back to Dougs Column Martian Marathon 2007
By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist
03/28/2007
The 6th annual Martian Marathon is moving its start and finish for the third time in three years and that’s a good thing. It’s a testament to the marathon’s success and growth.
This Sunday April 1st, more than 3,500 runners are expected to invade Dearborn’s University of Michigan Campus. Randy Step, owner of Running Fit and race organizer, said “The Martian Invasion has nearly doubled each year we’ve put it on. By moving it into Dearborn, we anticipate the race growing to into a 10,000 person event. That’s a huge economic impact for the city.”
Runners or Martians as they are fondly referred to, will have the option of running one of five events. They include the Marathon, Half-Marathon, Meteor 10K, Mini-Martian Kid’s event and Martian 20 mile training run. Martians must complete the marathon within 6 1/2 hours.
The Mini- Martian Marathon is a new addition to the event. Almost 500 kids are already entered.
Children run, walk or wheelchair 25 miles prior to April 1st and then finish the marathon in front of cheering spectators at the main event. Kids can complete the last 1.2 miles on Saturday at 2 pm or Sunday at 8 am, giving parents that are runners more options.
Kids receive the same finisher medal as the adults plus other perks for finishing 10 miles and for completing a wellness project. “We hope to encourage children to get out and be active”, said Andrea Allen, Running Fit Marketing Director and kid’s project coordinator.
The Mini- Martian project has been embraced by the Ann Arbor and Dearborn school systems as a yearlong program to make lifetime wellness a priority.
The Meteor 10km will continue its tradition of showcasing world class talent. The $3,500 prize purse has attracted several local stars from the U.S. and Canada as well as Kenya’s Philip Legat who has run 28:35 for this distance.
On Saturday the Asics Health and Wellness Expo will be held at the University Center from 1:00 until 8:00 pm and the Pasta Party from 4:00-10:00pm at Pizzapapalis in downtown Dearborn. Runners can still register for any of the races on Saturday at the Expo. Admission to the Expo is free.
The 10K, full and half marathon are all USATF certified courses, 6.2, 26.2 and 13.1 miles respectively. The course will begin with a loop on the U of M Dearborn campus then head out and back on the traffic free, beautiful and lightly rolling, Edward Hines Parkway. It returns to the campus via a new bike path and footbridge built across the Middle Rouge River.
Runners will find aid stations every two miles with Absopure water and Ultima. The half marathon will include two GU stops and full marathon will add two more. Bathrooms will be located every 5 miles, maybe even some real flush toilets.
Each year the Martian Marathon donates a portion of our proceeds to Team-In-Training's Michigan Chapter. Randy Step has been a TNT coach for more than ten years and is dedicated to its continued growth.
For more information about the Martian Marathon go to: www.martianmarathon.com or call 734 929-9027.
Personal Bests:
26.2m - 2:13:34, 25km - 1:17:58, 13.1m - 1:04:51, 20km- 1:02:37,
10m - 48:33, 15km - 46:01, 10km - 29:44, 8km - 23:25 |
