22 events in Kent County, Michigan

Are you yeti for this?

A sprint distance triathlon unlike any you've experienced in the area before; a winter triathlon! Utilizing 12 miles of trail system at Cannonsburg Ski Area, our race will consist of trail running, fat tire biking, and cross country skiing. We have options for duathlon, single discipline, and relay-so there will be something for everyone! Mark your calendars and check the website as more information will be provided as we get closer to race day!

Events

Triathlon: 2 loops on run course (approx 5k), 1 loop on fat bike course (approx 10k), 1 loop on cross country ski course (approx 2 mi). Entry includes custom snow globe medal, sweat shirt, food, and beer.

Duathlon: Run/Bike. 2 loops on the run course, followed by 1 loop on the bike course. Entry includes finisher medal, knit hat (or toque for our Canadian friends), food, and beer. Upgrade to this years sweatshirt for $20.

Single discipline: your choice of a 5K run, or 10K fatbike. Entry includes finisher medal, knit hat (or toque for our Canadian friends), food, and beer. Upgrade to this years sweatshirt for $20.

Relay: Team of 3-each team member completes the appropriate distance of their assigned event (run, bike, xc ski). Entry includes finisher medal, knit hat, food, and beer. Upgrade to this years sweatshirt for $20.

Double Down Challenge

Sign up for and complete both the Abominable Snow Tri and Gaylord’s Tri 45 winter triathlon and receive some extra bling! Just $10 to register as part of the Abominable Snow Tri and challenge yourself to the only 2 winter triathlons in Michigan! Only eligible to athletes who participate in the triathlon (no duathlon or single discipline racers).

Aid Stations

There will be one aid station at the transition area as you exit. Due to the time of year and the difficulty of the trails there will be NO AID STATIONS on any of the courses. We will have cold water and HOT Gatorade! (Apparently this is a thing in the winter triathlon world).

Packet Pickup

Packet pick up will take place Saturday February 21 from 1-6pm behind the patrol building (between the patrol building and the creek), and Sunday Feb 22 from 6am-7:30.

Race Start Times

We are going to try and stagger our race starts to help spread out people on the trails. Start times will be based on your registered event.

8am: Full tri and relay start

8:05: Duathlon start (run, bike)

8:10: Run ONLY

8:15: Bike ONLY

Order of Events

For those participating in a multi sport event, this is the order you will be racing:

Triathlon: Run, bike, XC ski

Duathlon: Run, bike

Courses

Bike and Run courses will be mostly single track, please follow proper trail etiquette while out on course. If someone is attempting to pass you, please allow them to do so when SAFE by pulling over to the side. Courses will be marked with their own unique color for signs and flags, please pay attention to what color and course to follow.

Run Course

Course is marked with BLUE flags and signs. The run course will take place on the Dirt Dawg and Haunted Forest trail located in front of the main parking lot. This course can get technical, especially over in the Haunted Forest section. Some sort of traction device is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if there is snow! There are some steep hills and quick turns you will need to navigate. You will complete TWO LOOPS to get 5k travelling counter clockwise. There will be signs, markers, and volunteers to help direct you.

Bike Course

Bike course is marked with ORANGE flags and signs. A big thanks to Bill Norman for helping us plan out a 10k section for the race and for grooming! The bike course utilizes a nearly 10K groomed loop that winds through the woods behind the ski area. Bike course is roughly 90% single track, with some two track that will be shared with the cross country course. Bike course has roughly 450ft of elevation gain, expect some short but punchy hills. For up to date trail conditions please follow West Michigan Trail Conditions on Facebook. As a reminder: just like in a regular triathlon, you are NOT allowed to ride your bike into or out of transition! There will be designated marked areas instructing you where you are allowed to mount or dismount your bike at the transition area. You must have a fat bike! Anyone with tires less than 3.8in wide will not be allowed to race-snow or no snow. Studded tires are allowed.

Cross Country Ski Course

Course is marked with GREEN flags and signs. The ski course is a roughly 2 mile loop around the back of the ski area, with some shared track and intersections with the bike course, and some shared with the downhill ski runs. Classic and skate skis are allowed, however it is a technical course for skate skiing and has short sections that are not wide enough for skating. We will NOT have cut in tracks for classic skiing, but of course people are welcome to do whatever style of cross country skiing they are most comfortable with. In the event of no snow, racers will complete one additional loop on the run course following the bike. You are NOT allowed to mount your skis in the transition area, please carry these to the mount line as you did with your bike.

Transition

Transition area will be open to multiple discipline racers only, no single discipline racers are allowed in the transition area. Transition will open at 6:30 am to allow for racers to set up, and close at 7:45am. Please make sure you have everything in place before the transition area closes. We will have bike racks like those you would find at a summer triathlon. 6 bikes to a rack, no assigned spots.

Some things to consider for your transition:

Run to Bike – Be sure that your bike equipment is easy to use with gloves on. Putting on a heavier glove and/or jacket for the bike section is often necessary to stay warm. You are not allowed to mount your bike until you get to the mount line, so it helps to practice running with your bike in the snow!

Bike to Ski – You are allowed to ski with your bike helmet on. Ski boots are not the fastest or easiest shoes to take on and off, and you must carry your skis and poles out to the mount line. Practice makes perfect!

Age Group Awards

We have some nice embroiderd fleece beanies we will be giving out for age group awards! Awards will go to top 3 male and female for the triathlon race in the following age ranges:

29 and under

30-39

40-49

50-59

60 and up

Awards will happen around 11am. If it's not too cold we will try to have awards outside. Hopefully as the race grows in future years we will be able to offer awards to our other race events as well!

Weather Policy

We're doin' the thing no matter the weather! Should we have no snow racers will complete either one or two loops (yet to be determined) along the base of the ski hill. One loop is slightly less than 1.5 miles with minimal elevation change.

Post Race Celebration

Make sure to bring a change of clothes after the event to celebrate. Archival Brewing will be in The Sweet Spot (the shipping container on the deck) serving chili for registered participants. Saugatuck Brewing will also be providing complementary post race beers for participants in a tent right by The Sweet Spot. MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR RACE BIB AS THIS IS YOUR FOOD AND DRINK TICKET. Family and friends may purchase beers and food up in the Cedar Lounge inside the lodge. Meijer has donated food and we will have s’mores stations set up at various bonfires at the base of the ski hill and on the deck. We will have age group awards (fleece beanies) and these will take place outside if the weather cooperates. The lodge will be open for participants to use, and the ski area has been making some pretty amazing brunch specials that will be available for purchase.

The White Pine Thaw Marathon Relay will be Sunday, March 22nd, starting in Comstock Park, Michigan, on the southern most section of the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail. It's held annually on the second Sunday of March. Competitors form teams of runners and on race day, will each take a leg of the relay, covering 13.1 miles, north to Russel Road, where the course returns back south to Comstock Park. There are easily accessed parking lots and bathrooms, roughly every four miles. The trail is routinely plowed by Friends of The White Pine Trail and covers very few low traffic crossroads.

Who We Are: Healthy Kids Running Series is a five (5) week running program in the spring and fall for kids Pre-K through 8th grade. Each HKRS Series takes place once a week and offers age-appropriate running events including the 50 & 75 yard dashes, the 1/4 mile, the 1/2 mile and the 1 mile run. Kids will earn points for each race they complete based on their finish.

Pricing: The registration fee covers the entire five (5) weeks of the Series which includes race bibs for each week, a runner shirt, a finisher medal and any sponsor giveaways. Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. Online Early Bird registration increases three weeks prior to the first race event.

Challenger: This Series offers a Challenger Division which is an adaptive 75 yard race for children with disabilities and/or special needs. This allows for parents, siblings, and friends to be on the course with runners to provide support as well as bringing their own supportive devices such as crutches, braces, wheelchairs, etc. to be used by runners.

Makeup Date Information: 5/31/2026

Single Day Racing: Single day race registration opens one hour prior to the start of each race. The registration fee covers one single race to be run on the day of registration. ALL single day registrations should be completed onsite at the race location. Single day racers will have the option to upgrade to the full series (see tab on the left side of the page for instructions). There is a strict no-refund and no-transfer policy.

Awards: All participants receive a medal on Week 5! Trophies will be awarded to the overall top finishers in each of the divisions listed below (broken out by boys and girls respectively):

Pre-K 50 Yard Dash

Pre-K 75 Yard Dash

Kindergarten & 1st Grade

2nd & 3rd Grade

4th & 5th Grade

6th to 8th Grade

Challenger

Share your running photos with our community! Find us on Facebook @HealthyKidsRunning or Instagram @healthykidsrs!

#GetUpandGo

Join us at the Bier Distillery 5K (or 1 mile walk) in Comstock Park, MI on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Start time is 9:30 am. The 5K and 1 mile route will utilize the White Pine Trail system. Participants will receive a craft cocktail or craft soda courtesy of Bier Distillery after they finish the event.

All proceeds benefit Food Hugs!--Food Hugs is driven by a single goal--"to do our part in making the world a better place for all. This is done through crowd funding and the generous hearts of amazing local people. The concept is simple, we feed front line workers, people who have suddenly lost a loved one, or anyone in need of a pick-me-up."

What you get when you register:

-Race t-shirt, guaranteed if you register by midnight April 22. We will order extra shirts but may run out (or not have your size). We'll set the extra shirts aside for those that registered after the cutoff.

-Timing for 5K and 1 mile

-Traffic free route

-Voucher for cocktail or craft soda to be redeemed at Bier Distillery

-Potential overall or age group award

-Post race snack

Packet pickup will be held at Bier Distillery starting at 8:30 am on Saturday, May 3. Bier Distillery's address is 5295 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321. Day of event registration will be available.

Age groups are as follows: 12 and under, 13-15,16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

Join us at the Bier Distillery 5K (or 1 mile walk) in Comstock Park, MI on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Start time is 9:30 am. The 5K and 1 mile route will utilize the White Pine Trail system. Participants will receive a craft cocktail or craft soda courtesy of Bier Distillery after they finish the event.

All proceeds benefit Food Hugs!--Food Hugs is driven by a single goal--"to do our part in making the world a better place for all. This is done through crowd funding and the generous hearts of amazing local people. The concept is simple, we feed front line workers, people who have suddenly lost a loved one, or anyone in need of a pick-me-up."

What you get when you register:

-Race t-shirt, guaranteed if you register by midnight April 21. We will order extra shirts but may run out (or not have your size). We'll set the extra shirts aside for those that registered after the cutoff.

-Timing for 5K and 1 mile

-Traffic free route

-Voucher for cocktail or craft soda to be redeemed at Bier Distillery

-Potential overall or age group award

-Post race snack

Packet pickup will be held at Bier Distillery starting at 8:30 am on Saturday, May 2. Bier Distillery's address is 5295 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321. Day of event registration will be available.

Age groups are as follows: 12 and under, 13-15,16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

The South Suburban Christian Schools are hosting the third annual Strong Foundations 5K Run/Walk this spring. The goal of this community event is to raise funds for the five schools’ Foundations, which reduces the overall tuition costs for all students. Again this year, there will be a Strong Foundations Fun Run, which is a 1-mile run for all ages and it will be officially timed.

The South Suburban Christian Schools include:

• Byron Center Christian

• Dutton Christian

• Legacy Christian

• Moline Christian

• South Christian

Join us May 16th for the 5th annual Brian Reiffer Addiction Awareness 5K Run/Walk, a community event dedicated to remembrance, education, and hope.

Hosted by Max Effort Performance, this 5K run and walk raises awareness about addiction and overdose while raising funds to support local agencies and families impacted by substance use. Over the past four years, we have welcomed approximately 200 participants annually and raised more than $50,000 to support organizations such as the Kinzler Family First Foundation, Elle’s Place, and Selah House Recovery, as well as a trust established to benefit Brian’s four children.

We remain committed to our mission to raise awareness, provide resources, and offer encouragement to individuals and families affected by addiction. We also celebrate those on the path of recovery, and we hope this event serves as a reminder that you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone.

About Brian

Brian Reiffer was a well known and deeply loved member of the Caledonia community. In July 2021, Brian lost his battle with opioid addiction, leaving behind four children, three sons and a daughter, and a family forever changed by his loss. As we move into our fifth year without Brian, we continue to find ways to share information related to drug abuse and overdose prevention while educating community members, friends, and families about the support systems available to them.

Why This Matters

The impact of overdose in our country is staggering. Drug overdose is one of the leading causes of death for adults ages 18 to 45, affecting families, workplaces, and communities across the United States every day. In 2023, more than 78.4 million fentanyl laced counterfeit pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized in the United States, an amount equivalent to hundreds of millions of potentially lethal doses. With just 2 mg of fentanyl being a potentially deadly dose, the need for awareness and action has never been more urgent.

If this event reaches just one person, one friend, one father, one daughter, and offers them hope or a connection to support, then we have made a difference. We invite you to join us on May 16th as we run, walk, remember, and advocate for change.

Together, we can turn awareness into action.

This is a stroller and dog friendly event.

#BrianReiffer5K #AddictionAwareness #YouAreNotAlone

Join us for the annual Hometown Half Marathon & 5k/10k! A run local-themed event that is perfect for the whole family.

The fun includes -

• Great Swag - designer shirt & custom medal

• Chip-timing with live results and awards

• Pacers for the half marathon

• Free photos

• Delicious Treats waiting at the finish line

• Plenty of fun!

Grab your friends and family, you are not going to want to miss this one!

Can't make the race? No problem! We offer a virtual race option where you can run anywhere, at any time, and still earn the fun swag!

*Youth-based pricing for the 5k/10k, 12 & Under are only $17!

• Half Marathon Registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

• 10k registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

• 5k registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

• 1 Mile registration is untimed and includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

• The kid's dash is a fun, untimed dash for our kiddos ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specifically crafted medal for our kids' dash event! (If your child wants to run the kid's dash, and doesn't want the SWAG, they are welcome to run with us on race day for free!)

*Register by midnight on Thursday, two Thursdays before race day, to guarantee your shirt!

While our event brings in some of the best athletes from across the country, we have also been named one of the Top 5 Best Triathlons for Beginners in the country according to Triathlon Business International. This two day triathlon event is a chance for athletes of all skill levels to compete on a scenic riverside course, perfect for the novice through the seasoned triathlete.

Full event information can be found on our website.

21 EVENTS TO CHOOSE FROM: 5 events at each distance: Super Sprint, Sprint, Olympic, Half (Triathlon, Triathlon Relay, Duathlon, Aquabike, Swim Only) plus you can join us virtually!

AIR TEMP (AVG): 58 F / 78 F

WATER TEMP (AVG): 72 F and wetsuit legal.

The Grand Rapids Triathlon's flat, fast course is ideal for the new and experienced triathlete alike. Enjoy a beautiful swim in the lake-like Thornapple River, ride the flat country-road bike course then run our the scenic, shaded run course with loads of local support. It’s the largest triathlon in Michigan and offers Super Sprint, Sprint, Olympic and Half distances in addition to Aquabike, Duathlon, Relays, and Swim-Only events. Come experience a world-class event in Grand Rapids, MI in June!

Hi!

My name is Johnny Agar and I’m the Race Director of the 3rd Annual St. Patrick Parnell Festival 5K named Johnny’s Run!

Being an athlete was something I had always wanted, and my cerebral palsy tried to prevent me from becoming one! Wheelchair sports were out of the question since I can only use one hand, and nobody wants someone on their team who can only spin in circles! 😊

Several years ago, my dad started pushing me in road races as a way for me to participate in sports. After doing several races with my dad, I knew I was capable of more after seeing athletes around me push themselves past their own physical and mental challenges.

So, I decided to finish a race on my own two feet with the help of my walker even though I had only ever walked 23 steps! I accomplished my goal in 2013 at the Saint Patrick Parnell Festival 5k. It took me one hour and forty-five minutes to complete and it was an amazing accomplishment for me!

That “Impossible Mile” has led to an abundance of blessings— one of which is being able to direct this traditional race that the Festival Committee agreed to dub now as Johnny’s Run (Hosted by St Patrick Parnell Festival) It's quite an honor, and I’m equally honored to be learning how to direct a race from one of the area’s best -- Mr. Tom Theoret, who was the race director for nearly 30 years growing the Irish Jig from a few hundred to the many thousand who run it today.

I would love to invite you to participate with us in this family-friendly race that always kicks off the St Patrick Parnell Festival in Parnell, Michigan.

This year, we are excited because there will be THREE opportunities to participate...the Johnny's Run 5k , the Impossible Mile Challenge, and the Kids' Race!

The 5K begins at 8:00am on July 4, near the Caledonia High School north entrance at 9050 Kraft Ave, Caledonia MI. The race runs throughout the campus, the Thornapple Trail, Lakeside Park, and finally heads back to the high school.

All proceeds from the Kilt Klassic events benefit the Caledonia High School Men's and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs.

Packet pickup will occur on Friday, July 3, from 4pm-7pm at Caledonia High School North Entrance at 9050 Kraft Ave Caledonia, MI 49316, and before the race on Saturday morning, July 4 from 7:00am-7:45am at the same location. Shirt sizes are only guaranteed to preregistered runners who register by June 16. No guaranteed shirt for participants who register after that date.

Kids Fun Run will start at 9:15am.