5K races near Williamston

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 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 for Mentorship is a 5K walk or run at Hawk Island, starting and finishing at the Red Tail Shelter. This is the sixth annual edition and it supports Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region, with proceeds funding one-to-one mentoring relationships for local youth. The 5K follows an out-and-back course and is chip timed by the Michigan Running Foundation, with results posted during the race and online. Children age 12 and under can participate in the free Spooky Sprint Kids Run, where Halloween costumes are encouraged and every finisher receives a treat bag and medal. A virtual 5K option is also available for those who wish to support the event without attending in person at Hawk Island.

The MiCHN 5K & 1-mile run/walk takes place entirely within the Michigan State Capitol Complex in Lansing, utilizing concrete sidewalks and paved paths. It features a 5K run/walk beginning in the morning, followed an hour later by a 1-mile run/walk, accommodating families and walkers as integral participants. The 5K follows a three-loop course around the Capitol complex, allowing spectators to easily track runners and participants to anticipate the route. The event supports Homeschool Day At The Dome, uses RunSignup for registration, offers age-based pricing for children, teens, and adults, and provides shirts for early registrants. Awards are presented to the top three male and female finishers in age groups ranging from young children to those over 40.

Pick your allegiance: Team Blue or Team Green? This run/walk lets you declare your loyalty with a corresponding shirt. Signage and volunteers will guide and cheer you. Afterward, unwind at the Wellness Center, try the 360 degree indoor sky track or the 89 degree therapy pool. Gather your Sororities, Fraternities, or Running Groups for a discount!

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.

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.

The Haunted 5K, 10K, 13.1M & 26.2M is a late-October running event in Lansing, Michigan, offering four distances: 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. All races begin at 9:30 AM. Advance registration is required through RunSignup, as there is no race-day signup available on site. The courses are straightforward out-and-backs. The 5K completes one loop, the 10K completes two, the half marathon completes four, and the marathon completes eight. Packet pickup is available 30 minutes before the start and concludes 10 minutes prior. Participants should anticipate a park vehicle fee upon entry, charged per car, not per person.

The Playmakers Ghostly Gallop guides participants around Uncle John's farm in Saint Johns, Michigan, offering a 5K Run/Walk, a BOO Dash, and a 1 Mile Kids XC Race. This event is centered on Halloween-season racing, with the 5K taking place entirely off-road, giving it a cross-country feel rather than a street race. The course winds through corn stalks, pumpkin patches, and apple orchards, providing open farm vistas. Families are central to the event, with two short race options for children and cider and donuts available at the finish. Post-race activities include access to the taproom, tractor rides, a corn maze, live music, and food trucks. The Ghostly Gallop name carries local historical significance, with a 5K version previously supporting the Hudson Area Library as a fundraiser.

The Pumpkin Glow Run is an evening fall race at Spicer Orchards. Runners start as the sun sets, with the orchard illuminated for a Halloween-season night. The main event is a chip-timed 5K offering live results, overall and age-group awards, free race photos, a race bib, a Dri-Fit shirt, and a finisher medal. A Kids Fun Run is also available, along with a virtual option for those who wish to have the shirt, medal, and bib mailed to them. The course is contained within the orchard, emphasizing a harvest-themed run after dark over a fast city route. Each in-person runner receives a small pumpkin and sweet cider upon finishing, contributing to the event's distinct Spicer Orchards character rather than a generic Halloween 5K. The event accommodates families, casual runners, children, and award-seekers by combining a timed race with simple fall amenities.

The Woldumar Trail Run is an annual early-morning trail event at Woldumar Nature Center in Delta Township, Michigan. Runners and walkers use natural paths through the woods and along the Grand River, making the race feel like a run through the center’s land rather than a road race adjacent to a park. The event is the nature center’s largest fundraiser of the year, attracting about 250 participants. It originated from an idea by members and volunteers. The field now includes adults on the main trail routes and younger runners in the Delta Dental Muskrat Mile, a one-mile course designed for aspiring athletes.