5K races near Dexter Township

The Oakland County Cross Country Championships is an annual high school cross country race series in Milford, Michigan, held at 4570 Huron River Parkway. The meet begins in the morning, gathering Oakland County teams for boys and girls races across varsity and junior varsity divisions. Each listed race is a 5K, simplifying the format: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity, Boys JV, and Girls JV all run the same distance. The event has a long local history, with the championship count already past sixty editions, establishing it as a regular fall checkpoint for county programs.

Turner’s Trot is a 5K run/walk offered in two formats. One route follows the Charles River in Boston, beginning at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell with a wave start and concluding with a festival at the same location. Proceeds from the Boston race benefit the Justin Turner Foundation. The Ann Arbor race honors Ryan Turner, a fourth-year dental student who passed away in the city. It generates funds for the Ryan Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund, which supports dental students attending the annual ASDA conference. Consequently, the event attracts dental students, residents, faculty, alumni, University of Michigan students, and local residents. Previous Ann Arbor races have taken place in County Farm Park and Gallup Park, featuring refreshments, breakfast, finisher prizes, raffles, and T-shirts for early registrants.

The St. Patrick Pierogi Run is a 5k run/walk based at St. Patrick Parish in White Lake, Michigan. The main event starts and finishes at the parish on Hutchins Road. A 1-mile Pierogi Family Fun Run/Walk is available for those seeking a shorter, easier option. The race emphasizes the post-run meal alongside the running. Participants receive pierogi and smoked kielbasa after the race, with lunch served in Patty Hall. Spectators may purchase additional meal tickets for family and friends. Early registration for the 5k and 1-mile events includes the meal and a T-shirt. A meal-only option is also offered for those who wish to attend the parish lunch without participating in the run.

The HPWC Orphan Run 4 Hope is a charity race day at Bethpage State Park focused on fundraising for orphan children. Runners can select a 5K, half marathon, or full marathon, while walkers and families have a Family Fun Walk and a 1K walk. The event is organized by PLC and asks participants to turn their race entry into a fundraising effort, with friends, relatives, and co-workers invited to sponsor them. The race prioritizes offering people several ways to participate, from full-marathon runners to non-runners starting from scratch. PLC offers a “Couch to Race Day” program for individuals seeking assistance in preparation, and registered participants receive a personal webpage link for donations. The funds support care for over 6,700 orphan children through orphanages in 25 countries, including India, Kenya, Mexico, Thailand, Haiti, Nepal, Uganda, Ukraine, and Paraguay, with a stated objective of providing a safe Christian upbringing.

The Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists Oktoberfest 10K/5K and Kids Superhero Run is a fall race day held at Consumer's Plaza in downtown Jackson, Michigan. The start and finish are located in front of the old post office, which is now Consumers Energy headquarters. The event offers adults a 10K run, 5K run, or 5K walk, and children 10 and under can participate in the Kids Superhero Run. The course is designed using the best sections from previous races and is professionally timed by the Michigan Running Foundation. The children's run embraces the superhero theme, encouraging costumes and providing a goodie bag, a finisher medal keychain, and a free scoop of ice cream from RJ's Burgers & Ice Cream. Participants in the 5K and 10K races receive a shirt, a finisher medal, and a $10 certificate for downtown Jackson businesses. This race is part of the ORS Race Series, sponsored by Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists, and benefits the Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity Garrett Family Fundraiser.

The Ostomy 5k in Ann Arbor is a Run for Resilience event held in early October around Ostomy Awareness Day. The main race is a 5K with two entry options: an Open Division for general participants and an Ostomate Division for runners and walkers with ostomies. Children can join separate 50-yard dashes, split into ages 5 and under and ages 6 to 10. The event is built for families as much as racers, with local vendors, food, music, and space for groups to gather. Participants can create or join race groups after registering, which allows friends, family, co-workers, and community members to participate under the same team name. All proceeds go to United Ostomy Associations of America, a 501(c)(3) charity, and donations are tax deductible.

Miles at the Moose directs runners and walkers onto Moose Ridge Golf Course in South Lyon, Michigan, utilizing cart paths and fairways instead of city streets. The event features a 5k in the morning following a kids’ 1k, with the shorter race attracting primarily children ages 2 to 10. The 5k provides overall awards for the top three men and women, while the 1k is structured for parents to accompany children without registering unless they desire a shirt and medal. The course navigates the golf course grounds, offering more varied terrain than a flat road race. Dogs are permitted on short leashes, strollers are allowed, and slower stroller groups should begin toward the rear. Donuts, cider, and refreshments are available before and after the race, with a portion of proceeds benefiting St. Louis Center and Garrets Place.

The KDB Melanoma 5k Run/Walk is an annual 5 km event held at Kensington Metropark in Milford, Michigan. It focuses on melanoma prevention, with participants raising funds for research and patient services in memory of Kathy Bowers. The event is community-organized, not corporate. Individuals can register independently, form a team, join a team, or make a donation. After two decades of Team KDB organizing the race and raising over one million dollars, friends and family associated with Amazing Amanda are continuing the event and its support for AIM at Melanoma.

The Barn Run is a New England trail race series centered on working farms, offering spring and fall events in Dover, Massachusetts. It is presented as New England's first and only farm-based trail race series, with each event providing runners a choice of distances instead of a single set format. The courses guide runners past farm fields and onto forest trails, featuring races at Powissett Farm with short and longer options including 5k, 10k, 25k, and 26k distances. Spectators can enjoy farm attractions while runners are on course, and the series also highlights local farm programs and initiatives. Sun Multisport Events, an endurance event company based in Massachusetts, produces the races.

Spooky Sprint - Ann Arbor takes place in October at Kensington Metropark, featuring a half marathon, 10K, 5K, untimed 1-mile, kids' dash, and a virtual option. Bodies Race Company presents this event as part of its Holiday Series, designed for runners aiming for a personal best and families seeking a costume-welcoming fall activity. The longer races use chip timing with live results, while the 1-mile and kids' dash offer a relaxed pace. The half marathon begins in the morning, following park roads shaded by trees and paved trails around Maple Beach. The course has a fast, gently rolling terrain, avoiding steep hills. Costumes are welcome, and finishers will receive Halloween treats. Early registrants get race merchandise, including a custom bib, a designer shirt, and a medal. The kids' dash is open to children aged 10 and under, with a free option that does not include merchandise. Youth pricing is available for the 5K and 10K, making the shorter distances more accessible for families.