
From the Organizer
Guiding Light is proud to host our fourth annual 5k Run/Walk. Guiding Light is a donor-funded Christian non-profit dedicated to helping men & women recover from addiction and the associated chaos of a life consumed by substance abuse. All race proceeds support Guiding Light programming.
Event Information: Our race course will take you on a 3.1 mile loop in and around beautiful Millennium Park beginning and ending at the Grant Pavilion where awards will be presented after the race. This is a timed event! Whether this is your first 5K or your 100th, we will have your finish time upon crossing the finish line!
RACE START TIME 9AM
Packet Pick-Up: Packet pick-up will begin the morning of the event at 8am under the Grant Pavilion at Millennium Park.
Family, Friends, and Dogs: We hope that you bring your family and friends to show support and enjoy themselves. Snacks and water will be provided. If your four legged friends want to check out what we are doing please bring them along! Just remember that dogs must be on a leash the entire time of the event. Runners/Walkers with dogs will also start the race after participants without dogs. Please be prepared to clean up after your dog.
Race Day Swag: Each runner/walker will receive a swag bag and a Guiding Light Strides 5k Run/Walk t-shirt. In order to guarantee a shirt in the size requested please register by September 19th.
Donate: Want to help support Guiding Light but aren't interested in running? Support your local community and Donate Here!
Sponsorship: If you are interested in sponsoring this event we have some great perks and recognition opportunities. For more information please reach out to events@guidinglightworks.org.
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
64°
Typical Low
42°
Chance of Rain
44%
Based on US Climate Normals data from E Grand Rapids, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
197,768
as of 2023
Elevation
741 ft
Nearest Airport
GRR
Gerald R. Ford International Airport · 8 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Guiding Light 5K Run/Walk, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
124
Days to train
Coming Up
Brian Diemer Family of Races
Less than a mile away
Gazelle Sports Run Camp
Less than a mile away
myTEAM TRIUMPH West MI - Diemer 5k -- Captain & Angel Registration
Less than a mile away
Boston Square Wellness Collective's 3rd Annual SPRING INTO ACTION 5K
Less than a mile 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)
Guiding Light 5K Run/Walk
Oct 10, 2026