Karla Bernath spoke to the Chelsea City Council on Jan. 4 to explain a proposed new 5K route for the annual Heart and Soul Run, Walk and Bike race.
Previously, participants took some dirt roads during the race, but in 2016, it’s expected that the race will now take place on hard surfaces making it easier for those in wheelchairs or pushing strollers to take part.
The 27th annual race usually includes about 800 racers, she said, and includes a 10K and a 13-mile bike race as well. All proceeds will benefit behavioral health services at St. Joseph Mercy-Chelsea this year.
The proposed new route will involve the closure of several roads on the morning of race day – May 21 – that include Washington Street, Madison, AD Mayer and Freer Road. If approved by the City Council, Freer Road could be closed for up to an hour and 30 minutes.
The 5K begins at 9:30 in the high school parking lot and is expected to end with the final walkers going through the Freer/Trinkle intersection at about 10:55 and ending in the same parking lot.
Participants in the 5K will go from the high school down Trinkle Road to North Freer to Washington Street to Madison to AD Mayer around Beach Middle School and back to AD Mayer to North Freer to Trinkle and back to the high school parking lot.
Also on that day is a high school varsity baseball double header, so it’s going to be a busy day in Chelsea.
Bernath said she had already spoken to Police Chief Ed Toth, Superintendent of Schools Dave Killips and Athletic Director Brad Bush about the change and none of them had a problem with it.
City Manager John Hanifan said he asked Bernath to present the change to the City Council so they could ask questions.
For anyone who might want to take part this year, but who might not know how to get started, Bernath said there will be a program called “From Couch to 5K” beginning in March to get folks ready for the race and details would follow.
It’s expected that the City Council will see a traffic control order on the agenda at the next meeting for the road closures.
