5K races near New Baltimore

Jordan's Run the Runway 5K Series: Sarnia-Lambton is a 1km event.

The Heart Diggity Dog 5K, a dog-friendly run/walk in Midtown and Downtown Detroit, begins at 9am from Brush Mall, near the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan and the DMC Heart Hospital. This event is organized by the Detroit Police Department and the Detroit Medical Center's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. Separate registration is available for participants with dogs and those without. The route commences at 311 Mack Ave., situated between Beaubien and John R streets. It proceeds down Brush toward Comerica Park, circles through the adjacent neighborhood, and concludes back in Midtown. Human runners receive a race t-shirt and a custom medal, while canine participants are given a Heart Diggity Dog 5K bandana. Proceeds from the event benefit the Detroit Police Department.

Forever Home Run combines a professionally timed 5K run/walk with a 1K Dress-Up Dash for children in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. This autumn charity race in Oakland County offers both on-site and virtual participation, generating funds and awareness for Legacy Adoption Services and foster children awaiting permanent adoptive families. The 5K route winds gently through Bloomfield Hills, while the shorter Dress-Up Dash provides a costume-friendly race for children. The event accommodates families, runners of varying paces, walkers, and children, with on-site activities focused on the adoption mission. Now in its twelfth year, the race supports efforts across Michigan to protect children, connect families with resources, and help more children find stable homes.

Run for the Frontline is an annual 5 km run/walk in Sarnia, Ontario, featuring a timed 5 km option and a 1 km fun run for children 12 and under. The event honors first responders and frontline workers, designed for both runners and walkers, not solely competitive racers. The route winds through Canatara Park, offering a natural park setting rather than a city course dominated by roads. Proceeds benefit charities assisting frontline workers, linking a community fitness event with tangible support for the individuals it aims to recognize.

Taking a Shot at Breast Cancer is a Fort Gratiot, Michigan event offering a 5K run and a 2-mile walk. The race begins at 9 AM from 4775 24th Ave, utilizing the Fort Gratiot Trail for a direct local course, distinct from a large urban race. The event benefits breast cancer awareness and marks its eleventh year. Designed for both runners and walkers, it accommodates those aiming for a 5K time and groups preferring a shorter walk for the cause. A shirt and sponsorship deadline is set for mid-September.

Scare Away Hunger is a 5K run/walk and a 1-mile fun run/walk held on October 5th at Rochester Municipal Park in Rochester, Michigan. Neighborhood House organizes this event to raise funds to combat local food insecurity, with MSU Federal Credit Union serving as the presenting sponsor. The event is designed to be family-friendly, offering the 5K for runners and walkers, and a 1-mile course suitable for children, families, and casual participants. The course is contained within Rochester Municipal Park. The 5K is open to participants of all skill levels, not exclusively fast racers. Halloween is incorporated into the day, with costumes encouraged. Following the run/walk, participants can enjoy music and a Pancake Breakfast. The funds generated will benefit Neighborhood House, a Rochester Hills nonprofit that assists over 3,000 households annually with food, clothing, financial aid, and other support.

The Dew What You Say 5K is a Wayne State University Physical Therapy fundraiser held in Detroit, taking place on the school’s Midtown campus around Gullen Mall. Participants can choose between a 5K run/walk or a 1-mile walk for a shorter option. The event begins in the morning with affordable registration and a straightforward setup, functioning as a campus community gathering to raise funds for the physical therapy clinics, rather than a large-scale city event. The funds raised benefit Wayne State’s student-operated pro bono clinics: the SAY Detroit Physical Therapy Clinic and the Diabetes Education and Wellness Clinic. These clinics provide services to uninsured and underinsured Detroit residents. Race proceeds contribute to the purchase of supplies, educational resources, and general clinic maintenance throughout the year. While specific course details are minimal, the location is defined: runners and walkers will assemble near Wayne State’s Biological Sciences Building on Gullen Mall. On-site and nearby parking is available, and the first 100 participants will receive tote bags.

The Neighborhood Block Party Run/Walk is a costume-friendly 5K fun run and walk held around Halloween in Sterling Heights, Michigan. It is designed for families and runners alike: strollers are permitted, the distance is manageable, and participants can choose to compete, walk, or simply be part of the neighborhood week it initiates. The route follows paved paths through Farmstead Park and along the Clinton River Trail, with only a few meters of packed dirt. Proceeds support Riverwood’s Neighborhood Block Party, a free Halloween night event serving hundreds of local families, making the race both a morning activity and a fundraiser for the community party.

The Halloween Hustle is a Halloween-season run and walk held at Lake St Clair Metropark in Harrison Township, Michigan. All activities are based at the Thomas Welch Activity Center, with the start and finish lines located just outside. Participants can select an 8K, a 5K, a half-mile Fun Run, or virtual 5K and 8K options. The Fun Run begins in the morning, followed by the 5K and 8K races concurrently. This schedule allows families to accommodate children, walkers, and runners seeking a timed result. The race embraces the holiday theme while maintaining essential elements: chip timing, photography, post-race refreshments, age-group awards (0-12 to 80+), a long-sleeve tech shirt, and a glow-in-the-dark finisher medal. Costumes are encouraged, with contest categories for Most Creative, Best Crazy Hair, and Best Group, along with separate Most Creative divisions for younger and older participants. Dogs and strollers are permitted, group pricing is available to encourage family participation, and Maggie's Wigs for Kids serves as the charity partner.

The Frightful 5K and Pumpkin 1K begin at the Troy Community Center, located at 3179 Livernois Road in Troy, Michigan, during the Halloween season. The City of Troy hosts the event, offering an 8:30 am 5K for runners and walkers, followed by a 9:30 am Pumpkin 1K family fun run for children and their families. The 5K follows a USATF-certified route that departs the Community Center, proceeds along Big Beaver, and concludes with a loop around the Troy Civic Campus. Costumes are encouraged, with participants invited to wear spooky, scary, or humorous attire, blending a timed road race with a local Halloween tradition.

The Set the PACE 5K is a run and walk event held on the Detroit Riverwalk in October. Participants can choose between an in-person 5K run, an in-person 5K walk, or a virtual run/walk. The in-person race begins and ends at the Riverwalk, with proceeds benefiting PACE Southeast Michigan, an organization assisting older adults in maintaining safe, independent lives within their homes and communities. The course follows a timed out-and-back path along the riverwalk, passing through Milliken State Park. A water station is positioned at the turnaround point, approximately 1 mile from the start. Runners begin before walkers, who start a few minutes later; late entries are not permitted. All finishers will receive medals. Awards are presented to the top male and female overall runners, as well as top age-group runners. This marks the event's fifth year. Pets are not permitted on the course, and the race will proceed regardless of weather conditions.

The Oceana County Vet Day 5K is an annual 5K run in Downtown Shelby, Michigan, held on the second Saturday of November. It starts and finishes at the newly renovated Getty Park, and the Oceana County Department of Veteran's Affairs organizes the race as its main fundraiser. The route heads north on Industrial Drive, then loops back south on the Hart-Montague Trail. All proceeds stay in Oceana County to help local veterans with needs such as rides to medical appointments, food pantry support, and other assistance. Same-day registration is available, and runners are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start.