JOIN THE ODE FAMILY! Be part of the coolest vibe in running. Wear your Ode medal proudly.
Pick either the hardest 5k in Michigan (maybe the country?) or pick the one that may be the most fun. Your choice, or select both and receive a $10 discount on one race (you'll receive one set of swag). Both races are part of July's Ode to Laz weekend festival and take advantage of some of the best hiking trails in Michigan at Holly Recreation Area, a jewel of the state park system. Enjoy plenty of family-friendly activities too, like kayaking, fishing, camping, or swimming and splashing on the Whoa Zone at Lake Heron's beach.

THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN 5K: This is the easy one. 9:30 am start. Register between 8-8:45 please at the Overlook Picnic area. Cheer our backyard runners as they pass you on their 25th hour You'll run on the Wilderness trail on a rolling out and back course and finish with one loop down and up the famous Stairway to Heaven. COURSE MAP [https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5853535285]

THE STAIRWAY TO HELL 5K: This is the beast - 11:30 am start. Register 8-10:45 am please at the Overlook Picnic area. Our backyard ultra runners run this stairway every hour during their day loops. They'll be in their 27th hour of running by the time they pass by you before your start. Feel free to call them sissies, cause you'll be doing the Ode to Laz Loop's famous Stairway to Heaven 12 times in a row for your 5k, without the hour rest in between!!! You'll do a total of about 1100 feet of vertical. Get your stair legs ready!!! A course map? HA! We're not silly enough to do this 12 times just to make a map. Feel free to look at the Stairway to Heaven 5k map, it has the stairs at the end.