About the H.E.R.O. Freedom Run
The course runs cross-country style through trails and open fields, with gentle rolling terrain along the Huron River at Freedom River, an outdoor recreation site for veterans and their families. It is not a road race; expect grass underfoot, some natural path surfaces, and modest climbs rather than a flat loop.
Packet pickup is at the registration table on the morning of the race. Parking is on site. The event benefits the organization's work building a year-round wellness center at Freedom River, so the gathering around the start has a purposeful feel rather than a purely competitive one.
Free race emails
Get the Weekly RunSesh
Get races near Brighton in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.
Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
H.E.R.O. Freedom Run 2026 Results
Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.
5K Results · 2026
79finishers
18:33winner
33:50median
1:05:38cutoff
Top 3: James Meninga (18:33) · Merrick Michaelson (20:18) · Brendon Quinn (21:17)
1 Miles Results · 2026
17finishers
6:26winner
9:02median
12:39cutoff
Top 3: Landon Knight (6:26) · Jakob Ballester (6:41) · Lucas Wiktorowski (6:45)
The H.E.R.O. Freedom Run has been held every year since at least 2023. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Nov 12, 2026.
Distances & Start Times
1 Mile6/12/2027 08:30$25
5K6/12/2027 09:00$30
Going for a Time?
Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.
Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.
Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Brighton — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.
