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Michigan > The Martian Marathon & Half Marathon
Dearborn
Heights,
MI
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Date
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Event
Details
Dearborn's Martian Marathon & Half Marathon may not have the
absolute oddest or strangest inspiration for a road race out there, but
it's certainly got one of the most "interesting" stories around its
genesis of any race we've ever heard of. Now set to celebrate its
seventh annual running in
2008, the race has already become one of the state's most popular
races, drawing nearly 4,000 runners and walkers to the full, half and
kids' marathons in each of the last two years.
The race gets its name -- including a 10K called the "Meteor 10K" --
from observing the movements of the planets in the solar system. As the
timing of planetary orbiting would have it, Earth passes Mars in its
orbit around the sun within two hours of the official starting time for
the race, in every other year. So as our planet makes its way around
the sun over 12 months, we lap our closest neighbor Mars every two
years, which of course is reason enough to organize a marathon running
around, isn't it?!
Regardless of how it sounds, the race has certainly garnered the
attention of spectators and participants, who come decked out for the
occasion with "Martian" clothes and toys, and no doubt enjoy the big
green Martian-style mile markers spread throughout the out-and-back
course, which features a mix of hills and flat stretches that begin on
Fairlane Drive at the edge of the University of Michigan-Dearborn
campus.
From there, the course takes runners on a loop around the university
grounds and on an out-and-back trek along Edward Hines Drive, following
through the tree-lined roads and pathways of Lower and Middle Rouge
Parkway as well as Warrendale Park, and just past Dearborn's Warren
Valley Golf Club. The turnaround point is just past the intersection
with North Inkster Road, where runners (and walkers) will then begin
the second half of the route back to the campus.
The race actually takes place over two days -- with the Meteor 10K and
Kids' Marathon on Saturday, and the full and half-marathons running on
Sunday, starting at 8:30 AM. Prospective runners and especially walkers
should note that the course will be closed and re-opened to traffic
after 6 1/2 hours, so you'll
need to finish by then.
Race
Weather & Climate
Located in southern Michigan in the western suburbs of the Detroit
metro area, Dearborn Heights tends to see occasionally mild but often
still quite cold weather conditions in the mid-spring, with fairly
plentiful rain. In April, average monthly temperatures range between
60°F and 37°F, while precipitation amounts average
around 3.28 inches for the month (making it the city's third-wettest
month of the year on average).
Fees
$39 if registered before March 1, 2008
$44 between March 2 - April 4
$50 on the race weekend (April 5 and 6)
Registration
To reserve your spot in this year's Martian Half
Marathon (or any of the other races in the event), register online at zw2.com
or print out and mail in this downloadable entry form.
Website
www.martianmarathon.com
Course Map
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Larger Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in Dearborn Heights' annual Martian Marathon or Half Marathon?
Share
your
impressions and read fellow runners' stories and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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