Westview Orchards Haunted Wine Run 5k

Last Saturday, October 29th, I entered the Haunted Wine Run 5K at Westview Orchards. This race marked my fourth of this season and left an unforgettable impression, with over 1200 participants ready to tackle its course—both runners and walkers alike.

Michigan fall days are known for their overcast skies and mid-40s temperatures; today was no different, with plenty of mud left from the previous day’s rainfall underfoot, and excitement running high among many residents (even if some wanted clearer skies).

Kudos to the organizers; they seem to have everything under control. Everything from packet pickups to post-race festivities ran smoothly; in fact, we started only slightly later than planned, which is remarkable given such a huge turnout. Their facilities were also excellent, although charging spectators for closeness to the finish line raised some eyebrows.

Now, let me introduce the course. We traversed apple orchards and up-and-down hills, making for an adventurous yet muddy journey. Luckily, my footing stayed steady by sticking to the grass when possible, thanks to clear course markings and our 4-wheeler leader.

Halloween arrived early, with several runners sporting costumes for this race. A kid in birthday cake attire ran past me like lightning. I gave my congratulations!

The race had exceptionally high female participation, perhaps as its wine theme created more of a social-run atmosphere. – it was incredible to witness this.

Personally, my goal was to beat my previous times, and I succeeded by clocking a time of 24:15! That earned me 25 of 874 overall and 18 of 155 among guys, and I placed 3 of 36 in the male 50-59 age group! Even better? They gave me a 3rd Place Pin!

Westview Orchards Haunted Wine Run 5K
(3.5X Speed) Video of Race

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Shot with an Insta360 GO 3 Action Camera

Westview Orchards Haunted Wine Run 5K Photo Gallery

After our run, everyone went home with some swag: a soft T-shirt, a handy wine glass, and a medal that doubles as both a wine stopper and a corkscrew. Plus, J3 Timing makes online timing simple.

My Insta360 GO 3 captured every moment of the race beautifully, from its initial start-up and start of competition through to mud pits, competition, and overall fun times! This experience won’t soon be forgotten, and I can’t wait until the next run comes around!