Fri, Sep 4, 2026

Loop The Lake

Traverse City, MI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

4 Miles8 Miles

Entry is $40 now and rises to $50 after Aug 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Loop The Lake

The route circles Boardman Lake, departing and returning to Hull Park on the north shore. The east side moves through heavy woods on a blend of pavement, boardwalk, and gravel. The southern end crosses a pair of bridges over the river and stretches along a boardwalk above the lake cove. The west side is paved, and the whole loop runs clockwise.

Hull Park has no parking of its own, but several parking decks are within walking distance. Packet pickup is the evening before, right at the park. The wave start sorts runners by expected pace on the honor system. Açaí, coconut, and mango bowls are at the finish, along with drinks.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

4 Miles · 2025 results

122finishers

26:24winner

42:16median

1:31:38cutoff

Top 3: Julia Viel (26:24) · Jacob Mills (26:28) · Daniel Hanson (27:02)

8 Miles · 2025 results

26finishers

27:31winner

1:20:21median

1:54:05cutoff

Top 3: Robert Lohr (43:37) · Kyle Kiel (47:49) · Ben Zamzow (51:03)

The Loop The Lake has been held every year since at least 2022. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 4 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

4 Miles9/4/2026 18:15$40

8 Miles9/4/2026 18:15$45

8 Miles9/4/2026 18:15$40

Going for a Time?

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Common Questions About the Loop The Lake

Will I finish last at the Loop The Lake?

Almost certainly not. Half the 4 Miles field finished slower than 42:16, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:31:38, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Loop The Lake a good first 4 Miles?

It is a small race (122 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 4 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Loop The Lake?

The 4 Miles winner ran 26:24 while the median finisher took 42:16. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.