The Urban Wildland Half Marathon and 5K courses wind through shaded residential neighborhoods, natural areas (including Wood Lake Nature Center, the benefactor of the event!), and neighborhood parks. Both courses are circular. The half marathon is a USATF-certified course.

The Urban Wildland Half Marathon & 5K began in 2003 to save Wood Lake Nature Center's environmental education partnership with the Richfield Public Schools, which was in jeopardy due to cuts in local government aid. Since Wood Lake Nature Center's opening in 1971, Richfield's K-6 students had visited Wood Lake multiple times a year as part of their science curriculum. Thanks to the Urban Wildland, the program was spared and has continued every year with the proceeds from this event.