Area race tradition set for Sunday

Area race tradition set for Sunday

By MARTINE MICKIEWICZ
NEWS SPECIAL WRITER

There are many barometers for spring, including warmer temperatures and budding flowers.

But for area runners, the rite of spring officially begins with the annual Briarwood Run, scheduled for Sunday.

The 15th annual race is actually four events in one, and features 5-kilometer, 10-K and 20-K races, as well as a one-mile walk. Participation has grown from 300 in 1977 to 3,000 this year, according to Briarwood marketing director Karen Fox.

Last year was the first time that the race drew 3,000 participants, she added, and this year runners from more than 20 states are expected for the races which begin at 9 a.m. near JC Penney. The walk, which was added five years ago, begins at 9:15 a.m.

Race courses range from the mile walk, which will follow the inner perimeter of the parking lot, to the full-blown 20K, which will traverse down State Street and Ellsworth Road.

This year, a record number of women are expected to participate in the event, according to race director Mike Bums. Women made up about 22 percent of the race participants about five years ago, he said, and this year that figure is expected to be around 34 percent (about 1,100) of the expected 3,000 participants.

Bums attributes the increase of women to an increased awareness of fitness, and simply higher numbers of women participating in sports at the high school and college levels.

Still, why would anyone get up early op a Sunday when the calendar say Spring, but the temperatures seem to indicate otherwise? Fox saw it’s a case of winter enclosure.

“The intrigue of an April run is that people have been working out indoors all winter long and they’re looking to show off their winter effort,” she said.

Like last year, awards will be given to the top five finishers in the seven age categories for each gender. Forget coffee mugs - Fox said the awards include such goodies as marble paperweights. Corporate and neighborhood team awards will also be distributed.

Registration proceeds and money from T-shirt and sweatshirt sales go to the Galens Medical Society, a group of volunteer U-M medical students who organize blood drives, among other things. Last year, the run raised $8,000.

Other freebies include the featured grand prize of a $500 shopping spree at - where else - Briarwood. Merchants have also donated numerous gift certificates, and winners’ names will be drawn after the race in the Grand Court.

Fox said you don’t have to finish the race to be eligible for prizes, but you have to stick around and be present to win.

BRIARWOOD RUN

■ What: 15th annual Briarwood Run.
■ Where: Briarwood, JC Penney area.
■ When: Sunday, 9 a.m. for all three runs; 9:15 a.m. for one-mile walk.
■ Cost: Walk $5; Runs $11.
■ Late Registration: Saturday in Grand Court noon-8 p.m.; Sunday in JC Penney area, 6:30-8:30 a.m.