Kick Off Race Season With These Fun Events Around Michigan
| 3 min read
The first day of spring has come and gone, daylight saving time has already started and opening day is out of here, which can only mean one thing: It’s about to be race season! Races can be the perfect chance to be active, have fun, get together with friends and even raise money for a good cause. Whether you’re looking to walk a few miles with your family, bike to a delicious meal or finish a half marathon along the lakefront, there’s a race for you.
- Fifth Third River Bank Run (Grand Rapids, Saturday, May 9): This is the largest 25k road race in the country (that’s 15½ miles!), but there are shorter options for people who don’t want to tackle the whole thing. Register here. If your goal is to be active on a more daily basis, you can sign up for the Fifth Third River Bank Run 10,000 Steps Challenge. You’ll get a free pedometer to track your daily steps along with a 12-week walking program.
- Chelsea Heart and Sole Race (Chelsea, Saturday, May 9): Whether you prefer to walk, run or bike, this event is for you. You can choose from a two-mile walk/run, 5k walk/run, 10k run or 13.8-mile bike ride. If you want to do more than one activity, you can sign up for a combination of a bike and a run (there are a handful of distances to choose from). Register here.
- The Rainbow Run (Ferndale, Saturday, May 30): The messiest you get during most races is a little muddy, but you’ll finish this one covered in all kinds of colored powder. It’s the perfect chance to act like a kid again as you walk or run through the 2k or 5k route. Register here.
- ADA Tour de Cure (Ann Arbor, Saturday, June 6): Leave the running sneakers at home and put on your cycling shoes. The American Diabetes Association is holding bike races in 44 states to raise money for diabetes research, education and advocacy. There are five different race distances to choose from (10-mile, 20-mile, 40-mile, 62-mile and 100-mile routes). Register here.
- Mercy Health Seaway Run (Muskegon, Saturday, June 27): Runners have looked forward to this annual race for more than three decades. It includes a half-marathon, 15k and 5k in addition to a community walk. The 15k goes along the Lakeshore Recreational Trail and takes you to the beach and back, while the 5k and community walk routes go into historic neighborhoods and give you views of Muskegon Lake. Register here.
- Tour de TART (Traverse City, Friday, July 24): This evening ride follows the TART and Leelanau trails, taking you from Traverse City to Marina Park in the Village of Suttons Bay. It’s a lot more relaxed than other races—you can start any time between 4pm and 6:30 pm. As you make your way along the 17-mile route, you’ll come across two food stops. Also waiting for you at the end will be a meal and microbrews. The best part is you don’t need to bike home—bus service will take you and your bike back to the start. The event is only open to 600 participants, so sign up early. Register here.
Need some help getting ready for that first race of the year? Check out these blogs that will get you across the finish line feeling good and with a huge smile on your face:
Photo credit: Peter Mooney
