Heart of a Lion 5K Run/Walk *All proceeds benefit the Jackson Area 19 SPECIAL OLYMPICS*

About the Event

Mark your calendars for the 12th Annual Special Olympics Michigan Area 19 (Jackson County) Heart of a Lion chip timed 5K Run/Walk at the beautiful Ella Sharp Park located at 2800 Fourth St. Jackson, MI 49203.

The race will be held on Sunday, August 23rd at 9 a.m. with a SOMI athlete/Kids Fun Run to follow.

Pricing: $30 until 8/6 (shirt guaranteed), $35 from 8/7 to 8/22 (shirts available as supplies last), $40 race day (no shirt guaranteed)

T-Shirts guaranteed to those who register by August 6th, supplies available as they last after that date.

Overall Awards will be given to the top male and female finishers of Open (all ages), and Masters (40+), in the 5k Run, and 5k Walk.

Age Groups Awards to the top 3 places in each age group:

5k Run age groups: 0-12, 13-14, 15-17, 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69. 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85+

5k Walk age groups: 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Packet pick up will be on Saturday, August 22nd from 3-5 p.m. at the SOMI office located at 210 East McDevitt Jackson, MI 49203. Race day packet pickup will start at 7:00 am at the race location, Ella Sharp Park. Race day registration is available until 8:45 a.m.

Proceeds from this race will benefit the Jackson Area 19 Special Olympics and will be used to provide year round sports training and athletic competition for persons with intellectual disabilities. All proceeds stay in Jackson, County.

Results will be available live during the event and posted online at this website.

Please note there are no dogs permitted at this event. Service dogs excluded. Please see the full policy under Race Info. This is for the safety of both our participants and your dogs. Thank you.

The race will be professionally timed by the Michigan Running Foundation. The Heart of a Lion is proud to be part of the ORS Race Series.

Races Offered

5k Run

Aug 23, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:00

sell

$20.00

5k Walk

Aug 23, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:00

sell

$20.00

Kids Fun Run - FREE

Aug 23, 2026

straighten

Distance — Kids Fun Run - FREE

terrain

Type — Running

timer

10:00

sell

$0.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for August in Jackson.

thermostat Temperature

16.0° / 26.0°

wb_sunny Feels like

15.6° / 25.7°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

11h 22m

water_drop Avg rainfall

2.7 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

10.0 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

High

terrain Course conditions

Hard and dry surface

sunny Max UV Index

High (7.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

72.8%

wb_twilight Sunrise

06:46

nightlight Sunset

20:36

About Jackson

Learn more about the host city, Jackson.

Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County in the south-central part of the state of Michigan, halfway between Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor, forty minutes south of Lansing and about an hour west of Detroit. Its population is 31,347 (2021) and combined with the county has a metro population of 160,050. Its tall buildings show a Jackson more populated than today, for the population had been declining since 1950 or so, but efforts have begun to flatten the curve and make the city diversified and vibrant.

Hotels & Places to Stay

Runner Reviews

Read what other athletes have to say about their experience at the Heart of a Lion 5K Run/Walk *All proceeds benefit the Jackson Area 19 SPECIAL OLYMPICS*.

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