Lansing Center Trail Star Posts (2026)

[adamengst]

Use this topic for posts that will collect community stars for the Lansing Center Trail course. You can also ask questions or make comments about this course.

Here’s how it works.

• Click the “Post Using This Template” button below to create a new post with a Story heading and boilerplate text.
• Replace the boilerplate text with your report for one or both sections. The Story header is key for distinguishing between posts and replies—don’t change it.
• Your post must be on the same calendar day as your run as entered in the leaderboard.

Story

To pick up a community star, replace this text with a write-up of what your run was like, a photo you took on the run, a link to your Strava track, or something similar. Don’t delete the Story heading above.

[dennis-s (Dennis Stadelman)]

Story

Splish, Shloop, Splish, Shloop…
My first time doing this course. I donned a long sleeve over shirt for the start in the cooler temps. I definitely used Rachel RunGo for this today, but I think I have the feel of how the course flows around the field now.

Splish, Shloop
The sound of my shoes on the Terpening Loop

My feet got wet very quickly and stayed that way to the end.

Splish, Shloop
The sound of my shoes on the Townley Loop

Splish, Shloop
The sound of my shoes on the Ozmun Loop.

There were some interesting side trails on this loop, mainly the story trail with educational signs, a stone wall,

and these confusing symbols in both directions:

After exploring a bit, I made my way back to where I had left the course and continued on.

Splish, Shloop
The sound of my shoes on the Hedden Loop

Splish, Shloop
The sound of my shoes on the Shoemaker Loop

As I was ascending to the big pink chair at the high point of this loop, the buzzards were back…

At the top, I paused for a while to sit in the big pink chair and admire the view

Splish, Shloop
The sound of my shoes on the Knettles Loop

Splish, Shloop
The sound of my shoes on the Scoops loop

I had noticed Scoops ice cream stand on one of the ‘You Are Here’ trail maps and it is only a short hike from the finish. So, since it had been 54 miles since my last cone (I think that works out to about 500 mpg):

Notice I captured the Challenge sign in the photo, too. I ate my ice cream in a light rain while walking back to the car.

I had a fun time on this course. Quite nice bird habitat. Very happy to see it used as a trail system and not a golf course!

[adamengst]

Story

Tonya and I ran this course before getting pizza at Salt Point with @Tristan_Lambert and @rebeccamlambert. The trails are well mowed but still slodgy in a few places, particularly on the west side. Expect to get your feet wet by the end.

[tonya-engst]

Story

I ran this with Adam today, and it was lovely that we could run together. Dinner afterwards was at Salt Point with runner friends.

[msmee (Melanie Smee)]

Story

Honestly I don’t think these trails ever fully dry out! Melissa and I ran this course this morning and both got wet feet. Neither of us like running on grass much, but the trails seem to be in much better condition this year and we both somewhat enjoyed it!

Bonus - had a super close encounter with a doe who just didn’t seem to care at all, she was just chilling and munching.

[Petorius (Pete Kresock)]

Story

I didn’t get out early enough for a Lime Hollow run as planned so I stuck close to home. Despite this being my home course, I still haven’t memorized all the turns. I found that loading the route to my Suunto GPS watch is an easier way to navigate than carrying my phone and using RunGo, and I say that even after missing a turn and adding 0.1 miles. Halfway through I was feeling good and pushed the pace to try to break 30 minutes for the first time this year. That wrong turn almost thwarted my goal. I had to dig hard for the last half-mile to make it. I loped into the parking lot, soaked in sweat and out of breath, to be greeted by Dave K, Boris, and Steve V as they prepared to set out.

Side note: there’s a port-a-potty at the parking lot now, which wasn’t there the last time I ran this.

[bobtalda]

Story

Misty Morning hop, er slog

after a tough weekend of travel, I needed something take me back into running, and then I remembered this course… short, on grass, and with lots of turns and twists to keep me focused… and while misty it never really rained, but the mist sure seemed to keep the bugs down (past on past runs here). The trail itself was dry enough - the few wet spots were easy to run over. Only saw one other person - a dog walker who was leaving when I arrived, but took a moment to warn me about a skunk in “the big intersection”. Fortunately, Pepe LePew must have had business elsewhere, but I did see a lot of rabbits, most of whom waited until I was just about on top of them before hopping off.

I marveled at the number of other trails - grassy ones that crossed my paths, bare ones that wandered into small groves and copses. Definitely have to come back and explore.

Strava activity

[SarahG (Sarah Giesy)]

Story

I was so confused this morning …

It has been years since I’ve run here, but I “thought” I knew where the trailhead was. I drove by a sign for the Lansing Center Trails but didn’t see the parking lot I remembered from whatever year the course was on the Challenge. Eventually I figured out where on the course this was and started from there. After that mishap, I decided to rely on RunGo Rachel rather than navigate from the heart (or brain).

[adamengst]

RunGo may not be perfect on Lansing Center Trails with all the crossings, but it’s definitely better than assuming you’ll remember. For anyone still running this one, take a good look at the map first!

[tonya-engst]

I ran this one last night and noticed a portapotty adjacent to the parking lot. If your car is parked in the lot, and you are sitting in your car facing the meadow with your back to the main road, the portapotty is about 20 feet from the back left corner of the lot. I actually ran Ludlowville Loops this morning (yes, it is a Lansing-centric week for me) and I stopped here to use the portapotty on the way to that course!

[Petorius (Pete Kresock)]

I’ve run this many times with RunGo and I think I’ve finally memorized it all. I’ve never had any issues with the RunGo cues.