Event Information
The Borgess 5K and the Borgess Half Marathon for years have been the signature events at the Borgess Run for the Health of It. The 2011 version will include new courses, both starting and finishing on the campus of Nazareth Center/ Borgess Health & Fitness Center, 3025 Gull Road. The 5K course will be similar to the historical 5K course. The Half Marathon course will be changed to coincide with the “back end” of the Kalamazoo Marathon.
Course notes
All events start and end at the Borgess Health & Fitness Center located at 3025 Gull Road in Kalamazoo. Courses wind their way through streets neighboring the campus of Borgess Medical Center, as well as the downtown Kalamazoo Mall, with aid stations on all courses and splits at each mile. All registered participants of the Half Marathon, 5K Run and 5K Judged Racewalk will receive a ChronoTrack. Attached to your shoe, this small tag is embedded with a unique timing chip designed to interact with sensor mats at the start and finish. This light, disposable tag will record your exact time and finish place, and thus does not need to be turned in after the race.
Prizes/Awards
Prizes will be awarded three deep in each five-year age category for the Half Marathon and 5K Run. In the 5K Racewalk, everyone competes for Borgess awards in the following categories: Open, Masters (40-54) and Senior (55+). There will also be USATF titles awarded three deep in each five-year age category for State Championship 5K Racewalk competitors. Prizes will be available within one hour of each event at the Awards Tent.
Parking
Parking is available at the Borgess Health & Fitness Center and the surrounding campus. Please arrive in plenty of time to park. Saturday’s first race kicks off at (TBA), and roads may be blocked.
Safety
According to rules dictated by USA Track & Field (USATF), the governing body for road racing, no participation is allowed by people using bicycles, strollers, skateboards, rollerblades or roller skates. Violators will be removed from the course.
Walking the Half Marathon
No one will be prohibited from walking the Half Marathon. However, it is important to know that a 15-minute per mile pace must be maintained to ensure access to the course, police protection and refreshments at the end of the course. Participants that cannot keep up with that pace finish the course at their own risk.
If you find that you drop below that pace due to injury or fatigue, please alert a course monitor or police officer for assistance.
