FREELAND FREAKY 5’s - 5K & 5 MILE - presented by United Financial Credit Union

A first in many ways… the inaugural Freaky 5’s in Freeland is a Halloween-themed running race along the newest section of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail system. Taking place at Hayes Park in Freeland, participants can expect professionally timed 5K Run/Walk and 5K Run events and an un-timed youth 1 Mile Fun Run. We LOVE this new section of trail and are excited about showcasing it in the fall. This year’s race has Glow-in-the-Dark medals and is limited to just 400 participants!

Costumes are highly encouraged! In fact, there will be youth and adult costume contests with prizes for the Top Overall youth (13 & Under) and adult costumes. Adult Costume Award Bowl includes the following Gift Certificates: $50 from Runners Athletic Company and $20 from Baynes Apple Valley. Youth Costume Award bowl includes the following GIft Certificates: $20 from Barney's Bakehouse Bakery & $20 from Baynes Apple Valley

After the race, a gift basket from Bayne’s Apple Valley will be given away on-site to a lucky participant using a random number selection of race bib. Winner must be present to win!

 Included with entry:

• Awesome custom finisher medals

• Race t-shirt (if registered “with shirt”)

• Professional timing results

• Free online finisher photograph

This year’s race is limited to 400 participants.

Date:  Saturday, October 26, 2024

Start Times:  

• Kid’s Fun Run 11:00AM

• 5 MILE start Noon

• 5K start 12:05PM

Location:  Hayes Park, 9200 Midland Rd, Freeland, MI 48623

Registration Prices:

5 Mile Run

• $35.00 with shirt*

• $30.00 no shirt

5K Run/Walk

• $35.00 with shirt*

• $30.00 no shirt

Youth (13 & Under) 5K Run/Walk**

• $25.00 with shirt*

• $20.00 no shirt

Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run***

• $15.00 (includes shirt if registered on or before midnight on Sunday, October 20)

*The with shirt option is available ONLY until midnight, Sunday, October 20th. Please note that shirts not picked up before close of packet pickup will be forfeit by registrant and will not be refunded. If unable to attend event it is the responsibility of the registrant to have someone pick up their items or to arrange alternate pickup prior to the event.

** There will not be a separate category for Walkers at this event. All participants in the 5K are free to run and/or walk as they see fit. Youth pricing is available only for the 5K event and is not available for the 5 Mile event.

***Please note that all Kids Run youth participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when running.

Packet Pickup and Late Registration:

• Saturday, October 26 - 9:00AM to 11:45AM at Hayes Park, 9200 Midland Rd, Freeland, MI 48623

NOTE: Registration platforms charge a nominal fee to participants when registering. We just don’t want you to be surprised when you go to register online!

T-Shirts 

Event-specific t-shirts are guaranteed ONLY to those who register for the “with shirt” option online on or before midnight on Sunday, October 20th! Adult unisex shirts are 100% polyester performance DRI-POWER t-shirts of high quality and will be available in either Orange or Silver. Youth shirts will be a cotton material and are only offered in Orange.

Shirt Sizes Available 

• Unisex Small

• Unisex Medium

• Unisex Large

• Extra Unisex Large

• Unisex 2XL

• Youth Small

• Youth Medium

• Youth Large

Course Description:

All races will begin and end on the Great Lakes Regional Trail in front of Hayes Park. The course is “out-and-back” for all events and will lead runners along a short section of trail running parallel to Old Midland Rd (and past Pine Grove Cemetery!) until turning toward the Tittabawassee River. Once participants make the turn toward the river, they’ll be on open trail through winding path with no vehicle crossings. It is a BEAUTIFUL section of trail! Runners will turn around at their respective halfway points and will return to the start/finish arch.

Times and Timing: 

The 5 Mile Run and 5K Run/Walk event will be timed in accordance with USATF sanctioning requirements. The Fun Run will not be timed.

5 Mile and 5K Age Groups/Divisions:

• 9 & Under

• 10-14

• 15-19

• 20-29

• 30-39

• 40-49

• 50-59

• 60-69

• 70-79

• 80 & over

Awards

OVERALL AWARDS

Awards will be provided 3 deep to overall male and female winners of the 5 Mile and 5K events. In addition overall winners will receive free entry to next year’s Freaky 5’s Event in the category they win. 2nd Place overall finishers will receive 50% off and 3rd Place overall finishers will receive 25% off entry to the 2025 event. Finish times for this year’s event for overall awards will be determined by “gun” start and chip finish.

AGE GROUP AWARDS

The top male and female finisher in each age group listed above in the 5 Mile and 5K events will win an age group award. Results will be posted almost immediately after each participant finishes. They can be accessed by scanning the URL code on the race participant’s race bib. Age Group Awards may be collected shortly after completing the race. Please BE SURE TO CHECK RESULTS AND COLLECT AGE GROUP AWARDS on race day. Even if you don’t think you’ve won, we ask that you PLEASE CHECK. Awards not collected will not be mailed. It is the participant’s responsibility to collect them on race day.

NOTE: All participants will receive high quality finisher medals at the finish line upon completion of their event!

Race Sponsors

RACE PARTNERS

Results

Both actual and adjusted results will be displayed at the event and will be posted at DIGDEEPRACES.COM within 48 hours of race completion.

Volunteers

Interested in volunteering? Events like this can’t be successful without great volunteers! Sign up at the link at the top of this page and we’ll be in touch.

FAQ’s 

Can I run with my dog?

We love dogs too! Unfortunately, the sanctioning body for this event (USA Track & Field) strictly prohibits the participation of dogs (other than service animals) at events.

Can I run/walk with a stroller?

The narrow racecourse utilizing out and back runner traffic on the Freeland Rail Trail means that we cannot allow strollers for the 5 Mile and 5K events. Strollers WILL be allowed for the fun run. 

What does “USATF Sanctioning” mean?

It means that organizers have followed a process with USA Track & Field that requires creation of a safety plan and purchase of outstanding insurance covering participants, volunteers, sponsors, partners and organizers of the event. It also means that your race results will be official for scoring purposes (assuming you track that sort of thing).

What happens if the event is cancelled? Will I receive a refund?

Unfortunately, no. We’ve had to wait this long for registration to open because we wanted to be reasonably sure the event will take place. At this point, most of the registration money has been allocated to shirts, medals, race bibs, etc. and this weird year’s financial toll on race management means that refunds will not be possible should the event be forced to become virtual due to safety reasons or government mandates.

How will overall winners be determined? Finish times for this year’s event for overall awards will be determined by gun start and chip finish.

Refund and Transfer Policy

We completely understand that plans change and athletes will sometimes be unable to compete in an event they've signed up for.  We also understand that registering for one of our events is a financial investment in that race. We accept your registration funds with the full intention of putting on the promised event with the listed amenities and we use your registration funds to pay for the necessary items and services needed to host the event. With that in mind, refunds will not be provided for this event unless the event is cancelled for reasons within our control.  The following are examples (but not limited to) of reasons an event might be canceled that are NOT within our control: Dangerous weather; natural disasters; pandemics; acts of terrorism; local emergencies; government mandates; and any situation creating a threat to safety of participants, volunteers, staff or bystanders.

Should an athlete have an injury or other medical issue keeping them from competing in an event they've registered for, we would be happy to transfer their registration to a similar Dig Deep Race Events-owned event up to and including the same event the following season.  A doctor's slip may be required as proof of injury or ailment.  Failure to provide proof if requested will result in non-transfer of the event.

Transferring registrations to other runners/athletes is NOT allowed.