 |
 |
 |
| results | calendar | photos | high school | store | news | columns | links | college | special events | Interviews
 
This Saturday morning at 7:30 am, the official starter will signal the 30th edition of the Oak Apple Run 10km on Main Street in Royal Oak, It all began when two friends, Kim Frentz and Reverend John Park, were out running in Royal Oak discussing how to get the First United Methodist Church more involved in the community.
According to Dr. Ed Kozloff, who has assisted most of the Oak Apple runs, “The first race was a 5 mile event won by Mike Lasley who was a sophomore at Royal Oak Dondero High School. He went on to win All State honors in track and cross-country and was an All American runner at Saginaw Valley. He is believed to be the only runner who has competed in all of the Oak/Apple races.” “Up to 1994 the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce held an Oak/Apple Festival that included Arts and Crafts, entertainment and food booths. This helped with the early popularity of the event and in 1996 there were over 3,000 runners in the races. It's believed that the 2 mile, often with 1,000 entrants is the largest race at that distance in the State. Combined, the 2 races have the largest field in Oakland County.” The 2 mile begins at 9:30 followed by a quarter mile, age divided, run for kids at 11 am. Race headquarters is located at the Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, on the corner of Washington and 7th streets in the heart of downtown Royal Oak. Medals are awarded to the first 200 male, 100 female, 5 wheelchair finishers. All runners 14 and under receive a trophy and overall winners will head home with a gift certificate to Hanson’s Running Shop. The OAR committee welcomes corporate and public safety running teams to compete for special awards. Runners interested in pursuing a career in public service are eligible to apply for the Clyde Harnack Scholarship. Proceeds from the race have been set aside for this as a memorial to Clyde Harnack, a longtime Oak Apple volunteer whose dream was to work in public service. For more race information go to www.oakapplerun.org or call 248-541-4502. On Sunday, more than 5,000 runners will be hopping on the bus to the start of either the Dexter Ann Arbor 5km, 10km or Half Marathon. First time race director Hal Wolfe has a few new things planned this year. On Friday, June 1st, The Soup Kitchen Stampede race party and benefit will be held at the Holiday Inn North Campus Ann Arbor. It supports C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Building Fund, Hope Clinic of Ypsilanti and The Michigan Blind Athletic Association. Olympian Paul McMullen will be the featured speaker along with Whit Hill and the Postcards beatnik band. This year’s race expo on Saturday from 2-6 pm has been moved to Ypsilanti High School. Dexter Ann Arbor is a multifaceted event. Runners can stick around and be part of the Taste of Ann Arbor Festival that begins at 11 am on Sunday. For more information go to: www.dexterannarborrun.com  Doug Kurtis can be reached by clicking here! Comments:
Most talked about articles from Doug Kurtis
Most Recent Articles |
|
RunMichigan.com site contents copyright 1996-2008 | RunMichigan.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Contact Us |
Home | Advertise with Us | Disclaimer | About Us | Submit News | Submit Race Info | Submit Results | RSS Feeds 
