Welcome to the Red Moon Trail Run presented by Bayne’s Apple Valley!
Dig Deep, Bayne’s Apple Valley and Jolt Credit Union welcome you to the 10th Annual Red Moon Trail Run! We, along with our partners at Midland City Forest, Runners Athletic Company and Runnin Gear are excited to once again get you on the trails for a unique and fun running event. We hope you enjoy it as much as we love putting it on!
We highly recommend coming prepared with some of the basics for night-time trail running: a headlamp or light source; trail shoes; insect repellent; and light technical clothing for warm weather running (and a hoody or jacket for after as it may cool down at night). Our partners at Runners Athletic Company (and our friends at Runnin Gear in Waterford and Complete Runner in Flint and Grand Blanc) can get you set up with good shoes, light options and technical gear if you’re in need! The weather is looking great and the refreshments are on ice! Can’t wait to see you all Saturday!
Oh, and once again, please note the exclusion of dogs for this year’s event. We apologize if this is a disappointment to anyone (as it certainly is to us). If you signed up specifically because you wanted to run with your pooch, please contact us at info@digdeepraces.com to discuss.
RED MOON TRAIL RUN
Date
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Location
Midland City Forest
Address
2840 E Monroe Rd, Midland, MI 48640
Packet Pickup
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM, race day only (field below the sled hill, Monroe Parking Lot)
Distances
5K (1 lap) · 10K (2 laps) · 25K (5 laps) — wide trail, not single-track
Start Times
6:00 PM Daytime 5K
8:15 PM Nighttime 25K (NEW start time)
8:45 PM Nighttime 10K
9:15 PM Nighttime 5K
Arrive by packet pickup (opens 5PM) to get your bib and, if ordered, your shirt before your event's gun start.
What You Need to Bring
• Head lamp or running light — REQUIRED for all night events. The course is not lit; only marked with LED guide lights.
• Valid driver's license, if 21+ and want an adult beverage at the finish (strictly checked).
• Trail-friendly shoes recommended (not required) — course has wide dirt trail sections.
• Cash/card only needed if buying extra merch on-site; entry and packet pickup are prepaid via registration.
Course & Navigation
• Flat, wide trail trail through Midland City Forest — no single-track.
• 5K = 1 lap, 10K = 2 laps, 25K = 5 laps. Multi-lap runners get split times at the finish arch each lap.
• Course changed slightly from Snow Moon: start/finish is in the field below the sled hill (not the parking lot).
• Water station on course at the bridge — passed twice per lap. Water, Gatorade and small snacks available (for the longer distance runners).
• Walking or rucking is welcome in the 5K or 10K only — stay to the right side of the trail.
Amenities
• 4" finisher medal, custom race bib, and professional chip timing for all participants.
• Free online race photos at the finish arch (night photos with headlamps can be hit-or-miss).
• Cold adult beverages (21+ only, valid ID required, must stay inside the enclosed tent area).
• Shirts (if ordered): pick up at packet pickup. Anything not picked up by close of packet pickup (9PM) is forfeited, no refund — arrange a friend to grab it if you can't attend.
Awards
• Top 3 overall, male & female: Daytime 5K, Nighttime 5K, Nighttime 10K, and 25K (all based on gun-start time).
• No age-group awards for this event.
Results & Photos
• Scan the QR code on your bib after finishing.
• Results posted at digdeepraces.com within 48 hours, courtesy of Great Lakes Race Management.
• Link to photos will be posted on race website and on social media within 24 hours.
Good to Know
• No dogs — this is a USATF-sanctioned event; service animals only.
• No refunds. Transfers only for verifiable injury, to next year's race, requested 3+ days before race day.
• Can't make it? A friend can pick up your bib/shirt/medal on-site.
Parking -
PACKET PICKUP IS UNDER THE TENT AT CITY FOREST! The parking location is the same - at City Forest’s Monroe Road Lot and along the SOUTH side of Monroe Rd as noted by yellow lines in image below. The Tent Location is in the field below the chalet and at the base of the sledding hill. See image below.
Race Course
FAQ’s
What is the terrain like? Will I need traction for my shoes? The course is NOT single track trails. It is wide path that is fairly smooth but might have puddles, sticks, roots, rocks throughout. Trail running shoes are recommended and can be purchased locally at area Runners Athletic Company locations!
Can I bring my dog to this race? Unfortunately, No. This event is sanctioned by USA Track & Field. Per USATF: “USATF sanctioning policy does make a distinction between service dogs and pets. Service dogs are allowed to participate, where family pets are not. It’s a matter of liability, we just can’t approve events that allow animals (excluding service animals)”
Do I need a head lamp? We highly recommend head lamps so you can see where you are stepping. Trail races by nature require more attention to one’s footing. Roots, rocks and darkness increase the need to be more aware of your footing. Trails will be “marked” by small LED lights that do NOT provide surrounding light and are visual markers intended only to help provide direction.
Will the trail be lit or marked? The trail will not be lit. However, there will be LED lights and course markings to guide runners through the course.
Will there be an aid/water station on the course? Yes. The course constricts for a bridge crossing at approximately the .75 mile mark. An aid station providing water, Hammer Heed sports drink and snacks of several sorts will be set up at sign 11 on the event map so that runners will pass by it twice for every 5k lap.
Do I need special running shoes for this race? Not necessarily, though trail specific shoes would help tremendously in keeping your footing on this course. We recommend you visit our friends/partners at Runners Athletic Stores in Midland, Saginaw, Bay City, and Mt Pleasant to find the best available options!
Can I walk or ruck instead of run? Absolutely. We ask that you sign up ONLY for the 1 Lap 5k or the 2 Lap 10k races and that you remain to the side of the trail and out of the path of runners if you choose to walk or ruck though.
Can I bring my own beverages? Midland City Forest allows open non-glass containers. However, out of respect for our Presenting Sponsor Bayne’s Apple Valley, we’d ask that any personal “refreshment" be from Bayne’s.
What kind of beverages will be served? Bayne’s will be serving a selection of craft beers and hard ciders.
Will I be able to buy shirts? A limited number of extra t-shirts will be available in various sizes. There will also be a limited number of past Red Moon and Snow Moon shirts for sale from both races. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted!
Will there be a drop bag area? We will have an area behind the registration table to drop bags. We will also have a limited number of DIG DEEP drawstring bags to give away. Participants may bring their own bags (duffel bags, backpacks, grocery bags, etc.) but we ask that they mark any bag being held to race staff with participant name for identification.
Will there nutrition on the course? We will have water and Gatorade on the course for 5K and 10K participants. There will also be Twizzlers, Cookies, Pringles and CocaCola for the 25K runners. We ask that 5K and 10K participants please refrain from “tasting” the goodies intended for the longer distance participants. 25K Runners: please feel free to offer suggestions to the Full Moon Junction (water station) attendants for future snacks.
For cool images and to keep up to date on Moon Run registration and happenings, please be sure to follow us through Social Media. We know it can be exhausting…but we want you to be AWARE! (And emails often get caught up in spam boxes) Don’t miss out on future offers or (GASP) take the chance on not getting in to Snow Moon Trail Run next year! Follow Us!
Be sure to check out our awesome sponsors and partners!
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-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.