• By Andrew Dawson

    From Runners World@24:150/1 to All on Tue Oct 13 21:31:50 2020
    By Andrew Dawson
    Oct 13, 2020

    michigan pro ekiden
    Kevin Hanson

    The number of professional running teams in the United States continues
    to grow each year, and while we all love seeing our favorite athletes
    duke it out on the track and on the roads, we don’t really get to see
    the clubs face off against one another in a team format. Think:
    Bowerman Track Club vs. Hansons-Brooks, or NAZ Elite vs. Boston
    Athletics Association.

    Well, that’s exactly what we’ll get to see in the Michigan Pro Ekiden.
    On October 21, six pro clubs will race against each other in an ekiden
    relay in Shelby Township, Michigan.

    Sign up for Runner’s World+ to keep up with the latest pro running
    news 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

    “I love the ekiden at a pro level because the one thing that is lacking
    for pro athletes, especially with a strong club system, is we never run
    anything as a team,” Hansons-Brooks Distance Project coach Kevin Hanson
    told Runner’s World. “We always see individual results. Not a team
    result. The ekiden is the ultimate team event.”

    The event was the brainchild of four coaches: Hanson, Amy Begley
    (Atlanta Track Club), Ben Rosario (NAZ Elite), and Lee Troop (T.E.A.M.
    Boulder). In a group chat, they were trying to figure out ways for
    their athletes to safely compete with the end of the season approaching
    and the pandemic preventing travel.

    The answer came in two parts: the ekiden and the Michigan Pro Half
    Marathon to be held a week after (the latter is an opportunity for
    athletes to reach their time bonuses included in their contracts
    because they weren’t able to during a year without races).

    Both events will be a must-watch as some of the best athletes race in
    traditional ekiden fashion. Because the ekiden is likely an event
    you’ve never encountered, we put together some information about it and
    the races below. Here’s what you need to know.

    The 2021 Runner's World Calendar features gorgeous photos, monthly
    motivation, and tips to inspire your running all year long.]

    What is an ekiden?

    An ekiden is a team relay popularized in Japan. The first ekiden was
    held in 1917 to celebrate the anniversary of the capital moving 315
    miles from Kyoto to what is now Tokyo. The race course ran along the
    old communication and transportation route from station to station. The
    ekiden name comes from the Japanese words “station (駅)” and “transmit
    伝.”

    The race is organized like a typical relay, with runners handing off
    sashes (like batons in track) in a specific transition zone
    (“stations”). Races vary in distance and length (single-day to 10-day,
    typically). For the annual Hakone Ekiden, where college teams square
    off over two days, TV networks devote the entirety of their coverage to
    the race and millions come out to the streets to watch.^

    How will the Michigan Pro Ekiden work?

    The coaches didn’t want this to be just a relay. They wanted it to be
    an authentic event, so they did their research and consulted experts
    such as Brett Larner, founder of Japan Running News and former
    agent of Boston Marathon champion Yuki Kawauchi.
    Related Stories
    Tracksmith Hosting Race to Save College Programs
    Linden’s October: 496 Miles, 196 the Final Week

    Larner explained how to run the event and also helped the coaches
    acquire official ekiden sashes from Japan.

    “They love that Americans are willing to take on what they do,” Hanson
    said. “This is their thing. We want to be a compliment to Japan, not be
    trying to show how we can do it better. We want it to be something
    where we appreciate what they do.”

    This comes not only in the form of using sashes, but also in little
    things like transition zone sizes and handoff etiquette. Traditionally,
    when a runner finishes a leg, they pass the sash off to the following
    runner, and then turn around and bow to the course.

    Where is the ekiden being held?

    Hansons is hosting the race at their training spot at Stony Creek
    Metropark in Shelby Township, Michigan. With a lake at the center,
    teams will run a 10K bike path around the lake. According to Hanson,
    “It is a little rolling, but definitely not hilly.”

    The race is USATF-certified, and the total distance of the relay is
    26.2 miles. The legs will happen in this order: 10K men, 6.1K women, 5K
    men, 10K women, 6.1K men, and 5K women.

    Who is running?

    Six teams will be competing: Atlanta Track Club, T.E.A.M.
    Boulder, Bowerman Track Club, NAZ Elite, Minnesota Distance
    Elite, and Hansons ODP. Two of those teams (Hansons and Bowerman)
    will run two teams of six.
    Related Stories
    Results, Highlights From 2020 London Marathon
    Inside the Unprecedented London Marathon Bubble

    Other teams were invited but were unable to attend. Clubs like
    Boston Athletic Association, ZAP Endurance, and Mammoth
    Track Club will have runners racing in the half marathon on October 21.

    We do not know everyone who will suit up for the race. However, we are
    hearing that most teams’ top athletes will be attendance.

    How to watch

    The ekiden will start at 10 a.m. ET on October 21. Both races will be
    low-budget productions, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tune in.
    The races will be streamed live on Hansons Run Shop Facebook page.

    Announcers for the race will be Todd Williams and Samantha Hanson.
    This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the
    same content in another format, or you may be able to find more
    information, at their web site.

    Is there prize money?

    Yes. The coaches pooled together $5,000 from their pockets for prize
    money. The winning team will receive $2,000 and the fastest athlete for
    each leg with receive $500.

    Will COVID-19 protocols be enforced?

    Yes. Every athlete will need to have one negative test in the seven
    days prior to the event in order to enter Michigan. Athletes who are
    staying in Michigan to race the half marathon will be required to take
    another test.

    The race also complies with the park’s coronavirus regulations by
    limiting the number of people allowed in the park at a time. To make
    sure they respect this restriction, the event is being held on a
    Wednesday when fewer people are likely to be in the park. The park will
    not be closed to the public, which means some unsuspecting park-goers
    will likely be startled by speedy runners going by.

    What about the Michigan Pro Half Marathon?

    This is another event you won’t want to miss. The Michigan Pro Half
    Marathon will be held on October 28, on the same course as the ekiden
    in Stony Creek Metropark. The race will feature 35 men and 35 women,
    including five pacers for men and women. There is no prize money for
    the half marathon.

    The field is stacked:
    This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same
    content in another format, or you may be able to find more information,
    at their web site.

    In addition to the #MichiganProEkiden that was announced on
    October 21st, the coaches of the teams racing, decided it would be
    good to add the #MichiganProHalfMarathon on October 28th for our
    athletes.@hansonsrun & Keith have made it possible for this to
    happen 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/KNt2dwin3G
    — Lee Troop 🇦🇺 (@runtroopy) October 9, 2020

    Anything else I should know?

    If you’re craving racing, these two events are just what the doctor
    ordered. If you want even more. tune in to The Marathon Project on
    December 20, when some of the country’s best marathoners will go
    head-to-head.
    Andrew Dawson Gear & News Editor Drew covers a variety of subjects
    for Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and
    editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness,
    gear, and fitness for the brand.
    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported
    onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be
    able to find more information about this and similar content at
    piano.io
    --- up 7 weeks, 1 day, 6 hours, 51 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (24:150/1)