Getting Creative at the Peace.Love.Run. 5K in White Lake

We love spending time as a family on the weekends and it’s even better when we get to have fun with friends! Our family friends at Superior Events know how to put on a super fun 5K race and they have tons of experience doing it. Helping out at events is one thing that I know my kids love doing because not only do they get to participate, they get to play with their friends and take part in any extra fun there is to be had after the race.

The first outdoor race of Spring was definitely one of my very favorites – the Peace.Love.Run. 5K. This race is unique in a few different ways. It is held at Indian Springs Metropark in White Lake. The park includes a golf course with rolling hills, an environmental discovery center, a splash n’ play area, a playground, miles of hiking trails, and paved bike and hike trails. The race is held on the paved 8-mile loop, with the option to run a 5K or to keep moving for the entire 8-mile loop. The Peace.Love.Run. race also included a short race for kids, about a quarter-mile in total.

Runners met at the Meadowlark Picnic Area to grab their race bibs and a white t-shirt. Why plain white? Well, that’s the best part of this particular race! Runners are invited to continue the fun by tie-dying their shirts at a tie-dye station. Kids and adults alike were thrilled to be able to hang out and play around with colors after the race. 

Held at the end of April, the Peace.Love.Run. was the perfect start to race season. Runners are able to sign up online for any of the races by Superior Events. Race fees typically include a t-shirt and a finishing medal.

Runners, To The Starting Line

As a mom of two energetic kiddos, I’m always happy when they have a chance to participate in an activity that allows them to get some energy out and be creative in the process. They were more than happy to hang out with friends and have tons of space to run free. Dad even joined in when he hopped on a bike to lead the little runners out to the turnaround point and back!

The kids’ run was about a quarter-mile. Our fastest runner made it back in just under 5 minutes, which, at 7 years old, was a personal record for him! It’s amazing what kids can do at young ages. While some children took the race a little more seriously than others, all had a great time getting their blood pumping.

The regular race had two different components – racers could run a 5K with a turnaround point on the trail or they had the option to continue on and complete the entire 8-mile loop. There was a pretty even split between those who ran the 5K and those who went for the full loop.

Of course, another great thing about these races is that every skill level is welcome – we were able to walk the course instead of running. Dogs and strollers are also welcome. 5Ks are really family-friendly and a great weekend activity if you are looking to get out of the house like we always are. After a long bout of cold weather, we are always happy to participate in outdoor activities. 

Get Your Creativity On!

A race is fun in and of itself, but we were absolutely the most excited about the tie-dye station afterward! Bottles of dye, rubber bands, water, and race shirts were supplied – as well as a few station attendants who helped participants design their shirts.

Since we knew ahead of time that there was going to be tie-dying to do, we brought extra shirts. If you have kids yourself, you know that this is key to happiness – they would never be satisfied with only tie-dying one item! We snagged a 5 pack of tees online beforehand so that each of our kids could dye two and we had an extra to give out to a kid in need. 

Kids swarmed the dye station while the adults were running the 5K race, but when the race was over, all bets were off. It was wonderful to see adults as giddy as the kids about an art project!

While I can say that my kids had the time of their lives being creative with dye, I also had time to get that dye on my hands too. I’m very pleased with the way that my race shirt came out! I chose to do a very basic tie-dye and it’s perfect. My favorite part of all of this though was watching my kids be so proud of their own work.

Volunteer to Give More

Superior Events puts on fantastically creative and family-friendly races all year in the Oakland County area but they also are huge on giving back, which is another reason we love participating in their races. 

Volunteers for these races can earn free entry into a future race event and have the opportunity to earn money for a group or charity of their choice. For every volunteer, Superior Events donates a portion of the race proceeds to their group or charity.

Opt outside this Spring!

While running is for some people, it is definitely not for everyone! As I mentioned, the best part of these races is how flexible they are for walkers too. If it’s not your thing, there are tons of other ways to get outside this Spring. Check out your local petting zoos (Kensington Metropark has a great one) or learn something new! Visiting the model airplane fields at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area is on our Spring to-do list, plus they have an off-leash dog area. Whatever it is you choose to do, getting those legs moving and minds buzzing is the perfect way to usher in Spring in Michigan!