Winter Trail Fest 13.1 and 5 Mile Eastside

Winter Trail Fest 13.1 and 5 Mile Eastside is a trail event at Island Lake, near Brighton in Green Oak Charter Township, Michigan, on February 13, 2027. Four options are offered: a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a five mile race, each available either as a run or as a ruck with a weighted pack. Start times are not published. Finishing this event along with the Summer Trail Fest ultra, half marathon or five mile earns a medal from the series.

Winter trail running asks for different preparation than a road race: long runs on uneven ground, shoes with real grip, and pacing by effort rather than by the watch, since the miles come slower. The rucking divisions are worth a look if you want a hard day out without needing running fitness, though carrying weight places its own demands on your back and hips and deserves some specific training beforehand.