HANCOCK – More than 500 people got an early start to the 5K season with UP Health System – Portage hospital’s Sisu Shuffle Saturday.

The Sisu Shuffle, first created at Portage’s former home on Water Street, was reintroduced about 13 years ago, said Angela Luskin, community health coordinator for Portage.

The 5K was non-competitive, with a spectrum of runners and walkers, including many with strollers.

With the snow having melted away, the Sisu Shuffle was free to incorporate the snowmobile trailers on its route.

“All of the feedback I’m getting from everybody is that they’re very happy with the course,” Luskin said.

Nice weather is a draw, Luskin said. Portage also promotes the event through local schools.

“We try to get these families out here – that’s why you see so many children,” she said. “It’s just an all-around good event for the family.”

That is what brought out Erin Carter of Houghton, who found out about the event from a flier her kids brought home from school. She was accompanied Saturday by six children from four families.

“It was fantastic,” she said. “It was a nice loop. You know what I said to them when I saw the flier? ‘This is my kind of race. It’s free, and it’s at 11 o’clock.’ And there’s prizes.”

“The trails were nice,” added her son CJ, 10.

Nina Ollis of Atlantic Mine was back for her second Sisu Shuffle. She said she planned to come next year.

“I like how it gets everyone out so early in the spring,” she said.