FREEP 2006 What's New
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

As announced last week, it will be the 29th on the 29th .   The 29th annual Detroit Free Press Flagstar Bank Marathon is schedule to run on Sunday, October 29th .   This version will have a few new twists to its story.

Pending final approval, the race will start twenty minutes earlier than last year. Runners and walkers, except the 5km, will begin at 7:15 am.  

A new start line on Washington Boulevard and Grand River will help alleviate some of the traffic congestion caused by the thirty percent increase in runners from 2005.

Half marathoners and relay runners will have their own starting line on the east side of Washington and swing wide on Michigan Avenue to converge with the marathoners. A corral system similar to the Boston Marathon is planned to insure an honest start based on projected times.

Walkers, who in past years were concerned about making it to the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, should make it with ease. The course is now half a mile shorter to the Ambassador Bridge. Add that to the early start time and a five minute extension to the tunnel reopening should help everyone except the casual walker from hopping on a bus to return to the finish line.

Runners will get an extra hour of rest before their race. Daylight savings adjusts that Saturday night enabling runners to set their clocks back an hour.

No runner will be last. In addition to marathon pacers there will be a team running the race based on the slowest cut off time of six and half hours. Anyone falling behind them will be asked to board the sag wagon bus and escorted to the finish line.

This year's date was based on the recently announced NFL schedule and other city events.   Ford Field has been great for spectators and runners recover quicker in the warn environment. Finish line crews have had the almost impossible task of setting up after midnight due to a Saturday night event and they expect to be ready again when the runners reach the field.

Wright and Filippis, sponsor of the disabled athlete race since 1978, will be sadly missed this year. They have decided to work on other projects. The event is expected to return when a new sponsor and support is found.

Highlights that have made the Free Press Marathon one of the most successful events in the country are intact.

The marathon expo continues to attract some of the best national distributors as well as local special stores and merchandisers.

The course will continue to run through Corktown, Mexican Village and the Windsor river front. Runner's finish certificates will show their underwater mile time after crossing the mats in the tunnel.

Half marathoners will view Campus Martius and the Fox Theatre district before arriving at Ford Field.   Marathoners will continue on past the Ren Cen, Chene Park, Belle Isle and Indian Village.  

On the proposed docket is a straighter shot to Ford Field, presenting runners with an uplifting tour of Greektown.

Everyone will be watching the greenies (first timers) again as they wear their green race numbers on the course.

The food crew is working on beefing up the menu and improving the distribution of runner goodies after runners complete their events.

On-line entry is now available at www.detroitfreepressmarathon.com.

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