2024 Overall Winners

United Financial Credit Union Freeland Walleye Races 5K/10K

United Financial Credit Union is once again proud to present the 16th Annual Freeland Walleye Festival Race for 2025!  Join several hundred participants in running and/or walking USATF sanctioned 10k and 5k Freeland Rail Trail/road courses and a Kid’s Fun Run.

 Included with entry:

• Awesome custom finisher medals

• Race t-shirt

• Professional timing results

• Free online finisher photograph

This year’s race is limited to 450 participants.

This race is organized as part of the 39th annual Freeland Walleye Festival through a joint effort between United Financial Credit Union, Dig Deep Race Events, Walleye Festival Organizers and Tittabawassee Township with proceeds being placed back into the Freeland community through the Freeland Lions Club, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  

Date:  Sunday, April 27, 2025

Start Times:  

• Kid’s Fun Run start - 8:45AM

• 10K start - 9:30AM

• 5K Run/Walk start - 9:35AM

• 5K Fun Walk (untimed) start - 9:36AM

Location:  Freeland SportsZone, 5690 Midland Rd, Freeland, MI 48623

Prices:

This year, participants may choose to save $5 by opting out of the shirt at registration. The “with shirt” option will end at Midnight, Sunday, April 20. Those registering after that date who’d like a shirt MIGHT have the option of purchasing race day for $10 on race day - depending on availability.

10K Run

• $35.00 with shirt*

• $30.00 no shirt

5K Run/Walk

• $35.00 with shirt*

• $30.00 no shirt

5K Fun Walk (Untimed)

• $30.00 with shirt*

• $25.00 no shirt

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

• $25.00 with shirt*

• $20.00 no shirt

Kid’s Fun Run***

• $10.00 (includes shirt if registered before midnight on Sunday, April 20)

*The with shirt option is available ONLY until midnight, Sunday, April 20. 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 10k event. The Youth (13 & Under) registration category is only for special youth pricing. This group will start and participate with the adult 5K Run/Walk.

***Please note that all Kids Run youth participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when running the 1 mile event

Packet Pickup and Late Registration:

• Saturday, April 26 - 2:00PM to 4:00PM at Bayne’s Apple Valley, 5395 Midland Rd, Freeland, MI

• Sunday, April 27 - 8:00AM to 9:15AM at Freeland SportsZone

NOTE: The registration platforms used for signing up 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, April 20! These shirts are of high quality and will be available in unisex, ladies cut, or youth sizes. Click on links below for sizing details.

Shirt Sizes Available 

• Small

• Medium

• Large

• Extra Large

• 2XL

• Ladies Cut Small

• Ladies Cut Medium

• Ladies Cut Large

• Ladies Cut Extra Large

• Youth Small

• Youth Medium

• Youth Large
  
  
  

Course Description:

All races will begin near the tennis courts behind Freeland SportZone and will utilize the NEW Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail System addition heading east toward Kochville Township.

10K Course

This year’s 10K course will be an “out-and-back” utilizing a portion of the newly connected Kochville Township extension. Runners will go out 3.1 miles to a turnaround point before heading toward the SportsZone finish line.

5K Course

The 5K is an out-and-back event this year. Runners will run to a point 1.55 miles away along the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail before turning around and returning to the finish line at SportZone.

Times and Timing: 

The 5K and 10K Run/Walk event will be timed in accordance with USATF sanctioning requirements.

5K and 10K Age Groups/Divisions:

• 9 & Under

• 10-14

• 15-19

• 20-24

• 25-29

• 30-34

• 35-39

• 40-44

• 45-49

• 50-54

• 55-59

• 60-64

• 65-69

• 70-74

• 75-79

• 80 & over

Awards

OVERALL AWARDS

Awards will be provided 3 deep to overall male and female winners of the 5K and 10K events. In addition overall winners will receive free entry to next year’s Walleye Festival 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 will be issued to the first place male and female (FIRST PLACE ONLY) in the following 10 year categories:

• 14 & Under

• 15-19

• 20-29

• 30-39

• 40-49

• 50-59

• 60-69

• 70+

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

Results

Both actual and adjusted results from EnMotive 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. 

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.

Race Sponsors