5K races near Howell

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.

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.

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.

5K On The RUNway takes runners and walkers onto the runway at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan, for a flat, fast 5K on a Saturday morning in early October. The main event includes separate run and walk starts, and children have their own Little Pilots Run before the 5K field begins. The airport setting influences the day's logistics: participants park at Genesee Career Institute, clear security with a bib or spectator pass, and take an MTA shuttle to the airport grounds. Spectators require free advance passes, late registration is not available, bags must be clear, and water is provided only at the finish. Following the race, shuttles return participants to cider, donuts, and post-race food at Genesee Career Institute. The event is hosted by the Crim Fitness Foundation, connecting local running with a charity-backed fitness organization.

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 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.

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.

Dragons in the Woods guides participants onto the Birchfield Park trails in Holt for a demanding autumn trail race. Now in its 13th year, the event accommodates both experienced trail runners and families aiming to complete the course at a run-walk pace. All proceeds benefit Island City Academy, a charter school in Eaton Rapids. Trophies are awarded to the overall and Masters champions, divided by gender. Age-group winners receive pint glasses, adding a local, relaxed character distinct from typical award ceremonies.