9th Running of The Brooksie Way Showcases Rochester Hills

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – On Sunday, Sept. 25, runners and walkers with lace up their shoes and head to Rochester Hills for the 9th Annual Brooksie Way half marathon.

The Health Alliance Plan is a sponsor for the Brooksie Way half marathon, now in its ninth year. Established by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson to encourage people to become more physically active, it has become one of the most popular regional fall half marathons.

The course begins and ends at the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre (formerly known as the Meadow Brook Music Festival) on the campus of Oakland University and highlights some the great beauty of Rochester Hills including the Clinton River and the Paint Creek trail.

Runners and walkers who participated in the half marathon the past two years will note the course returns to the Tienken Road route. The course will feature a “rolling open and close,” allowing roads to remain open except for a period of time when runners and walkers are actually passing through.

"Whether you run, jog or walk, crossing that finish line is an experience you never forget," Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett said in a news release. "We're proud to host the Brooksie Way and have the opportunity to show the participants just how beautiful our community is while promoting a healthy lifestyle."

Proceeds from the race support local programs focusing on healthy and active lifestyles through Brooksie Way minigrants. More than $155,000 has been donated to these grass-roots programs, with more grants awarded annually.

To register electronically, log onto thebrooksieway.com and click the "registration" link. You may also download a paper application, or pick one up at one of the local gyms or fitness stores. Submission instructions will be included on the application. If you would like a paper application mailed to you, please contact Deb Kiertzner at kiertznerd@thebrooksieway.com.

For complete course maps and road closure information, please go to thebrooksieway.com. If you have any questions, or would like help mapping a travel route, please contact Stan Torres, Brooksie Way Traffic Coordinator Torress@oakgov.com.

Photo by Ryan Knapp via Flickr Commons