
This will be my third year running the Full Moon 5. It is one of the few races in the area that takes place at night, making it an excellent training opportunity to get comfortable with running in the dark, test out lights, and get some mental training for night running.
The organization behind this race is fantastic, and another reason why I keep coming back. Michigan Trail Experiences creates a welcoming atmosphere for all, whether you’re a seasoned trail runner, just starting, or if you prefer to walk.
What to Expect
By participating in the Full Moon 5, you’ll get to enjoy a true winter trail experience. Sleepy Hollow offers a great mix of rolling terrain that isn’t technical. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to hear the familiar “who-cooks-for-you” call of the Barred Owl mixed in with the laughter of other participants navigating the nighttime trails. The condition of the trail varies each year. It could be packed snow, slick ice, or frozen mud.
If you’re nervous about trying trail running at night, this is the perfect entry point. The course is well-marked, and the community is incredibly supportive.
Winter Trail Fest – Eastside
Date: February 14, 2026
Location: Island Lake Recreation Area
Distance: Half Marathon
Registration: Winter Trail Fest Half Marathon & 5 Mile Eastside
Why I Picked It
Winter Trail Fest is a perfect social training run. It is a fun way to log longer miles alongside a great community. The energy is upbeat, fun, and challenging. You’re surrounded by fellow trail lovers braving the Michigan elements.
In addition to a great community and fun trails, the swag for this event is pretty fantastic. The hooded sweatshirts that participants receive are comfy and cozy. They last too! I still wear the one from my very first Winter Trail Fest 4 years ago.
What to Expect
The course at Island Lake Recreation Area isn’t technical, but the right winter conditions can turn the course into a snowy, icy challenge. Some years, I’ve worn shorts and a tank top. Others, I’ve needed my ice cleats. If February continues our winter trend, this year it’s going to be incredibly cold and icy with lots of snow to slow you down.
This is a fantastic mid-winter boost to keep your accountability and motivation high. There are multiple registration options available, including the economy package (no swag), and bundling with the Summer Trail Fest Ultra that occurs in June.
Trail Weekend
Date: April 25, 2026
Location: Pinckney Recreation Area
Distance: 50K
Registration: Trail Weekend
Why I Picked It
I signed up for Trail Weekend 50K as a milestone training run in my 100-mile build-up. My coach recommended a 50K in April to help practice moving through aid stations, crewing techniques, and figuring out what works for fueling, hydration, and gear testing. All the things that come with running an ultramarathon. Doing a 50K in April allows time to make tweaks before the next big run.
Why specifically Trail Weekend? Aside from it falling in April, I have previously raced both the half-marathon and 50K of this event. Being familiar with the course and the ability to access the trails during long runs on the weekends will give me more opportunity to focus on the other items at hand.
That being said, it is also a beautiful course that has plenty of hills, roots, and rocks to keep you mentally challenged, focused, and having a blast.
What to Expect
Hosted by RF Events, Trail Weekend is a staple for Michigan trail runners. The course takes you through the glacial hills of the Potawatomi Trail, famous for its constant, punchy climbs and technical roots. The start and finish line is at Silver Lake Beach, and the course is a looped course.
There are 8 aid stations for the 50K throughout the entire course that offer all the goodies. Potatoes, candies, coke, ginger ale, water, pickles, and more tasty things that you’ll want while running an ultra. There is also a dropbag option for those who are running without crew near mile 15. The cutoff for the 50K I believe is 9 hours.
Additional distances include a 5-mile, half-marathon, and marathon.
Whether you’re interested in a 5-mile distance or the full 50K challenge, I highly recommend this one if you love the trails.
Summer Trail Fest Ultra
Date: June 13, 2026
Location: Sleepy Hollow State Park
Distance: 50 Miles
Registration: Summer Trail Fest Ultra
Why I Picked It
I originally signed up for the Summer Trail Fest Ultra Half Marathon because I figured it’d be another good opportunity to change things up by incorporating a race into my long run. It is also one I have never done, although I’ve run the course multiple times.
After signing up, Trivium Racing announced they were adding a 50-mile distance to this race. I still needed a 50-mile run to round out my 100-mile training, and with this one falling in the right time frame, I switched to the longer distance. Again, per my coach’s suggestion, this race will be focused on mental training, fueling, hydration, and gear testing.
The course itself does not excite me, but it’ll help with the mental training component.
What to Expect
Sleepy Hollow State Park is not my favorite place to run. Sections of the trails are beautiful; however, there are plenty of sections that get very muddy, are grown over with tall grass, and are completely open fields. It could be incredibly hot, muggy, and buggy, but there are some sections that are fully forested and offer some wonderful views of the lake.
The course begins and ends at the North Pavillion at the beach, and includes my favorite section of Sleepy Hollow, the island. This is another looped course with loops and each loop contains 6 generous aid stations. Aid stations will include items like candy, pretzels, tailwind, gels, watermelon, potato chips, and more. At the finish, there’s a party with hotdogs and burgers.
Millennium Meadows Marathon
Why I Picked It
Date: August 30, 2026
Location: Millennium Park
Distance: Marathon
Registration: Millennium Meadows Marathon
I will be completing the Millennium Meadows Marathon alongside my friend, Dustin. It will be the first time both of us participate in a marathon. We chose Millennium Meadows because it is designed in a loop format that makes it much easier for crew logistics. Our crew can stay in one spot, see us multiple times, and avoid the headache of navigating traffic and finding parking.
Beyond the convenience, I love that it takes place in a beautiful park, offers an early start for those who need it, and doesn’t have a strict cutoff, as long as you’re out there putting in the work. It takes the pressure off the clock and allows us to focus on the basics, especially with this being a first marathon. Our goal is to finish.
What to Expect
Tis the season for looped courses. The marathon is made up for 6 loops around the Secchia Meadows in Millennium Park in Grand Rapids. The course is scenic, winding through meadows and wetlands, and is 100% paved. It is a flat course and is an ideal setting for a first marathon. Dustin completed the half-marathon last year and set his half-marathon PR.
There are 2 aid stations on the course with gatorade and water only. This event does not offer food at their aid stations.
Wolverine State 100
Date: October 10, 2026 – October 11, 2026
Location: Petoskey to Alpena, MI
Distance: 100 Mile
Registration: Wolverine State
Why I Picked It
I put a lot of thought behind why I wanted to attempt a 100 miler. Social media these days seem to almost romantize this distance, claiming it be “easier than a marathon”, mostly walking, managable cutoffs. Realistically, doing a 100 mile is not easy. It is incredibly challenging, mentally and physically. The preparation alone is a massive undertaking, with so many different things to consider.
On top of preparation, thinking about race day…race days…anything can happen. So why do it?
The answer isn’t a simple one that I can share. It is a feeling. A desire to push myself in a way that even if I fail, I still feel the reward of trying.
But why Wolverine State specifically? Because what better way to celerbate the state you love than run across it? And, as an added bonus, a portion of the course goes through one of my favorite places in the state. How could I not be intrigued by that? I get to run from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron in less than 33 hours.
What to Expect
My intention was to run this race in 2025, it’s inaugural year. However, when Brisco got sick, I knew instantly that the timing of this race was not right. I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible and that was far more important to me than racing and training. I am even more grateful I made the choice not race because even though I didn’t know it at the time, it gave me the gift of more time with Delilah too.
In all those painful weeks, months, and over the course of the year, I had the time to research gear, study the Wolverine State website, test everything, and read the reviews in October. While I feel more prepared about what to expect, I also feel like I have no idea. A new distance with new challenges.
What I do know is that during October in northern Michigan, you never know what the weather is going to be like. It could be hot, it could be warm and rainy, it could be cold and snowy. And it could change from hour to hour.
The course is a mix of singletrack, gravel and limestone roads, and seasonal road. The cutoff time is 33 hours and while the elevation is fairly flat, there are some technical sections with roots and rocks. I’m planning on spending some of my summer weekends running on portions of the trail to get a better feel for what to expect from the course.
There are aid stations every 5-8 miles, some unmaned with just water and gels while others have gels, pickles, tailwind, coke, pierogies, potato chips, candy, broth, bacon, fruit, bean and cheese wraps, noodles, and so much more.
The nice thing about this race as well is there are several zoom sessions that participants can attend to learn more about the race, get tips of what to expect, and really a better understanding of what it means to run a 100 mile race.
Additional ultra distances are available for those who don’t want to tackle 100 miles. Those are a 50K, a 100K, and a 100 mile relay.
The Road (and Trail) Ahead
I fully expect this schedule to shift as the year unfolds. I’m sure there will be random 5Ks that I pick up for fun, breaking up long runs and adding a little more speed to my training. And of course, I will be prioritizing recovery as my body dictates it. But being able to use these races as stepping stones to my ultimate focus – Wolverine State 100 – will make training that much more fun.
Between the official starting lines, there will be plenty of back-to-back weekend-long runs. I’m already looking forward to logging big miles on the High Country Pathway and Shinglemill Pathway, located in one of my favorite places in lower Michigan, Pigeon River State Forest. I also have the Manistee River Trail on my weekend explorations and, of course, ticking off new miles on various sections of the North Country Trail.
2026 is going to be a year of intentionality, exploring new places, and discovering myself. I can’t wait to see where these trails lead me.
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