Dexter-Ann Arbor Run

The hills, trees and backwoods riverbanks of Michigan's Huron River Drive are the setting for the annual Dexter to Ann Arbor Run, a road race event with a half-marathon, a 10K, a 5K and a kids fun run that takes runners on a course exactly as its name suggests, from the town of Dexter along an eastward route along the Huron River to the finish in downtown Ann Arbor.  The Ann Arbor Track Club manages the entire event.

First run in 1974 as a way to commemorate Ann Arbor's sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary that year, the race was originally run as a 15-mile race that took runners on an out-and-back course along Dexter-Chelsea Road. Though it has gone through many changes over the years -- the addition (and later subtraction) of a half-marathon relay, as well as the 10K and 5k that are run at the event today -- the race got its current slate of events in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it was scheduled to coincide with Ann Arbor's popular "Taste of Ann Arbor" food festival.

Hilly and fairly challenging -- though not overly so -- the race is run on paved surfaces throughout the entire course, and features its only real flat stretches of any length for two miles during the entire race. 

The race starting line for the half-marathon is at Dexter's Creekside Intermediate School on Baker Road. From there, the field of 3,000 half-marathoners (out of an expected 7,000 participants overall) follows a counter-clockwise loop through Dexter to Huron River Drive, which they follow as its winds along the shores of the river for most of the race.

The course passes a series of parks on its way to Ann Arbor, including Dexter Huron Metropark, Delhi Metropark and Bird Hills Park. Once in Ann Arbor, runners begin the final stretch of the race along North Main Street, which is also one of the hilliest parts of the race and actually ends on an uphill to the finish line.

 There will be race day registration downtown at Ann and Ashley garage.  M-14 

Ramp closes at 7 AM and they will have to go up to Miller Rd. exit into the city.

At skyline high school Ann Arbor, June 1st from 10am-6pm. The kids run will also be held at the Skyline High School track at 4pm.

Our set-up starts at 10am, but the Expo is only open for packet pick-up from Noon to 6pm.

We are supporting five different charities, and all runners are encouraged to donate to one or all of these charities.  

In addition, we encourage runners to become a fundraiser or create a team of fundraisers. When you register for the race you will be given the opportunity to "Become a fundraiser" or "Create or join a fundraising team" underneath the selection of which race you will run. When you do this, you will get your own fundraising webpage you can forward to friends and family. It includes the ability to set a goal, view a goal thermometer and a scrolling list of your donors. Your fundraisign efforts go to support one or all of these five charities.

You can see a video on how to create a fundraising team here.

To make sure we offer an enjoyable and safe experience for everyone, we must set a cap this year on registrations:

5K - 2,000

10K - 2,000

Half Marathon - 3,000

In the case that we reach our maximums, we will be offering a bib exchange starting in March.  This bib exchange will also give runners the ability to transfer their bib to another runner for a $5 fee.  More information will be available online starting in March.

Refunds may be requested through April 30.  There is a $5 fee to cover processing costs.  Please send an email to [email protected] with your email address you registered with and the last name on your credit card.  

We will be enabling a feature to transfer bib numbers to other runners starting in March for a $5 fee.

Stay after the race for Taste of Ann Arbor.

Bite-sized samples from local restaurants and cafes, live music, and children's activities. Downtown.