Escape the ordinary and embark on a magical adventure at the Full Moon 5! This unique night-time trail race offers an unforgettable experience.
This was my 2nd year participating in the Full Moon 5 and it certainly won’t be the last. Running through the dark on windy trails that cut through prairie grassland and hardwood forest with only a headlamp and the full moon illuminating the way. The calm silence was broken only by the occasional laugh from another participant or the hoot of a Great Horned Owl.
Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
Time to grab your headlamp and hit the trails!
Full Moon 5 Course
The Full Moon 5 takes place in January at Sleepy Hollow State Park in Clinton County Township. Being in Michigan in January means that the trail is most likely to have a nice coating of snow, adding an extra layer of challenge to this race.
The race starts and finishes at the beach parking lot by Lake Ovid. From there, participants stick almost 100% to the trail with only a small portion of pavement at road crossings.
The course has a little bit of everything. Roots, rocks, hills, and flats. It provides a challenge but doesn’t take away from the tranquil experience of running in the woods at night.
Because it is a night race, there weren’t too many interesting things to look at. However, in one section, we exited the woods and ran across an open field. It was cloudy this year, but I suspect in the future this section will be one of my favorites with the stars shining brightly above.
The Goodies
All participants receive a finisher patch, a Michigan Trail Experience Sticker, and a Michigan Trail Experience coaster. To keep the price lower, race shirts were optional and could be added on as an additional cost. I haven’t gotten one of the shirts yet but both years I regretted not ordering one. They are really neat and glow in the dark.
Overall male and female finishers received a $25 Playmakers gift card. First places in each age group received a $10 Playmakers gift card.
Michigan Trail Experience
The Michigan Trail Experience is a local organization that puts on multiple trail races throughout the year. Along with Full Moon 5, I also participated in the Deer Fly 5 last year at Lake Lansing North.
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.
Overall
Will I be back a third time? Absolutely.
The Michigan Trail Experience races are my favorite local races to participate in. Finding shorter-distance trail races can be challenging but these events provide an excellent entry point into the sport for those who love trail but don’t want to run longer distances. They offer a fantastic opportunity to experience the thrill of running on trails and to meet the supportive community that embraces all runners.
This race inspires me. It reminds me of the joy I find in trail running, the peace and tranquillity that I find on the trail, and the amazing community that I get to be a part of.
For more information, visit Full Moon 5.
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