From the Organizer
Back by popular demand and in honor of a great man--Dennis Hockenberry!
The inaugural Dennis Hockenberry Memorial Race in August 2025 was a great success thanks to the many family and friends in and around Ionia. We raised nearly $2,000 for area cross country teams and had a great afternoon of fellowship. I know Dennis would have been very impressed with everyone's running performance and very proud of the community that gathered to celebrate "Another Day, Another Gift!"
The second annual 2026 race will take place in the thriving metropolis of Palo, Michigan with a 5K route through the country roads that Dennis ran for many years. This will be a self-timed event with a laid back, but competitive spirit--when two runners are together, it always becomes a race!
Run packet pick up will begin at 10:00am at Joe's Market with a start/finish adjacent to the store at 10:30am. The run will end back at Joe's where your registration and efforts will earn you an award, refreshments, snacks, and live music--a perfect opportunity to toast to Dennis and catch up with friends, family, and running buddies! An annual Dennis Hockenberry Memorial 5k T-shirt will be included in the registration fee as well. All proceeds will be donated to the Ronald Township Fire Department.
The Hockenberry Family and organizers of the run look forward to celebrating Dennis and the wonderful community that he loved. Thank you!
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
79°
Typical Low
59°
Chance of Rain
32%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Ionia 2ssw, 12 mi from the venue.
Host City
City Elevation
789 ft
Nearest Airport
LAN
Capital Region International Airport · 31 mi
Major Hub
GRR
Gerald R. Ford International Airport · 32 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at 2026 Dennis Hockenberry Memorial 5K Run/Walk - Another Day, Another Gift, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
59
Days to train
Coming Up
Most Holy Trinity Fowler Festival 5K and Kid's Dash
14 miles away
Maple Rapids 5K Color Run
15 miles away
Danish Dash 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run
14 miles away
BT4S BridgeFest 5k
17 miles away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
2026 Dennis Hockenberry Memorial 5K Run/Walk - Another Day, Another Gift
Aug 15, 2026