Lace up your shoes and hit the trail at the Woldumar 5K Trail Race! This is a fantastic community event that brings together runners and hikers for a fun race through scenic woodlands, golden fields, and tranquil wetlands.
Held annually in Lansing, Michigan, the Woldumar 5K offers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of the nature center while supporting a worthy cause.
The Course
This scenic course primarily consists of travel with a section of grass and a tiny bit of gravel. It is one of the best, in my opinion, trail races in the area and well worth it.
Starting near the historic RE Olds Anderson Rotary Barn, we followed a short gravel path before immersing ourselves in the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
The first mine wound through a tallgrass prairie, offering glimpses of diverse birdlife. The terrain was uneven and there were some gentle rolling hills through this section.
Shortly after the first-mile marker, we turned into the woods and entered one of my favorite parts of the trail. The old-growth white pine forest. Towering pines created an enchanting atmosphere, filling the air with the refreshing scent of pine needles. This section is truly a highlight of the course.
As we transitioned out of the pine forest, we entered a mixed maple and beech woodland. The terrain through this section has some minor hills but a lot of sneaky roots. Around the two-mile mark, the trail opened up and revealed beautiful views of the Grand River. This is another one of my favorite spots along these trails.
The final mile took us by tranquil ponds and the serene lagoon. There are a few easy hills to climb along the way but there is one in particular that seemed to prove difficult for others. It is a steep gravel hill that, once ascended, leads to another less steep but longer hill. This is about 0.3 miles from the finish and certainly added to the challenge of the course.
The Goodies
All finishers received one of the coolest finisher medals I’ve seen in a while. In addition, participants receive a hooded long-sleeve t-shirt that is fairly comfortable but not super warm. Perfect for those fall days.
Age group awards were also given to those who finished in the top 3 of their age group.
Woldumar Nature Association
The Woldumar Nature Association is a nonprofit organization that engages over 7,000 students in outdoor education each year. The programs support quality science education for young people throughout Greater Lansing. Their mission is “To educate people about the natural environment.” The funds from this race go to support the association and its mission.
This organization is one of my favorites. Woldumar Nature Center is a haven for me to find a piece of nature when I can’t get very far from the city.
Overall
I love the trails at Woldumar Nature Center and I loved getting to challenge myself on them. I was not only able to come in first for my age group but I also set a personal record for the course.
This race has a special place in my heart and I look forward to running it again next year.
For more information about Woldumar Nature Center, visit Woldumar.org.
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