Ele's Race 5K Run/Walk

Ele's Race 5K Saturday, July 18, 2026

Ele's Race is an annual 5K Run/Walk that directly benefits Ele's Place - Capital Region, a healing center for grieving children, teens and young adults. It's a fun-filled family event that helps to raise funds and awareness for Ele's Place. All Ele's Place bereavement support services are provided at no cost to families, for as long as they need, thanks to our generous community and participants in Ele's Race 5k.

5k Run/Walk - 8:00 am

Kids Dash - 9:10 am

Kids Mile - 9:20 am

If you are participating in Ele's Race 5K Run/Walk on the campus of Jackson here is the course map

If you are participating in Ele's Race Virtual 5K, or looking for places to train here are a few options:

The River Trail system in Lansing...and down into Holt and East Lansing, provides many miles of paved trail.  There are markers along the route to track your mileage.
https://lansingrivertrail.org/.

Many high schools or middle schools have tracks around the football field.  These are typically a quarter mile.  13 laps equals 3.1 miles...which is a 5K.

Hawk Island Park is one of several parks in Ingham County with trails.  Two laps around Hawk Island is approximately 3.1 miles of paved trail.  For park locations and information, visit: http://pk.ingham.org/.

Michigan State University has great sidewalks...here is one possible 5K route on campus:

Where is the race held:  Jackson National Life Insurance Company, 1 Corporate Way, Lansing, MI 48951

Opening Ceremony:  Will begin at 7:40 and will include the national anthem, bubble release and race countdown.

Schedule of events:  The 5k will begin at 8:00 am, followed by the Kids Dash and Kids Mile.

Can I register day of the race: No, registration closes at 11:00 pm Friday before the race. 

Can kids participate in the Race: YES!  If your child is able to do 3.1 miles, then register for the 5K. There is also a Kids Mile option and a FREE Kids Dash.

Will I get a bib number: YES!  

Can my dog run/walk with me: No, dogs are not allowed for the in-person race.

Will there be awards:  Yes! Medals will be awarded to the top 5 finishers in each age division, male and female.  We will also have Grand prizes for the overall male and female finisher, overall male and female masters (40-49) and overall male and female grandmasters (50 and over).       

Can I purchase a Memory Heart:  Yes!  These will be available for $20 each.  They can be shipped, but without the stake.

How will I find out more details about the Race:  We will continue to update information on this website and will send out an official race emails. 

In - person Participants

Jackson National Life Insurance Company

1 Corporate Way

Lansing, MI 48951

Friday, July 17th from 3:00 - 6:30 P.M. 

Saturday, July 18th from 6:30 - 7:45 A.M.  

* If you are a VIRTUAL participant your t-shirt and bib will be mailed to you. Shipping is available for VIRTUAL participants ONLY. 

Ele's Race began as Ellen's Race in 1994 in memory of Ellen Osborn, an East Lansing fourth grader, who died in 1993.  Ellen's Race took place at Pinecrest Elementary School and surrounding neighborhood.  Money from Ellen's Race was donated to local organizations, including Ele's Place.  After 10 years, Ellen's Race ended and then became Ele's Race 5K - to benefit Ele's Place.  

Ellen's Race 1994 - 2003
Pinecrest Elementary School

Ele's Race 2004 - 2005
Pinecrest Elementary School

Ele's Race 2006 - 2019
Jackson National Life Insurance Company

Ele's Race 2020
Virtual Race

Ele's Race 2021
Virtual Race
***The kids races have been re-named in memory of longtime Ele's Race Committee member, Ray Miller:
The Ray of Sunshine Kids Mile / The Ray of Sunshine Kids Dash

Ellen's Race was one of the original 5K races in the Greater Lansing Area Race Series, which Ele's Race is still part of today.

The Kids Mile is a one-mile event for kids ages 12 and under.  The registration fee is $10.00 and includes a t-shirt.

The Kids Dash is a fun run for our youngest runners.  Participation in this event is FREE and does NOT include a t-shirt. 

The name for these events was changed in 2021 to the Ray of Sunshine Kids Mile and Kids Dash in memory of Ray Miller.   Ray was a part of the Ele's Race Committee for 15 years, coordinating the Kids Races with enthusiasm, positivity, and inspiration. His legacy continues on through the many people he encouraged - especially those who found a love of running in the races that Ray so passionately organized.

1.Choose a training plan 
There is no shortage of running training plans on the internet. 
Pro tip: If you don’t feel ready to progress to the next workout, repeating a training run is a great option before moving on.  

2. Invest in a pair of running shoes
One of the best things about running is all you need is a decent pair of shoes to get started. Those old tennis shoes in the back of your closet will definitely work to get you out the door, but we advise investing in a new pair of running shoes before starting your training plan, if you can. In addition to being more comfortable, a new pair will provide you with the stability you need to prevent injury during your training. We’ll provide some tips for choosing the right pair in a later post!
Pro tip: You can save a few dollars by purchasing the previous years’ models of your favorite running shoe. 

3. Be consistent
Unfortunately, there is no magic pill to make running easier. The “secret” to becoming a better runner is to run- and to do it consistently. 5K training is a “you get out of it what you put into it” experience. If you commit to following your training plan you will most definitely see improvement!
Pro tip: Make a “running” appointment with yourself in your calendar on your phone that repeats for 8 weeks and set an alarm reminder to keep yourself on track.

4. Don’t worry about Speed
If this is your first 5K, the focus of your training plan will be on building endurance, not speed. Your workouts will be specially designed to help you build an aerobic base, which includes increasing your cardio endurance, lung capacity, and strengthening your muscles. Focus on endurance first, speed will follow. 
Pro-tip: Your training runs should be done at a conversational pace. That means you should be running slow enough to have a conversation with a friend or sing along to a song on your playlist. 

5.  Find a training buddy
Training with a friend or family member is a great way to stay accountable. Getting out of bed for an early morning run is a little bit easier when you know that there is someone waiting for you. An added benefit- miles go by much more quickly when you are chatting with a friend! 
Pro tip: If you find yourself without a training partner, many cities have local running groups that cater to all skill levels. Team Playmakers is a local option for new and veteran runners!

6. Stay committed 
Let’s face it, if you’ve committed to 8 weeks of training you’re not going to be excited about every run. Life responsibilities will come up, the weather may not be ideal, and at some point your motivation is going to wane. This is the time to dial in and remind yourself why you chose this race. Use that as fuel to keep you going.
Pro tip: Print out and hang your training calendar in a prominent location at work or home. Every time you complete a training run, add a sticker or mark an X on the date. Seeing your completed runs accumulate over time is a great motivator to see your goal to the end.

7. Prioritize rest days
Rest days are an essential part of your training plan. Recovery helps prevent injuries like stress fractures and aids in muscle repair. It also allows you to recharge mentally and prevents training burnout. 
Pro tip: In addition to foam rolling, an epsom salt bath is a cheap and effective treatment for sore muscles. Epsom salt is made from magnesium and sulfate. Magnesium is known to increase relaxation and reduce inflammation.

8. Create an awesome race playlist
Music can be a powerful tool to help you get through a tough training run or race. Choose songs with a driving beat to match your cadence or ones that energize and uplift you for a final push in the end. Be on the lookout for an Ele’s Race playlist to get you hyped for race day!
Pro tip: Find your “Power Song,” the one song that never fails to make you smile or run faster and save it toward the end of your playlist. Queue that song to play in the last mile of your race. It is guaranteed to give you a second wind to the finish!

9. Don’t worry about coming in last
Completing 3.1 miles is a triumph, whether you finish first or last. Your primary goal for your first 5K is to finish. Use that first finish time as your baseline for future 5Ks (because believe us, there will be more!). And remember, you not only had the courage to start, you also had the courage to finish. That is something to celebrate!
Pro tip: Take a photo and post about it on social media! It’s okay to be proud of something you have worked hard for. You never know who you are inspiring in the process!

Ele’s Race participants and donors can decorate a Memory Heart to honor someone who has died.  Memory Hearts are available for purchase for $20 each. You can purchase on-line when you register for the 5K Run/Walk or by going to the STORE link at the top of the page. 

Memory Hearts will be available at Packet Pick-up. Memory Hearts can be mailed, however only the heart sign will be mailed, not the stake.