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Michigan > Brooksie Way Half Marathon & 5K
Rochester, MI • Sunday, September 29, 2013 • Course Map
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The green spaces and tree-lined roads of Rochester's Oakland University will be the setting for this year's fourth annual running of the Brooksie Way Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk, described by race organizers as both a beautifully scenic and demanding 13.1 miles that will take runners from the grounds of the university out into the nearby areas of Rochester and Rochester Hills, with stretches along the biking and hiking trails along local rivers and creeks.
The race gets its name from Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson's son Brooks Stuart Patterson, who was called by all who knew him well "Brooksie," who passed away in a snowmobiling accident in 2007. Though the elder Patterson had announced plans for a half-marathon race as part of a local health and wellness initiative just before his untimely passing, the race was dedicated to his memory as a way to honor his life, exuberance and passion for the outdoors.
From the starting line on Walton Boulevard on the campus, the race takes runners and walkers (it's open to both) on a counter-clockwise loop through the city, turning first south on Old Perch Road and then east again on West Avon Boulevard before reaching the scenic Clinton River Trail. Participants will stay on the trail, made up of a combination of dirt and gravel, for the next mile and a half before returning back to pavement for the stretch along Elizabeth Street and University Drive, and then back onto trails again four roughly the next mile, along the Paint Creek Trail.
After turning off the Paint Creek Trail at West Tienken Road, most of the rest of the race is run on paved city streets with the exception of a brief trail stretch again along Dutton Road. Along the way, runners and walkers pass or run through a number of local golf courses and parks, including Brookwood Golf Course, Great Oaks Country Club and Rochester Municipal Park.
The finish line lies back where runners started on the Oakland University campus, on the edge of Katke Cousins Golf Course. The Brooksie Way race makes its 6th annual running in 2013, after a 2012 race that saw more than 4,600 runners and walkers cross the finish line in all races combined, including more than 2,700 finishers in the half marathon.
The race also has garnered raves from publications like Active.com, which named the Brooksie Way event one of the nation's most scenic half marathons for the fall, among a list that includes events in the California wine country, Myrtle Beach, the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Vail, Colorado.
Race Weather & Climate
Located in the southern part of the state, in the northern suburbs of Detroit about 30 miles from downtown, Rochester typically sees mild to cool and often cold weather conditions in the early fall, as October monthly temperatures average between 53°F and 71°F. Rainfall is an occasional factor, as precipitation amounts for the area average about 2.9 inches for the month.
On the day of the race (Sept. 29), the average low is 48°F and the average high is 68°F.
Course Map
View the race route maps for the Brooksie Way Half Marathon
Starting Time
8:00 AM - half marathon
8:15 AM - 5K
Fees
$45 for the half marathon, if registered by April 1, 2013
$50 between April 2 - July 15
$60 between July 16 - September 27
$75 at the race expo
Registration
To reserve your spot in the early fall 2013 running of Rochester's The Brooksie Way Half Marathon or 5K race, register online at Active.com.
Official Race Website
www.thebrooksieway.com
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