'Brooksie Way' Races Mark 10th Anniversary

ROCHESTER, MI — More than 4,000 runners are expected to participate in Sunday’s 10th annual Brooksie Way Half Marathon. Billed as the county’s premier quality of life events, 10K and 5K races will all be held starting at 8 a.m. on the campus of Oakland University.

County Executive L. Brooks Patterson began the Brooksie Way races to encourage people to become more physically active. The race also honors his son, Brooks Stuart Patterson, who died in 2007 after a snowmobile accident.

According to race organizers, proceeds from the event support programs that encourage healthy and active lifestyle and are distributed through “Brooksie Way Mini-grants”. In little more than a year, the grants have put $150,000 back into Oakland County communities.

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The half-marathon will be run through the streets of Rochester. The first runners will start arriving in the city at approximately 8:30 am and will have passed through by about 11 a.m.

Race marshalls and police officers will work to move traffic across the race route as safety permits. There are expected to be longer delays when the bulk of the runners are in the city.

These are areas that can expect longer delays:
• Second Street (Letica) between Main and Parkdale will be temporarily blocked while the runners and walkers head on Second Street to Elizabeth beginning at approximately 8:45 am.
• Main & University
• Ludlow & Woodward (at the Paint Creek Trail)

Here is the schedule of events:
Friday, September 22

• 3pm - 8 pm - Fitness Expo and Packet Pick Up - at OU Student Recreation Center for our Expo and packet pick up. First 100 attendees in the door will receive a coupon code worth $15 off next year's McLaren Brooksie Way!

Saturday, September 23

• 9 am - 6 pm Fitness Expo and Packet Pick Up - at OU Student Recreation Center for our Expo and packet pick up. First 100 attendees in the door will receive a coupon code worth $15 off next year's McLaren Brooksie Way!
• 12 pm (noon) - Lil' Brooksie Kids Race - A special opportunity for our youngest runners. Join us at the Brooksie Way Start line featuring a Diaper Dash, Toddler Trot and Big Kids race with family friendly activities and fun!

Sunday, September 24
All at Start/Finish area in Meadow Brook Music Festival Grounds

• 6:30 am - Limited Packet Pick Up and Race Day Registration (Long lines, come early)
• 7 am - Food Vendors open in Post-Race Tent
• 8 am - Half Marathon corralled start (runners and walkers corralled by bib-color)
• 8:15 am – 5k/10k shared start (runners and walkers corralled by bib-color)

Photo courtesy of thebrooksieway.com