New Year's Eve Run
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

Looking for a fast, fun four miler to close out or start up the year?   Come join in the 35th annual celebration of Belle Isle's New Year's Eve Family Fun Run/Walk. Festivities begin just after 3pm at Detroit's U.S. Marine Corps Armory training center on East Jefferson.

Detroit's New Year's Run has always been colorful, festive and well attended. Over 1000 runners can usually be seen crossing the MacArthur Bridge. More than eighty volunteers from the Belle Isle Runners and the Downtown Runners and Walkers join together to put on a delightful event.

The kids 1 mile run/walk begins at 3:30 pm, everyone under 12 years old goes home with a wooden plaque commemorating the new year. This year's kids event will have special significance to race director Jeanne Bocci.   Her granddaughter Morgen will be running her first race.

Many of Bocci's running club members will be glad to see Jeanne on the course. During a recent kayak workout on the Detroit River, Bocci overturned her craft and had to be rescued by friend Gus Stinstrom. It was a frightening moment and required a night in the hospital.   If anyone discovers a turquoise kayak downriver, I'm sure Bocci would be ecstatic to recover it.

A pre-race exercise warm up begins at 3:15 pm.   Sponsor Westin Hotels added it to the program to help promote its new fitness facilities. The Westin WORKOUT powered by Reebok features custom designed fitness facilities, a Reebok-designed workout regimen for travelers, and an in-room yoga workout centered around their renowned "Heavenly Bedding".   I've stayed at a few Westin's and can attest to being spoiled by their bedroom accommodations.

The Westin will be serving hot chocolate and tea inside the armory to warm up runners. It may help them cool down instead since weather predictions call for this year to be one of the warmest ever at fifty plus degrees. The Westin has also donated airport hotel overnight packages and some of their luxurious bathrobes as prizes.  

In addition to party-time looking long sleeve T Shirts, Reebok is giving out fleece hats to every runner.   Might be a good reason to sign up early and guarantee going home with them. Entry forms can be picked up at most running stores and early registration is available at the Marine Corps Armory on December 29 th from noon to 3 pm.

The run will begin at 4 pm. The race walk and fitness walk is set to go off five minutes later. Bocci is a well known race walker and loves to promote this aspect of the sport. She also sets aside proceeds from the event to benefit Special Olympics.

Plan to stick around for lots of good food and drink in the Armory. While you're there, take a look at the facility's combination of streamline and vertical Art Deco and Art Moderne style. The Amory has served Sailors and Marines since its construction in 1930 and its design from that era has put it on the national register list as one of Detroit's Historic sites.

Fees for the event are $12 for kids under $12 and $20 for adults before race day. On December 31 st, entries at the Armory rise to $15 and $25 respectively. For more information, you can call 313 886-5560.

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226