Run for the Hills Expected to Draw 700-plus to Farmington, Hills

The second Run for the Hills, a race that has drawn runners from around the world, is on track to be twice as large as last year's event.

The run, which includes 10K, 5K and 1K runs and a 5K walk, starts and ends in Farmington's scenic on Aug. 20. It combines organizer Ed Anderson's years of management skills with his love for sports and his admiration for Special Olympics, an organization that provides athletic events for people with developmental disabilities.

"There's just kind of a place in my heart for Special Olympics," said Anderson, a retired Ford engineer and owner of Tri County Lacrosse. "They're kids who are out there trying hard." He said many Special Olympians helped out at the race last year, which the runners appreciated.

Last year's first Race for the Hills did very well, with more than 400 runners and walkers participating. "The whole event was much bigger than I imagined," Anderson said. And it's about to get a lot bigger.

So far, Race for the Hills is on track to have more than 700 runners and walkers on courses that start at the park, wind around local neighborhoods and end up back at the park. One runner is coming from Udine, Italy, two from the Marshall Islands and others from Michigan and around the country. Most of last year's runners are returning.

"It's a pretty fun collection of people that show up," Anderson said, adding runners told him last year they appreciated the event's organization and layout.

"The courses I have laid out are very runner-friendly," he said. "It gives the runners a feel like they're not exactly in the country, but it's still very scenic. Starting and finishing in Shiawassee Park is a plus."

Run for the Hills also feeds runners well, with pizza, bagels, brownies, bananas, chips and water donated by Jet's Pizza, Panera Bread and Whole Foods. Sponsors include , Michigan Runner Magazine, Tri County Lacrosse and the store on 12 Mile Road, which provides shoes for all the winners.

"I'm putting 10 lacrosse sticks on the table as prizes for winning teams of lacrosse players who enter," Anderson said.

In its second year, the race is trying to attract runners of all skill levels, and this year Anderson added a separate division for walkers. "It's going to continue to grow," he said of the event. "It's a special place, and people here are very supportive."

That includes residents in neighborhoods on the course. Farmington and Farmington Hills police will block off streets to ensure everyone's safety. Anderson is papering the area with fliers that encourage homeowners along the course to cheer the runners on and play party music to keep them motivated.

Homeowners may even gently mist runners with a hose—but only if that's OK with the runners, Anderson said.

"I've been to a couple of events where they've (encouraged residents to participate), and the runners just love it," he added.

The whole race has a "let's work together" feel to it, with more than 100 volunteers helping on race day. Local Jr. Optimist clubs, the on Power Road and even a sorority house from Kettering University in Flint will help out. Miss Farmington 2010 Jenny Fernandez will be back to sing the national anthem for a second year, Anderson said.

Last year, the race netted around $5,000 for Special Olympics programs in Oakland County, and Anderson expects to raise around the same contribution this year. And while he expects to continue doing Run for the Hills into the foreseeable future, this probably won't be the only project he tackles in his retirement.

"I'm blessed with a long afterlife," Anderson said. "I have a bunch of other ideas, too. I'll just take them one at a time."

What you should know

• Police will shut down 10 and 11 Mile roads between Farmington Road and Power Road from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Aug. 20.
• Runners and walkers will also be on the following streets: Ridgewood Drive, Glen Orchard Drive, Ivywood Drive, Raphael Road between Ivywood and 10 Mile, Dohany Drive from Raphael to Broadview, Randall Street, Rocky Crest Street, Belmont Street, Staman Court, Broadview Street and Marblehead Street.
• has set aside a limited number of rooms for runners at a special rate; reservations must be made by Friday. Call 800-710-6648.
• You can register online through Aug. 18. Registration is also available the day before the race at in Farmington, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (park behind the church), and on-site the day of the race from 6:30-8 a.m.
• Parking on race day will be limited in Shiawassee Park. Other alternatives include , a quarter mile away, or the administration lot just north of the park.
• For information about the race, contact Anderson at ed@agback.com