The HealthPlus Brooksie Way kicks off 2016 by unveiling a new race logo, presenting $5,400 in Brooksie Way Minigrants to three community organizations and introducing the new title sponsor for The Brooksie Way.
The kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Oakland University Recreation Center on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester. The public is encouraged to attend.
"We're five months out from the race and already our entries are up 150 percent from last year," Oakland County Executive L. Patterson said. "We are announcing a new title sponsor this year, which will ensure The Brooksie Way keeps its position as one of the premier road races in the Midwest."
The first 100 people who attend Saturday's kickoff will receive a free limited-edition Brooksie Way t-shirt with the new logo, said race director Deb Kiertzner-Flynn. There will be refreshments and a drawing for running items from the Runnin' Gear store. Attendees will also be given a special code that provides a $9 discount off the price of race registration. The code is only good on Saturday and Sunday. The race is set for Sept. 25.
The HealthPlus Brooksie Way, now in its ninth year, is named in memory of Brooks Stuart Patterson, a young father and the son of the county executive, who died in 2007. It has become one of the most popular regional fall half marathons. The 2015 race attracted more than 5,400 runners and walkers. The course begins and ends at the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre (formerly known as the Meadow Brook Music Festival) on the campus of Oakland University and includes parts of the Clinton River and Paint Creek trails, Rochester Hills and downtown Rochester. All participants will have access to free racer photographs
Runners and walkers who participated in the half marathon the past two years will note the course returns to Tienken Road, which had been unavailable because of ongoing construction. The course had used a particularly challenging section of Dutton Road.
"We are returning to our original half marathon course which has been repeatedly named one of the most scenic in the country and the state," Kiertzner-Flynn said. "Our runners and walkers should enjoy the newly surfaced Tienken Road portion of the course."
For the second year, the race contains a charity fundraising component, sponsored by Genisys Credit Union. Participants can register in advance to raise money for any of the following charities: Brooksie Way Minigrants; Glenda's Club; Hope Water Project; Leader Dogs for the Blind; March of Dimes; Michigan Special Olympics; OLSHA (Oakland-Livingston Human Service Agency); Michigan Special Olympics; and YMCA Girls on the Run. Those who register for a charity will receive $10 off their race registration fee.
Also during the kickoff, three community organizations will share $5,400 for their projects from The Brooksie Way Minigrant program. The organizations are:
- The Jewish Community Center.
- Variety, the Children's Charity.
- Lake Norcentra Park at Rochester College.
The minigrants are awarded three times a year and have returned more than $160,000 to support local health and fitness activities in Oakland County.
Brooksie Way race apparel and other logo merchandise are available online at www.TheBrooksieWay.com.
Entrants for any of the Brooksie Way races can realize significant savings by registering early at www.TheBrooksieWay.com. Participants can also register online for the popular Team Challenge which sold out last year and celebrate after the race in the exclusive Team Challenge tent is Fifth Third Bank. Post race party sponsor is Oakland Press.
The popular Lil' Brooksie Kid's Race sponsored by Fifth Third Bank is set for Sept. 24, the day before the bigger races. Kroger, the official half marathon sponsor, will soon offer race applications in all Michigan stores. The finish line sponsor is DMC. The 5k race is sponsored by First Merit Bank and Genisys Credit Union is the sponsor of the charity program and Crittenton Hospital Medical Center sponsors the health and fitness expo.
Published: Fri, Apr 22, 2016
