7 events in Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Join us on May 2, 2026, for the 16th Mud, Sweat & Beers – A Homegrown Spring Cycling Event with Purpose

Mud, Sweat & Beers is one of Michigan’s most anticipated spring mountain bike races, drawing nearly 1,000 riders and hundreds of spectators each year to the trails and lodge at Mt. Holiday. Known for its high-energy atmosphere, challenging courses, and unforgettable finish through a muddy chute, MSB blends competition with celebration, all while supporting local nonprofits. Since 2010, the event has raised over $800,000 for Mt. Holiday and community partners.

Riders will launch and finish at Mt. Holiday Ski and Recreational Area overlooking beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. Adult racers will travel through the scenic VASA Trail system before returning to Mt. Holiday’s stadium finish.

This year’s 16th annual race is going full 1980s! We’re introducing a new Retro–Klunkers category, so dust off those pre-’95 rides, crank up the hair metal, and ride like the wind!

Participants can choose from a 25-mile Stout, 12-mile Pale Ale, under 2-mile Ginger Ale, or the kids’ mini-loop, fondly known as Mud, Sweat & Root Beers. Local brews will be on tap for adult riders, who can enjoy the kids’ race later in the day while sampling Traverse City’s best.

All proceeds from the event support Mt. Holiday, the Midwest’s only nonprofit 501(c)(3) ski and recreation area. Since 1949, Mt. Holiday has been built by the community, for the community. Our mission is to continue that legacy by providing value-driven outdoor fun, fostering connection, and creating a space where everyone can share in the spirit of adventure.

Age groups are determined by the rider’s age on race day.

Race Categories

25-Mile Stout – Categories for both men and women:

Elite

Expert

Sport

Clydesdale/Athena

Tandem

Single Speed/Fixed

Tour (not timed)

Vintage – Klunkers (Pre-1995 Mountain Bikes Only!)

12-Mile Pale Ale – Categories for both men and women:

Sport

Beginner

Clydesdale/Athena

Tandem

Single Speed/Fixed

Tour (not timed)

Vintage – Klunkers (Pre-1995 Mountain Bikes Only!)

Ginger Ale – Grouped by age and gender, not timed.

Root Beer (Kids Race) – Grouped by boys and girls:

6 and under

7 and over

Preliminary Schedule for 2026

Friday, May 1, 2026

Packet Pickup: Mt. Holiday, 4–7 PM

New for 2026! The Greater Michigan Ford Dealers Packet Pickup Party in the Mt. Holiday Beer Garden featuring The Headwaters Band!

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Race Day Packet Pickup: Mt. Holiday, 7–8:30 AM

Stout Race Start: 9 AM

Pale Ale Race Start: 9:30 AM

Ginger Ale Race Start: 12:30 PM (approx.)

Root Beer Day Registration: Mt. Holiday Lodge, 12–1 PM

Root Beer Race Start: 1 PM

Awards Presentations: 2 PM

Beer & Food Tent: 10 AM–3 PM

All times and activities are subject to change.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued. Riders who need to cancel may donate their entry fee to Mt. Holiday (501c3) or transfer their registration to another rider. A $25 transfer fee is required, along with a completed registration and signed waiver. All transfer fees will be donated to the Mt. Holiday Scholarship Fund.

On May 2, 2026, experience live music and art as you traverse a course of accommodating paved and unpaved trails. Registration proceeds support student scholarships, so every step you take makes a difference in a young artist's life.

IMPORTANT UPDATE!! Interlochen Run for the Arts has a LIVE AND VIRTUAL option.

Participants have two options:

• 1. Run the LIVE event on the Interlochen Arts location or
• 2. Stay at home and run/walk your event with VIRTUAL options.

• With a virtual race you can run the 5K distance anywhere, in your neighborhood, on a treadmill, at a nearby park. You will have between Saturday, May 2nd and Saturday, May 16th to complete your 5K. Once you have the 5K completed you will enter your time in the Run Sign-up website. Instructions will be provided for all Virtual Participants.

• If you participate in the virtual event you will still receive a race t-shirt and medal! We will ship the t-shirt and medal to you. Cost of shipping is included in the race fee.

Event Location:

Interlochen Center for the Arts Campus

4000 M-137

Interlochen, MI US 49643

Registration Fees:

• Pre-registration Pricing (by 11:59 p.m. on April 30th): $35

• Late Registration (Friday) and Race Day (Saturday) registration pricing: $40

Event Times:

• Friday Packet Pickup - Running Fit (300 East Front Street), 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

• Saturday Packet Pickup - Fine Arts Building located on Interlochen Center for the Art's Campus, 7:30 am - 9:00 am

• Saturday RACE TIME - 9:00 am

• Awards - 10:00 am

Age Divisions and Awards:

• Overall Male and Overall Female

• Age Division Awards (Male and Female): 14 and Under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79,and 80 and Over

Timing and Scoring:

Timing and scoring will be done by Mac's Sports Timing using ChronoTrack technology. Results will be LIVE on RunSignUp and posted during the event.

Looking to take your fundraising to the next level?

Make your run go even further by creating a fundraiser during Interlochen’s third annual Act for Art Giving Days! Rally your friends and family to join you in raising funds for scholarships that ensure the excellence of Interlochen is accessible for students from all backgrounds. You can start fundraising any time, but gifts must be in by May 10th (the week after Act for Art concludes) to count.

Act for Art Giving Days

Join us for the fifth edition of the Run The Runway at the Cherry Capital Airport benefiting the Wings of Mercy West Michigan

PACKET PICK UP AT 5:00-7:00 PM Friday 5/15/2026 AT "Fleet Feet" ,300 EAST FRONT ST , TRAVERSE CITY, MI

PACKET PICKUP ALSO RACE DAY AT THE TENT.

TVC5K “Run the Runway”. A 5K run/walk for charity held on the actual closed down north south runway of Cherry Capital Airport. Every year the outstanding team at TVC, Cherry Capital airport lets us shut down one runway and we get to run right down the middle of where the planes land and take off. Please come join us for a great event on a unique location few people get to experience. The purpose of this race is to raise awareness of Wings of Mercy in Northern Michigan. Wings of Mercy offers free flights to distant medical destinations for families who can’t afford to travel commercially. Since 1991, our volunteer pilots have donated over 8,000 flights to some of the best hospitals and treatment centers east of the Rocky Mountains. It has been our privilege to serve hundreds of patients from Traverse City and Northern Michigan, and we hope to make an even bigger impact in this region. I'm not only race director I am a volunteer pilot for Wings of Mercy. I flew patients almost 10,000

miles last year!

The 2025 TVC5K , sold out with 500+ runners and we had multiple corporate sponsors. We were able to raise over 24,000 dollars and even signed up a couple of new volunteer pilots. We are upscaling this year and opening the gates to 700 runners.

Because the race takes place on the airport we are offering up close and personal access to airplanes and helicopters and a chance to chat with aviation professionals. The people that come to race will have access to the North Flight AeroMed helicopter, a Cessna 172 and a floatplane from Northwest Michigan College Aviation department, and some of the fire trucks and rescue vehicles that protect all of the passengers and pilots who use Cherry Capital Airport. We are planning on having the Women in Aviation booth as well as Civil Air Patrol present at the race venue. The US Coast Guard base is directly across the ramp from the start of the race and they will have one of the UH60 Jayhawk helicopters on the ramp. We embrace aviation and hope to share our passion for it with all people who attend the race and hopefully spark the interest of young people to follow their dreams and choose aviation as a career.

Looking forward to seeing you on race day!

Steve Melvin , race director, volunteer pilot,

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