August Races
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

Great races don't always have a large number of participants. Sometimes the camaraderie, the chance to win a medal and the low-key atmosphere are just as satisfying as a major event.

Organizers must be doing something right if their event has thrived for a decade or more. Here are a few you must do at least once:

Allen Park Street Fair 8K, Saturday: The 30th annual road race will be held in conjunction with the city's street jamboree. Race director Tony Mifsud and the Downriver Runners continue to orchestrate a fun evening. For the past several years, the Beatle Boys band has entertained runners at the finish-line stage with its montage of Beatles songs. Once, a wedding took place in the finish area, complete with a flowered gazebo and hundreds of well-wishers. The festive street fair and summer air elevate the race to a certain buzz that has kept runners around for all the great post-race raffle prizes.

Start and finish lines are located in front of the Allen Park Presbyterian Church. The gun goes off at 6 p.m. for the one-mile run. Call Total Runner in Southgate at 734-282-1101 for information.

Run Thru Hell, Aug. 12: Participation in this race continues to swell. Maybe runners want the opportunity to wear the T-shirt. Then again, directors Dolores and Harrison Hensley have many admirers who keep coming back. There's something bewitching about running through the back roads of Hell. Dust and horseflies aren't a deterrent. Completing the 10-miler, especially if it's hot, is often a badge of honor. Plan to arrive early to get a good parking spot at the Hell Creek Ranch. Parking has been eliminated on Patterson Lake Road.

Hell has never been at a loss for good competition. Prizes go deep and runners vie for the last age-group award, known as the horse's ass trophy. Try the 4.8 mile run -- or "weenie race," as Harrison Hensley likes to call it -- if the 10-miler seems daunting. Call 734-878-6640 or go to www.gaultracemanagement.com .

Howell Melon Run, Aug. 18: This race, presented by the Howell Area Parks and Recreation, is in its 29th year. It's another evening run with a beautiful setting. The race starts and finishes at Howell City Park, looping through the Lakeview Cemetery on Thompson Lake. Race time is 7 p.m. Call 517-546-0693.

Falcon 5K, Aug. 19: The 14th annual race begins at 8:45 a.m. in Dearborn's Levagood Park. It's put on by the Motor City Striders to raise funds for the Divine Child High School Alumni Association. The race is dedicated to the memory of coach Mark Carpenter. Go to www.FALCON5K.com .

Energy Run, Aug. 19: The Monroe Milers club hosts the 17th annual run at 8:30 a.m. The one-mile run and 5K race benefits Monroe Project Read, which is dedicated to increasing adult literacy. Runners will traverse over the Monroe cross-country course. Call 734-586-4168.

Notebook: Last week's column should have said Ed Whitlock has completed three marathons in less than three hours, not four hours. Whitlock broke the mile world record for a 75-year-old runner with a time of 5 minutes, 41 seconds Friday night at the Super-Meet in Windsor.

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