Jul 11, 2007 Beat the Heat at these Races By Doug Kurtis :: Views- 210
Contact Doug Comments

July’s heat might be curtailing training programs but it won’t stop runners from participating in several exciting races this weekend.

Friday night’s third rendition of the Beat Beethoven Run for breast cancer in Windsor will challenge runners to cross the finish line before the conclusion of Beethoven's fifth symphony, Ode to Joy. The music begins at 7 pm and runners will have 50 minutes to cross the finish line of the 8km run or 4km walk before its conclusion. Based on average times for the distance, eighty percent of the participants should be able to complete the course by the final note. (Others can still finish without the music).

It should be a magical evening of music and food. Erie Street, known as Windsor's little Italy, will play host to the course and Ludwig's masterpiece. Race organizer, Gary Belanger, owner of The Running Factory, intends to amplify the music using the lead and trailing vehicles as well as places on the course.

The race is part of the International Dragon Boat Festival that runs through Sunday. This festival has raised $138,000 for breast cancer in its first two years. Entry forms and pledge sheets are available at www.runningfactory.com or call 519 945-3345.

Saturday morning, runners will assemble in mid-town Taylor for the Rollie Hopgood 5K Run as part of its summer festival. It’s named after Hopgood, a former Taylor councilman and one of the founders of the Downriver Runners and the race prior to his death in 2002.

Current director Greg Everal has watched participation grow with the help of the community and the Downriver Runners. “We have been able to do some unique things like the catered breakfast, the bobble head awards and, new this year, a short sleeve technical shirt. This race is one of those small town gems; it makes you want to keep coming back each year to enjoy the festival atmosphere".

The certified 5K starts at 9 a.m. For the second year, a free Kids’ Tad Pole Run around Coan Lake in scenic Heritage Park begins at 8:15 a.m. A free one-mile fun run has been added at 8:30. In the park, runners will travel on a trail through a forest to a path surrounding Coan Lake, past a water mill, a one-room school house and a covered bridge.

Proceeds benefit the Rollie Hopgood MFT & SRP Scholarship. For more information, call Total Runner at (734) 282-1101 or visit www.everalracemgt.com. For more information on the Meijer Taylor Summer Festival, visit www.cityoftaylor.com.

Also this Saturday, the 7th annual Bastille Day Run, sponsored by the French Laundry (one of my favorite restaurants), includes a 15km (9.3 mile) at 7:45 am followed by a 5K run and a 5K Relay.

“This is the first time the race actually falls on Bastille Day”, said Mark Hamel, owner of the French Laundry. “One thing that makes the event unique is that we call out race instructions and introductions in both English and French. The challenging 15km course traverses through downtown Fenton. We reach almost 1,000 runners each year, in part because it is tied into the Crim in-training program. Runners can use one of their race vouchers from the program to get into one of the Bastille races”.

Runners will meet at the Fenton Community Center to register, and then the race begins and ends at the gazebo. The race generates about $10,000 for Genesee’s Habitat for Humanity. Register on-line at: www.gaultracemanagement.com or call Bauman's Running Shop (810) 238-5918 or Genesee County Habitat for Humanity (810) 603-1366

---

Doug Kurtis can be reached by clicking here!

---