Today was the Island Road Runners’ Memorial Day 5K/8K Run/Walk on Grosse Ile, Michigan. (That’s a mouthful, isn’t it?) I saw it advertised in the online version of the local paper a few weeks ago and thought this might be a chance to check out another venue for walking, so I signed up. The Island Runners are a group of Downriver area residents that formed a group of runners back in 1981 and this Memorial Day Race has been in existence for just as long. I understand there were between 500 to 600 participants in today’s event.
Grosse Ile is the biggest island in the Detroit River and accessible via a main bridge or toll bridge and also by boat. The whole island is only 9.6 miles (24.9 km).
We assembled at Grosse Ile High School on probably the most gorgeous day that we’ve seen in 2019. We enjoyed a flawless blue sky, brilliant sun and cool temps, about 60 degrees at race start time and no humidity or wind. With the exception of a few stragglers, we were all ready to go by 8:50 a.m.
After hearing the national anthem (including a few yowls from a white poodle at the high notes), then some comments from the race coordinator …
… the 5K Race/Walk began promptly at 9:00 a.m. and the 8K run followed five minutes later. The flag bearers marked the solemn remembrance of Memorial Day with huge flags, Old Glory and one representing the servicemen who are POWs/MIAs.
We headed down Grays Drive toward the Detroit River.
It was a conglomeration of runners and walkers, women pushing baby strollers, kids holding on to mom or dad’s hand … or holding their own by racing with the adults, and finally, a few dogs tagging along with their owners.
Along East River Road, which runs parallel to the River, there was plenty of police presence, including vehicles that blocked off all the streets where we walked. Officers and volunteers on bicycles rode alongside the shoreline, keeping pace with all of us. They were carrying boom boxes blaring music to get runners and walkers pumped up along this scenic trek.
The water at the river was sparkling and the occasional pleasure boat drifted by and its occupants gave us a wave. Some boats and docks were dormant awaiting more activity later perhaps.
The houses to our left were exquisite, with perfectly manicured lawns and beautiful landscaping. A few homeowners waved and shouted out words of encouragement as we passed their homes.
Next, we turned into a neighborhood, and it was very shady, which was already welcome as it had gotten warmish on the short walk along East River Road in the full sun. It seemed at every twist and turn along the way were well wishes shouting out “good job” or “doin’ great or “just a little bit further and you’ll have even more shade” … that was great news as the runners were already red-faced and looking a little exhausted, especially the ones who had donned the long-sleeved race shirts made for this event.
This guy and gal were wearing patriotic-looking duds.
These sweet young ladies were our “water girls” and eager to pass out tall cups of water.
And this young man had a bird’s eye view of the activities from a tree in the front yard.
At Meridian and Lowrie Roads, with barely a mile left in the race, a classic car caught my eye. It was parked alongside a few more well wishers, one of them waving an American flag. Now I wouldn’t necessarily recognize a Plymouth Road Runner at first glance, but a few things gave me a clue here as you see below:
You might remember the Road Runner cartoon character from Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner? Perhaps this car was the mascot for the Island Road Runners who have a Road Runner logo too. I stopped to visit with Paul, who has owned this car since 1976 when he graduated from high school.
I didn’t want to linger as we were smack in the middle of the sun and it was getting warmer by the minute, so I rounded the corner onto Grays Drive for the last leg of the journey.
As we neared the end, people lined up to either clap or say “good going” or something similar and to tell us “the end is near” which made me wonder if we all looked that weary? The 8K runners were coming in the same time as me, but I had meandered along, taking it all in and taking photos for this post. As with prior 5Ks I am more interested in the ambiance than getting a good race result (good thing because I came in at 1 hour and 10 minutes for my official time – yikes!)
There was a medals ceremony and refreshments, and an announcement of where our registration fees were donated (various Grosse Ile schools and Special Olympics), then the event was over. To garner some additional steps, I left the car at the High School and went up to the River and strolled along East River Road to get a few more miles in. I enjoyed this beautiful weather day, especially as we have storms rolling in tonight around 9:00 p.m. and the rainy/stormy days will continue through Thursday.
I’ll leave you with this quote:
[Island Road Runners Logo from their Facebook Page]
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Sounds like a lovely day!
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You and I have dealt with so much rain in our respective states, this was a real treat. I’ll bet a lot of people did not return home from cottages up north today.
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What a perfect way to spend a Memorial Day. Congratulations on the completion of another successful 5k! That race looks and sounds like so much fun and Special Olympics is a very worthwhile charity to contribute to. You got some great photos as a bonus, and best of all, the weather cooperated. Good for you for walking extra miles after the race was over. Great Memorial Day quote too.
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Thanks Laurie – it was a great weather day which made a lot of difference. Even the runners said it got a little hotter than they expected in between the tree-lined neighborhoods. What a perfect venue! I thought the Special Olympics donation was worthwhile too. I am still trying to make that goal that I set for myself (1,242 miles/2,000 km) so I have to try to get more steps on the weekend if at all possible. That was a nice quote … short and sweet but says it all.
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Hello a Linda was nice to meet you and read your pleasant blog on the island and our IRR running club..
Thank you for coming out to IRRMD walk run event!!
Paul
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You’re welcome Paul. I suspected you might be in the club, thus you had your Plymouth Road Runner and mascot parked along the way. Thanks for letting me take some pictures of the car and both of you to include in this blog post. – Linda
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Miss linda…………………………………………I’m proud of you partaking in that special race on Grosse Isle…………………………………..it looked like fun………………………you’re getting to be an old sport with all of these fun-run races
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It was fun Ann Marie and such a scenic view of the River along East River Road and then a beautiful trek through those neighborhoods with the beautiful homes as well. Most every house on our route was huge and beautifully landscaped. We finally had a beautiful weather day. I would think you would have enjoyed this event very much and I was not there to set any records, believe me, just taking in the ambiance and meandering along, talking to a few people along the way and taking pictures. I am almost ashamed to admit I walk as much as I do with such a poor time record at the finish line. The race was a nice way to honor our fallen military men and women – very patriotic and a nice tribute to them.
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Thanks for the summary of the experience – I really enjoyed it.
The 71 roadrunner car is cool and nice that the man owned it that long!
Great people photos here too – glad the weather was good
Lastly – love the saying “don’t know them all but we owe them all”
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Thanks Yvette – I have not walked in that many 5K events, but they are fun and a nice crowd and always friendly. The Mutt Strut and this event were new to me … I thought I’d try a few new events this year besides the others I normally walk in. I think there were more runners than walkers in this event. I thought the car was cool too and we have many classic car cruising events in this area all Summer. The biggest one is the Woodward Dream Cruise in August, the granddaddy of them all. Woodward Avenue is the first actual roadway in the U.S. We have a classic cruise event that runs through our City on June 29th. I have gone to it in the past (an all-day event which actually starts on Friday nights). Lots of classic cars from the 60s, 70s and even the Model A and Model T variety. I like that saying too … I almost used “all gave some, some gave all” but I liked these simple words as well. They did a nice tribute to fallen service persons at the event.
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What a lovely race! Thanks for the words and the photos.
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Thanks Anne – glad you liked it. We had a perfect weather day and I was not exaggerating when I said it was the nicest one to date in 2019. You know as I whine about the weather all the time. We had some sunny days, but this was just picture perfect.
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I so glad you had a picture perfect day.
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Wow! You got your steps in today, Linda! This looks like a lovely park to visit. We had a little rain here in the morning. I’m glad you had better weather!
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Yes, it was a beautifully bright and sunny day and they have been so scarce here as you know Sabine. I try to get six miles in each weekend day if possible. So I got that done and have to take a tally of my steps by month end for my next post. We had a storm and lots of rain last night, so we’re back in the rain business again.
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Sunshine’s headed our way! 😊
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I hope you got what we had yesterday – it was just picture-perfect!
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Not picture-perfect yet, but getting there! 😀
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That’s what counts … I was surprised to hear today that even though we have had rain 20 out of 28 days this May, that we had three more inches of rain in May 2018! I’d have thought the reverse … just listening to the news and the devastation due to the weather nationwide is astounding to me.
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Yes, it is astounding!
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I really feel for these folks – they interviewed one woman who was still in shock after her Ohio home was leveled. She kept repeating “I can’t believe my house is gone.” It shook me up hearing her. But for the grace of God …
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Very frightening to see these storms destroy everything in their paths!
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Yes it is – heartbreaking and frightening.
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Indeed!
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Your last quote says it all. I’m glad you went. I’m glad it was good. There seems to be so many people who did it with you!!!
Love, light and glitter
Happy Tuesday
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I did enjoy it a lot Eliza, and it’s been my experience in the prior 5K events that I’ve walked in, that even if you go solo, it is easy to just visit along the way with other walkers or chat with people that cheer on the runners and walkers. I had asked about how many people had signed up and they said it was 600 last year and between 500-600 this year. That is a lot of people, plus they had lots of volunteers helping out. it all went smoothly and the nice weather made it more pleasant as well. Not as pleasant today, tomorrow or Thursday weatherwise. My days of the week will be all messed up now as it feels like a Monday. Love, light and glitter to you Eliza.
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I get the days business. I’ve gone to work early because I thought it was a different day, and written public posts with the wrong day on top.
I love that people cheer others on. I think that’s such a nice thing to do…
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Yes, it takes me a few days to get it right in my head, and by then it is the end of the work week. 🙂
I like that people cheer you on too, even though I was just walking and not running. The runners, especially the ones in the 8K run (almost 5 miles by our measurements) looked pretty weary by the end, even though it was not a particularly hot day. Those folks are nice and cheer everyone on, especially near the finish line. Usually the walkers will break into a run as they approach the “hoop” which has the gizmo which measures how your time from the event.
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That is so cool that it can measure your time!
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Yes, we wear what they call a “bib” which is just something about the size of a half a sheet of typing paper. It is made of Tyvek material (waterproof) and has a computer chip in it – you run through the hoop and it records your time. In this post, my first 5K, you can see how the runners/walkers wear the number and then at the end you see how you pass through/under the hoop and it records your time:
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That’s so cool! I love it….
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YAY!! The weather was perfect! I’m so happy for you. Great photos of the race and the people who joined in. :-)!!
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Thanks Shelley and glad you liked the photos too – this had to be the finest weather day this year in my opinion. All those people and very friendly along the way as well.
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Yes, I did. And I’m so happy for you to have a grand day to get out and enjoy the scenery and the company of fellow walkers!
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Getting those miles in! 🙂 Make sure that your running/walking shoes are top-notch and very “cushiony.”
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I hope I have not set too high a bar this year Tom … I tacked on an extra 80 miles to my yearly goal when someone said “oh, just make it an even 2,000 kilometers) … more to stride for, but the weather has not cooperated. I’m going to quit complaining about the rain after hearing the devastation from tornadoes in nearby states. I have been using Easy Spirit Punter style since I first began walking. The owner at the mom-and-pop shoe store where I have bought shoes for decades (my parents took me there when we first moved to the U.S.) is closing the end of this month after being in business for 72 years. It was owned by her late father originally. She is a walker and advised to get that style, So far, so good, but the Easy Balance hiking boots she recommended are not as comfortable … they go over the ankle which I’m not used to and I have to use bubble wrap in between the boot and my ankles. 🙂
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Wow, 72 years is a very long time for a business! The hiking boots seem like they’d be uncomfortable… they way you describe them. I love my Nike Air Max shoes; they are very comfortable and are great for running quickly away from those vicious snakes and squirrels that can attack at any given time! Tee-hee! 🙂
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I have jotted down the name of your shoes Tom. Who knows, they may stop making my brand? That cushiony feel sounds appealing to me. I think it will always be walking, not running, for me too. Running on cement or asphalt is rough on your bones. McLindens has been in the same location for a record 72 years … social media has done several stories on Margaret and the store closing since they announced it on 04/01. She said it was time to retire … most mom-and-pop stores can’t begin to compete with online discount shoe stores unfortunately.
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Sounds like a fun, full day. Great ending quote.
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Yes, it was and the weather was just perfect, a nice change from our rainy weather we’ve had. I like that quote too – very simple, but says it all.
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you lucked out for weather this time around Linda! Good to take advantage of it to get those miles up there as I’m sure your lagging behind due to inclement weather.
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I sure did Wayne – it was a beautiful day and it got a little warm as we started walking, but that was mostly because our event shirt was heavyweight and long-sleeved. The rain held off twelve hours til 9:00 p.m. We have a stormy day today … rounds of thunderstorms but not expected to be severe thankfully.
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I guess the Rain God felt sorry you folks and took a powder.
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I think so – I felt pretty lucky we had good weather. I have two more 5Ks this Summer and hope they don’t get rained on. It has rained here all day today and I’m still waiting on the computer guy to show up and suspect that the real stormy weather will start as he pulls up in the driveway.
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out of curiosity,do you know what the “K” means in 5K?
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Kilometers – always more than miles. Like someone suggested to me “you can do 2,000 kilometers” so I raised my goal 80 more miles to get to 1,242 miles walked or 2,000 kilometers.
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someone? ……..your memory is failing Linda. That someone was me and I find it amusing that the metric system has worked its way into the life of America finally. You guys are the last hold outs to switching to Metric. Your still using the old Imperial system.
Having said that, your industry is using Metric,just not the public.
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Actually I knew it was you Wayne and I was teasing you! I said “yes, that would be fun to do that since so many more people use the metric system.” I don’t know why we haven’t converted yet – we are backwards in lots of things.
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I wondered if that was “tongue in cheek”?
Most of you are just fine but some people are trying to take you back in time when women had to perform their own abortions and end up dying.
I find it unsettling when a State (Georgia) says they “cherish life” and yet have the highest death rate on death row.
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Yes, that Governor hopefully does not want to get re-elected anytime soon. He has no right to come out with that proclamation with a death rate like that. A lot of idiots in government … now people are aflutter because Joe Biden told a 10-year old girl he would respond to her question and bet she was as smart as she was good looking and touched her shoulder. Her mom took a photo – obviously she had no issues with him. Let’s interfere with everything that everyone says, does and thinks and believes.
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and the most alarming aspect of all this is that there appears to be many more States echoing this cry
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Yes, it is very scary if this sweeps nationwide.
Our Governor, just sworn in this past January does not agree … she is a woman.
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btw,there are 1.6 klicks in a mile.
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I have to admit that I use the converter online when I write a post and want to use temps or mileage so people know and don’t have to look it up.
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basically 60 mile a hour is 90 klicks
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When I had the Regal (until it had electrical issues after 21 years and got this car in 2009), it had a toggle switch and I could toggle it to KM when we went to Canada. I probably did no that rough estimate then, but have not been on the 401 or in Canada since 1990 or 1991.
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What an absolutely amazing way to start off memorial day!! I may have to do this next year. The pictures near the water reminded me of the Peninsula of Traverse Bay where I would run often in the summers up north. Thanks for sharing, Linda!
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Yes, it was so beautiful as we went along the Detroit River … sparkling water, sunny day and all those people … I think that was the largest event I’ve been in to date. You had some nice memories spent by Traverse City Mackenzie and yesterday I heard this story and thought of you when the woman mentioned spending Summers with her grandparents … it is about a message in a bottle she wrote as a kid:
https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/articles/man-finds-message-bottle-lake-michigan-written-1974
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Sounds so lovely & I can’t wait to read this – sounds absolutely endearing. Thanks for sharing!
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Aww I just read it!!! Melted my heart! It was from Mission Peninsula too- I’ll have to share this story with my grandparents. This is too cool!
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I thought it was too – I was glad I heard it on the news to forward to you. If they have a follow-up story I will forward it to you.
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Thank you!
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I don’t know what was more beautiful, the scenery or the weather!
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Yes, it was a beautiful day Diane and the neighborhood and along the River was so nice. I really enjoyed it. We have a beautiful day again today and then stormy again late tonight and part of tomorrow. Thought of you when the tornadoes hit in Ohio … everything about the weather is unusual and erratic anymore. I missed wishing you happy birthday the other day – I knew the date and it was a monumental one … I’ve had issues with my work computer since Wednesday morning until late last night after Comcast made some type of change and I could not remote in. So things were as erratic as the weather unfortunately. Hope it was a good one.
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Thanks so much Linda! I had lunch with some girlfriends then out for supper with my hubby and mom who is visiting from Florida.
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Glad you enjoyed yourself Diane – those big birthdays should be celebrated more … we made it through another decade!
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Is really good to go with other walkers, a lot of people came out, that must be fun . Thank and have a great day.
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It was a fun event Sharon and the first time I’ve been an event with that many runners/walkers – it was a beautiful weather day too which was a nice change from our rainy and unsettled weather. Same back at you Sharon.
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Looks like a great day with great weather!
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It was nice and sunny and cool when we began the event – it got a little warm as our event shirts were heavy and long-sleeved. But it was a beautiful day … no rain until late in the day. Yesterday was beautiful too … hated to come home after my walk.
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