Burns Park Run
About this race
Winding through a beautiful Ann Arbor neighborhood near the University of Michigan campus, the tree-lined Burns Park Run loop course has been a favorite of beginner and world-class runners alike.
The Burns Park Run will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026. It is a long-standing and successful fundraiser, organized and run by volunteers, that supports Burns Park Elementary PTO programs. We are excited to celebrate our 48th anniversary this year.
Known for its family-friendly atmosphere, the Burns Park Run 5K and 10K races annually draw 1,000 to 1,500 runners aged 5 to 90 years, with over 200 elementary school kids running the 5K. For the youngest of participants, there is a separate 1/2 mile Fun Run around the park.
Awards & Medals
ALL FINISHERS of the timed events: 5K (Run and Walk) and 10K will receive a finisher medal at the Burns Park Run. Additional awards will be recognized at the awards ceremony which will take place after the Fun Run at approximately 10am. Awards will be recognized for the following categories:
- Top Male, Female and Non-Binary for Top Overall, Masters and Grand Masters winner of the 5K and 10K Run
- Top Male, Female and Non-Binary for Top Winner for each Adult Age Group Division of the 5K and 10K Run
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Male, Female and Non-Binary for each Youth Age Division (5 and under through 17 years old) of the 5K and 10K Run
Race T-Shirts
Shirts are OPTIONAL and can be purchased when registering or through the event store on the Run Sign Up website.
Packet Pickup Schedule:
Friday May 1, 4-5:30 PM at the Flagpole (in front of Burns Park Elementary)
Saturday May 2, 12-3 PM in the Burns Park Warming Hut (corner of Wells and Baldwin)
Race day packet pickup is available, too!
Sunday May 3, 7-8:15 AM, in front of the Burns Park Warming Hut (park-side)
More About the Burns Park Run
The Burns Park Run was started by the PTO as a fundraiser for 6th grade campers in 1979. This Burns Park Elementary fundraiser has grown and symbiotically supported the activities offered by our PTO to its students and their families. Today’s race is headed by volunteer race directors and ~100 volunteers working throughout the year on planning, funding, marketing and staffing the Burns Park Run.
Read more about the storied and unique history of the Burns Park Run in the 2004 press article by marathon legend Doug Kurtis.
Pick your distance
Running
5K Run
The 5K starts and finishes near the corner of Wells St and Baldwin Ave. Participants travel counter-clockwise around the course. Most of the course is flat, with the largest net elevation change on Shadford Rd, from Ferdon Rd to Harding Rd, followed by a lesser, but steeper incline immediately after turning onto Woodside Rd. The finish is a long gradual downhill, with a fast downhill from Ferdon Rd to the finish line. Race T-Shirts - Shirts are OPTIONAL and can be purchased when registering or through the event store on the Run Sign Up website. AWARDS: ALL FINISHERS of the timed events: 5K (Run and Walk) and 10K will receive a finisher medal at the Burns Park Run. Additional awards will be recognized at the awards ceremony which will take place after the Fun Run at approximately 10am. Awards will be recognized for the following categories: - Top Male, Female and Non-Binary for Top Overall, Masters and Grand Masters winner of the 5K Run - Top Male, Female and Non-Binary for Top Winner for each Adult Age Group Division of the 5K Run - 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Male, Female and Non-Binary for each Youth Age Division (5 and under through 17 years old) of the 5K Run
10K Run
The 10K starts and finishes near the corner of Wells St and Baldwin Ave. The 10K is two loops of the 5K route. Participants travel counter-clockwise around the course. Most of the course is flat, with the largest net elevation change on Shadford Rd, from Ferdon Rd to Harding Rd, followed by a lesser, but steeper incline immediately after turning onto Woodside Rd. The finish is a long gradual downhill, with a fast downhill from Ferdon Rd to the finish line. Race T-Shirts - Shirts are OPTIONAL and can be purchased when registering or through the event store on the Run Sign Up website. AWARDS: ALL FINISHERS of the timed events: 5K (Run and Walk) and 10K will receive a finisher medal at the Burns Park Run. Additional awards will be recognized at the awards ceremony which will take place after the Fun Run at approximately 10am. Awards will be recognized for the following categories: - Top Male, Female and Non-Binary for Top Overall, Masters and Grand Masters winner of the 10K Run - Top Male, Female and Non-Binary for Top Winner for each Adult Age Group Division of the 10K Run - 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Male, Female and Non-Binary for each Youth Age Division (5 and under through 17 years old) of the 10K Run
1/2 Mile Fun Run
The 1/2 Mile Run Run is one loop around the old Burns Park County Fairground loop. Race T-Shirts - Shirts are OPTIONAL and can be purchased when registering or through the event store on the Run Sign Up website.
Virtual 5K
This is a virtual option for those not able to join us in person.
Walking
5K Walk
This is the same course as the 5K Run. It starts and finishes near the corner of Wells St and Baldwin Ave. Participants travel counter-clockwise around the course. Most of the course is flat, with the largest net elevation change on Shadford Rd, from Ferdon Rd to Harding Rd, followed by a lesser, but steeper incline immediately after turning onto Woodside Rd. The finish is a long gradual downhill, with a downhill from Ferdon Rd to the finish line. Race T-Shirts - Shirts are OPTIONAL and can be purchased when registering or through the event store on the Run Sign Up website.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 11 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Ann Arbor, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 6:28 AM and sets at 8:35 PM local time (EDT) in Ann Arbor on May 2, 2027 — 14h 06m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
Reviews
Done this event?
If you've participated in this event, share your experience with other runners
Results — Burns Park Run
Other races near Ann Arbor
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
UM Swe Engineered to Run Charity 5k
Turkey Trails- Ann Arbor
Candy Cane Course- Ann Arbor
Time Travel Half-Marathon/5K/10K - Ann Arbor
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Ann Arbor
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Ann Arbor 5K Races 26 races
- 10K Run Events in Ann Arbor 10 races
- Ann Arbor Half Marathons 5 races
- Ann Arbor Running Calendar 2026 36 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 36 Ann Arbor events
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.