Loop The Lake

About the Event

• Event Details: Come celebrate the Boardman Lake Loop Trail! The Traverse City Track Club presents Loop The Lake, a 4-mile, 8-mile, and 2-person relay trail race around Boardman Lake, just south of downtown Traverse City.
• Course Type: The race will follow the Boardman Lake Loop Trail, which includes mostly pavement, as well as some gravel, bridges, and boardwalks.
• Participants: The 4 mile event is open to runners and walkers. The 8 mile event is recommended for runners only.
• Course Closure: Course closes at 8pm sharp!

Distance

• Race Length: 4 miles Exactly! This race has been certified by the USATF.
• Relay Details: The individual 8 mile and relay (2 people run 4 miles each - 1 at a time) will be slightly over 8 miles.

Giveaway

• Participant Gift: Everyone will receive a Loop the Lake RaceTracker technical Run-Dri running cap.
• New Feature: New for 2026, we are also excited to welcome Playa Bowls, serving up açaí, coconut, and mango bowls for all finishers, along with some beverages.

Awards

• Overall Awards: The top 3 overall and top 3 masters (40+) for male and female in the 4-mile and 8-mile event will receive a custom plate hand-crafted at ClaySpacetc.
• Age Group Awards: Age group top 3 (5-year age groups to 80 and up) for the 4-mile and 8-mile event will receive a custom clay Loop The Lake 2026 medal.
• Relay Awards: Relay awards for top male team, female team, coed team, masters* male team, masters* female team, and masters* coed team.
• Masters Definition: Masters teams are a combined age of 100+.

About the Course

• Course Details: The race will follow the Boardman Lake Loop Trail, starting and finishing in Hull Park on the north side of the lake.
• Scenic Features: The east side features a heavily wooded segment with gentle curves and a mix of pavement, boardwalk, and some gravel surface. The southern end has two bridges and an extended boardwalk.
• Pavement and Bridges: The west side is pavement, and the northern end features one bridge over the Boardman River.
• Course Map: Check out the map here! We will be running in a clockwise direction.

Start Details

• Wave Start: The race will include a wave start at Hull Park.
• Lining Up: Runners will be asked to line up according to their estimated finish time.

Wave Starts

• Safety Measures: We will utilize a wave start on an honor basis (participants will line up according to their expected finish time) to distribute runners and walkers on the trail.
• Volunteer Support: Volunteers will be on hand to help determine waves.

Parking

• Parking Availability: Loop the Lake is an Urban Trail race. While there will not be parking available within Hull Park, there are many parking options nearby within walking distance.
• Parking Guidelines: Please do not park at any apartment complexes or within the Brick Wheels parking lot.

Packet Pickup/Late Registration

• Pickup Timing: Packet Pickup begins at 4pm on Friday, September 4th right at Hull Park!
• Registration Availability: Online registration will be open until 5:45pm on race day. QR codes will be available to signup online at the event.
• No Cash Registration: No cash or paper registration available.

Background

• Community Collaboration: "This beautiful and highly anticipated Loop is the product of meaningful, high-impact collaboration, years of support, gumption, and hard work from many facets of the community."
• Partnerships: The Boardman Lake Trail is owned by the City of Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, and Garfield Township. TART Trails works with these entities to support the development and maintenance of the trail.