Record Numbers Freeze Their Frannies in 5K Run/Walk at Stony Creek

The third annual Freeze Your Franny 5K run/walk lived up to its name Saturday, with a record number of runners braving bitter temperatures to take part in the race.

Organized by the Utica Education Association and Utica Paraprofessionals Association, the Freeze Your Franny 5K celebrated its third year at Stony Creek Metropark Saturday, Jan. 26.

More than 1,100 participants registered for the race, which also served to benefit MCREST (Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team), the Macomb County Food Bank and 4 Paws 1 Heart. 

“Our primary purpose is to promote wellness, but we thought we could also support local charities that may not have their own large event,” said event director and Roberts Elementary teacher Nancy Smith, in a previous interview with Patch. “We try to select diverse charities that could use financial support and are willing to be involved in our event as well, either through participating or helping promote it.”

This year, $1,500 was raised for the Macomb County Food Bank, $1,500 for MCREST and $750 for 4 Paws 1 Heart. (If these donations seem on the small side, please keep in mind that the race is self-funding.) 

It was a frigid 23 degrees at the start of the race, although the National Weather Service reports it probably felt more like 14 degrees thanks to the windchill. 

But despite freezing temperatures, Smith said participants had generally good things to say about the event.

One of them was Shelby Township resident and blogger Jeffrey Williams.

"Overall this is a race that I would certainly do again," wrote Williams on his blog, Detroit Runner. "You could tell the race organization has put this together before and their experience shined throughout the entire race process."

Of the more than 1,100 participants, Macomb Township resident Kevin Salter, 17, and Auburn Hills resident Sara Ropp, 24, won the race overall, with Waterford resident Thomas Preiss, 43, and Washington Township resident Laura Shamblin, 45, taking the top spots in the master's category.

Check complete race results on the Run Michigan website.

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