Fred Lutzke Memorial 5k Race and Walk 2026

The Fred Lutzke Memorial 5k Race and Walk is a self-timed 5k in Battle Creek, Michigan. It begins at 9:00 AM from Battle Creek Friends Church on Olive Street. Participants will run and walk through Wattles Park and the Ott Biological Preserve. The course is designed around this park and preserve route, not city streets or a closed-road setup. The race welcomes walkers, runners, strollers, and leashed dogs. Its primary goal is to support the Love Thy Neighbor Food Pantry Backpack Program, which supplies meals for families and lunches for children in partnership with the South Michigan Food Bank. Each registration provides a backpack with a weekend's worth of meals for eight local children. Participants receive post-race snacks upon returning to the church.