Off and Running: Dearborn Man's Obstacle Race a Dream Come True

Obstacles are something people living in the city of Detroit and its surrounding suburbs are used to overcoming, or at least getting around.

But this September, a new set of obstacles will come to the city courtesy of a Dearborn resident and a Plymouth native, both of whom are challenging area runners to keep the pace at the inaugural veloCity Race: Detroit.

An obstacle race that will challenge the athletic capabilities of several thousand runners, the veloCity event is also a positive means to address preconceived notions about Detroit–a city with more than its fair share of issues.

“There are two reasons we wanted to do this race,” said Jeff Novak, a Dearborn resident and avid runner. “One is that we wanted to encourage a healthy lifestyle, and the other is that we want to encourage people to come downtown. At the ground-level view, the city is different. Sure, there are some worn-out buildings, but there’s still a lot of beauty here.”

Sam Walton, a concert and event promoter who grew up in Plymouth, said love for Detroit was the biggest motivator in the creation of veloCity.

“I’m a Detroit guy; I’ve lived in this area all of my life and I don’t plan to leave,” he said. “I’m also an avid runner and I was tired of seeing these types of races going to other cities. Why can’t we have a race like this in Detroit? There’s a lot to see and experience in the city. We want people to come here, take part in the race, and then stick around to see what the city has to offer.”

The veloCity race will kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17.

The 11-mile course will give runners and other thrill-seekers a firsthand view of several Detroit jewels: the open simplicity of Hart Plaza, the majestic architecture of the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Public Library, the beautiful and pedestrian-friendly changes made to the Detroit RiverFront.

The obstacle race differs from a traditional running event in that it’s not a competition; the only opponent racers will face is themselves. And the obstacles.

Along the course, racers will face several trials, including a tire run, a balancing exercise, cargo net monkey bars and a cargo crawl. Novak said there’s also the possibility of adding in a semitruck crawl and a stadium step challenge.

"We’re still in the planning stages,” Novak said.

Runners will be able to complete the race as part of a three-member team or as an individual. Awards will be given in several divisions, Walton said.

Participants will also be able to celebrate before, after and during the race–Detroit style. A pre-party will take place Sept. 16, and a post-party with food provided by some of the city’s best restaurants will begin immediately after the race. Along the route, local rock bands will provide entertainment to energize race participants.

Both Novak and Walton will be working up to Sept. 17 to bring the race from an idea to a reality. The pair is hoping for 7,500 runners, and is still working to locate sponsors, in addition to J-2 Concepts, the Signature Professional Group, Road ID and Healthy Grapes, which have already signed on.

The duo has no doubt that runners will feel their heartbeats increase as they complete each obstacle, but the hope is that the same people will feel the heartbeat of Detroit, a city that garners a lot of attention when something goes wrong, but seldom receives credit for when things go right.

“We have our challenges, like other cities all over this country,” said Walton. “Our goal is to allow people to take another look, this time with refreshed eyes.”

Registration for the veloCity Race: Detroit is $80 per individual and $180 per relay team. Registration can be completed online at www.velocitydetroit.com until Sept. 7.