"You will find others alike all with the same goal and meet new people today," Izzo said.

Founded by Lupe Izzo, president of the Izzo Legacy, the annual event has grown into one of mid-Michigan’s most visible charitable traditions. Over seven years, Lupe Izzo and her partners have donated more than $1.5 million to local foundations, with this year’s final total still to come.

Between 2023 and last year’s event alone, the charitable impact total increased by more than $700,000, signaling the continued expansion of the event’s reach.

Setup started before 7 a.m. on Sunday, with volunteers and Playmakers' event workers setting up the start and finish line, along with a small stage outside of Breslin Center.

Playmakers is a running supply store in Okemos, Michigan. As a major partner for the event in the past, Playmakers helped in creating a new route for this year’s race, bringing participants around campus landmarks.

"I got up at 3:30 a.m. to arrive and help with setup," Playmakers event staff employee Angie Brooks said. "We had to be here at 5:30 a.m., but it's something you get used to while working on the event team, because we get here early to get things done, then we get to have fun and watch everyone participate."

For Playmakers co-owner Tom Keenoy and his wife, Marsha, the event’s impact extended beyond race operations.

"These volunteers, that's the anchor. It rallies people together," Marsha Keenoy said. 

That sense of unity is also fueling the event’s future growth.

"We're number two, can't wait to be number one," Tom Keenoy added. 

Widespread attention

The event is not only for East Lansing locals, many people travel to participate in the race to support its cause.

For the past three years, participant Tracy Holmes has traveled more than 100 miles to take part.

"[I] love it because I think there's already enough resources that contribute back to the school, so this kind of gives back to the surrounding communities and agencies," Holmes said.

Before racers reached the starting line, Lupe, Raquel and Tom Izzo addressed the crowd, thanking participants for supporting a mission that has increasingly become about community identity as much as philanthropy.

"Its more than a race, its a reflection of who we are when we all come together," Raquel said to the crowd.

Since launching in 2019, the event has continued building its charitable presence every year except for its canceled 2020 race, though even then, the tradition still generated more than $70,000 in charitable impact during the 2020-21 period.

Once the first set of runners, Corral A, was sent off using a train horn, nobody looked back. 

The overall winner of this year's event, Nathaniel Frasier, has a history of running cross country and track at Holly High School, then at Saginaw Valley State University, before eventually living near East Lansing and MSU's campus.

"I'm happy to contribute to it. It's great that it's growing every year, and it's crazy how big it's getting. It's great to see," Frasier said.

Frasier finished with a time of 15:27.83. 

Not everyone had the idea of sprinting to the finish line, however.

In Corral H, participant Dan Jellison decided to walk the entire 5K while pushing a large stroller with his "three sons." This was his first year attending. 

"I was convinced to come with my daughters, and I brought my 'sons' just to annoy them. I knew it would be funny," Jellison said.

"In the past year and a half, I've had back surgery and two knee replacements, which made me realize how much I want to participate with my daughters. It also works great to help me with balance. It was either this or a shopping cart," Jellison added. 

As the final racers crossed the finish line close to two hours after starting, runners headed into the north end-zone tunnel to Spartan Stadium to take a final lap around the edge of the field. 7,603 runners officially finished the race.

To wrap up the 5K event, a kids' half-mile race was held around Demonstration Hall and Spartan Statue, which finished exactly where the earlier racers had just 15 minutes before.

As attendance continued its annual climb, the event also generated $33,577 in online donations alone before accounting for race-day fundraising totals.

During last year's event in 2025, the Izzo Legacy was able to donate just over $800,000. This year, they are looking to surpass that amount and continue their growing trend of increasing the amount of money donated.