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Michigan > Pictured Rocks Road Race Half Marathon & 5K
Munising, MI
Date
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Event
Details
With its mixture of running on both paved backcountry roads and forest
trails, the Pictured Rocks Road Race Half Marathon & 5K offers
runners the chance to spend 13.1 miles -- or five kilometers --
crossing the hills and mountain ridges of Michigan's Pictured Rocks
National Seashore, within sight of its birch forests, sand dunes,
cliffs and the beautiful shoreline of Lake Superior. One of the state's
smaller road race events, the Pictured Rocks race saw just over 100
runners and walkers cross the finish line in both races combined in
2009.
Started in 1976 by local women's sports and running pioneer Norma
Harger, the race originally was an 11-mile road race through Munising
and the roads near the seashore, and was described as both challenging
and forgiving, and tremendous fun for both participants and volunteers.
It was nearly abandoned in the 1990s, however, but has since
experienced something of a
rebirth, and this year will celebrate its 10th anniversary with local
nonprofit Harbor
House as its organizing sponsor.
Today's half-marathon event begins in downtown Munising on East Varnum
Street, and takes runners on an out-and-back course that traverses some
very hilly and tough-going terrain, filled with hills and mountain
trail switchbacks. Though it doesn't run along the Pictured Rocks
National Seashore trail due to logistical reasons, the course does take
runners along Munising Avenue downtown, within just a couple of blocks
of the water's edge.
While the 5K is open to runners only, the half-marathon is open to both
runners and walkers, who are permitted to start their race anytime
before 7:30 AM (runners start at 8:00 AM). While you're in town, be
sure to take in some of the natural beauty that Munising and the
national seashore are known for -- plentiful waterfalls, rock
formations and sand dunes along the shore, as well as historic Grand
Island, which can be reached by ferry for hiking and bike riding on the
island.
Race
Weather & Climate
Situated at the southern tip of South Bay along the Lake Superior
shoreline on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the town of Munising typically
enjoys mild to moderately cool weather in the early weeks of summer,
with occasional wet weather. In June, average monthly temperatures
range between 68°F and 48°F, while rainfall amounts
average around 3 inches for the month.
Fees
N/A
Registration
To reserve your spot in the summer 2009 running of the Pictured Rocks
For
For Shelter races, register online at Active.com
or print out
and mail in this downloadable entry form.
Websites
www.picturedrocksroadrace.com
Munising Visitors Bureau
Course Map
View
Larger Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in Munising's annual Pictured Rocks Run For Shelter Half
Marathon or 5K?
Share
your
impressions and read fellow runners' stories and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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