Farmington

Run for the Hills attracts 400 racers

By David Wallace
C & G Staff Writer

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Run for the Hills race looks like it has a bright future.

More than 400 people participated in the inaugural event, which featured 10k and 5k races and a 1-mile fun run Aug. 21. All of the routes began and ended in Shiawassee Park, where runners enjoyed food, music and socializing before and after their events.

“It was very impressive for a first year. We were hoping for 200, maybe 300 (people),” said Ted Stern of Team Farmington, the local Special Olympics team.

Runners’ reviews seemed positive.

“Everything was pretty good for a first-annual race. I mean, the race started on time, the course was well marked (and) the food spread is really good,” said Eric Green, a Pontiac resident and the overall 10k winner with a time of 34 minutes 30.8 seconds. Heather Dyc of Redford was the overall women’s winner in the 10k with a time of 40:42.7.

“I would say it was a phenomenal race,” said Brendan Murphy, 18, a Sterling Heights resident who finished second overall at 35:04.4.

“I thought it was good — a lot of competition. All the neighbors were cheering us on, so I felt really motivated to keep going,” said Brendan Murphy’s twin, Ian Murphy, who finished fourth.

“It was a beautiful course, easy for first-timers,” said Radhika Gadiyaram of Farmington Hills. She ran the 5k race and plans to run a 10k next month.

“I think it was a lot of fun. It had a good course. It was a tough first hill, and then a nice, scenic neighborhood route,” said Matthew Yacoub, a Farmington resident and the 5k race’s overall winner at 16:31.7. Angela Matthews won the overall women’s 5k with a time of 17:24.0.

“In spite of the humidity, it was a good race,” she said.

“I think it’s been way better than expected. We wound up with over 400 runners, which is a great turnout for a first-annual race,” said Ed Anderson, who organized the race.

“It’s a good training run. I will do this again as a training run for a half-marathon because of the hills,” said Maha McCullough of Northville, who won her age group in the 10k, which had 11 entrants.

“I did the 10k, it was my first one, and it was really cool,” said Lanie Dixon of Romulus. She did it as a tune-up for a 10-mile race the next week.

The 1-mile fun run received good reviews, too.

“Pretty simple; not too hard, not too complicated,” said Chris Faulkner of Team Farmington. He finished the mile first in 8:31.1

“It’s pretty amazing knowing that lots of people get to just join up and see who’s the fastest,” said Kyle Guilfoyle, 11.

“I kind of breezed through it, but now I’m sweating like heck,” said Guilfoyle.

Green’s time satisfied his expectations. He averaged 5:34 per mile.

“I was pleased with it, with not having anybody running with me and with the humidity,” said Green. “My splits were OK. They could have been better. In fact, if the weather wasn’t so humid, I think I would have.”

He pulled away in the race’s middle section.

“Right in the middle, I surged with a 5:25 mile, which pretty much I knew at that point that nobody was going to catch me,” said Green.

Both Murphys felt good about their times, too. They ran four years at Cousino High School in Warren.

“It was actually right where I wanted it. It was right by my personal best. It wasn’t any record-setting time, but for the course and how the conditions were, I was really happy with my time,” said Brendan.

“It might not be a half-marathon distance, but the work you’re putting into it is definitely right up there,” said Ian.

Residents who cheered on the runners impressed participants.

“All the people in the neighborhood were really friendly,” said Brendan.

“When you talk about bringing runners back for another event or for next year, that’s absolutely the kind of thing that will wind up spreading throughout the running community, and I think that next year we will probably double the number we had this year, because of all the community support, because of the sponsors and the great volunteers, and quite frankly, people have a special place in their heart for Special Olympics Oakland County,” said Anderson.

As a first time event, something was bound to go wrong. During the 5k, some runners went off the course.

“There were a couple of people that complained on the 5k course (that) there wasn’t adequate signage, so of course I’m going to take that feedback and make sure that we cover that next year,” said Anderson. He offered those runners the chance to enter for free next year.

The net proceeds from the event, which cost $35 to enter on race day, will go to Special Olympics Oakland County. Leftover food was donated to the Coalition on Temporary Shelter in Detroit.

Observers and participants found inspiration at the event, and Guilfoyle demonstrated an altruistic attitude.

“The money goes to Farmington Hills Special Olympics, and I have autism, so this is why I’m trying to help,” said Guilfoyle.

Green, the 10k race winner, is 42 and the 2009 Michigan masters runner of the year for Michigan Runner magazine.

Gadiyaram drew inspiration from her fellow competitors.

“It’s a different experience when you run with a group, than, like, when you’re just training by yourself or with a group of friends. There’s a lot of energy in the group,” said Gadiyaram.

And when it comes to crossing the finish line, Dixon said it all.

“For somebody like me that’s not all super-fit and a super-runner like a lot of these people out here, it feels amazing. I think I was close, like second to last, but to me, the fact that I showed up means that I won,” said Dixon.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer David Wallace at dwallace@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1053.