The KCC employees will be divided into two relay teams and each person will run a section of the marathon; 6.2 miles, 6 miles, 6.7 miles, 2.9 miles, or 4.4 miles for the team. Some of the employees will begin their run in Windsor, Canada, while the others will be on the United States side, running in Detroit. Team 1 consists of Tom Rose (Augusta), Pat Purgiel (Hastings), Mike Luna (Battle Creek), Michelle Wilson (Battle Creek) and Patrick Casey (Battle Creek). Team 2's members are Tom Shaw, Holly McKee, Tom Lawrence, and husband and wife couple, Kathy Mann and Doug Mann, all from Battle Creek. The teams are sponsored by the Kellogg Community College
The race, considered by many one of the city’s signature event, will have a field surpassing 20,000 for the first time, an increase of nearly 575% since the turn of the century.
The runners will go off in darkness. Sunrise isn’t until 7:46 a.m. The lucky ones, if the weather cooperates, will see the sun come up while on the Ambassador Bridge.
Forecasts called for an hour of rain-free running, followed by a 40-50% shot of light rain. The marathon hasn’t not had rain since 1998.
While most runners need to be in place by 7 a.m., thousands of spectators will come and go throughout the day.
The drive downtown should be relatively breezy sprint on the freeways — despite more than 20,000 people participating in race events and tens of thousands more arriving later in the day for a 1 p.m. Lions game.
But it can be hectic battling traffic and finding parking.
Lodge Freeway exit ramps at Bagley, Howard and Jefferson are particularly jam-prone. Exit ramps from the Lodge to east Larned were to be closed 6 a.m.-2 p.m., and there were to be restrictions on south I-375 ramps at Lafayette and west Jefferson.
The Michigan Department of Transportation said there were no major lane restrictions on inbound freeways, and only a handful of closures that might impact traffic that early in the morning, including lane closures on eastbound I-94 between Cadieux to Outer Drive and a shutdown of I-696 at Groesbeck in Macomb County.
Sixteen lots — including the Ford Underground, Joe Louis Arena, Fort Washington, Premier Underground and Fox — are offering discounted parking in the $3-$7 range for those who arrive before 9 a.m. The lots will open around 4:30-5 a.m. Details are available at www.freepmarathon.com.
It’ll get more crowded downtown later in the morning as fans begin heading to Ford Field for the Lions game against the San Francisco 49ers at 1 p.m. Be mindful that some parking lots are reserving spaces for football tailgaters.
The People Mover will start running at 5 a.m.; fare is 50 cents each trip.
For more information, check the race’s Web site — www.freepmarathon.com. Or download the race’s new app to check course maps, view aid stations, search results, see photos and track runners during the races.
Also: Organizers of the Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon announced today the release of a smart phone app for use on iPhone and Android devices. This free app, sponsored by Greektown Casino, gives users the ability to register for events, check course maps, search results, view photo galleries, and track runners during the race.
The app is also fully integrated with Facebook and Twitter, making it easy for users to share content.
"Detroit is the only race that crosses international borders twice and now we're the only major race with an app," said Rich Harshbarger, executive race director. "We're proud to work with Greektown Casino on this exciting launch that puts information about this premier event right at users' fingertips," Harshbarger said.
Marvin Beatty, chief community officer of Greektown Casino added, "We are excited to be involved with this year's Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon. This event, which brings such fantastic energy to our city each year, is a prime example of why we are so proud to be a part of this great community."
The 34th annual Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank marathon takes place October 16 and includes a full- and half-marathon, 5-person relay team and a 5k run/walk. Registration closes October 13, at midnight.
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