This year’s race theme is Ghostbusters. While last year’s race did not have a specific theme, the Parks and Recreation Department added the new element this year. Assistant Director of Clinton Township’s Parks and Recreation Department Brian Kay says that decorations will include an inflatable Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, an iconic villain from the first “Ghostbusters: movie. The T-shirts, medals and trophies feature an illustration of Slimer, the first ghost successfully captured by the film protagonists.
“We have the Ghostbusters Detroit group coming out,” Kay said. “We’ll have between four and eight gentlemen and women dressed in their Ghostbuster outfits to entertain the crowds, with their Proton Packs and the Slimer Guns. They’ll bring out a replica of the Ectomobile, it has all the bells and whistles, it’s detailed just like in the movie. It’ll be a surprise for a lot of guests because we didn’t advertise it as a Ghostbusters theme, we wanted everyone to have unique costumes and not just all come as Ghostbusters.”
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| The Michigan Ghostbusters. Photo by: Arianna Endicott |
Runners are encouraged to wear costumes as they participate in the Halloween-themed race. Photos available on the Clinton Township website show racers from last year’s event dressed as superheroes, Dr. Seuss characters, Princess Peach and Mario, as well as various others. Costume judging will begin at 9:30 a.m., before the race begins. Winners will be chosen from two different age groups - under and over 18 years old - for both men and women. Winners will also be chosen for group costumes, consisting of two or more people with coordinating costumes.
The top three winners from each age group will receive prizes, such as gift certificates donated from local businesses. Awards will also be given to the first three finishers of the race in each age category for both men and women. Racers will be timed with a bib chip, which will time racers from the start to the finish line. This year, first prize winners will receive gift cards to Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Shelby Township. Runners up will receive coupons for one free appetizer.
“This is my first time doing the race, my family is doing it,” Gina Miller, a seventh grader at Iroquois Middle School said. “For the race, I’m being a pirate as part of a group costume with my family. I expect that there will be a lot of people in costumes and we’ll probably see Halloween decorations as we’re running. I think it will be fun because I’ll be with my friends and family, and I can see all the cool costumes as I’m running.”
Racers who are running the Costume 5K will be timed, but the Monster Mile will be untimed, allowing participants to go at their own pace. The Costume 5K kicks off at 10 a.m., while the Monster Mile begins at 10:30 a.m. Racers will run through paved trails, grass, hills, dirt and mud on their course around the Clinton Township Civic Center Trails.
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| The Michigan Ghostbusters. Photo by: Arianna Endicott |
“You’re running with your neighbors, your friends, your family,” Kay said. “It builds kind of a sense of community pride to do the run in your hometown, versus going to do one where you don’t live. You feel like you’re supporting your parks and recreation department by doing it at a park in your own community. Some people will even ride their bikes or run to the race, so they’re doing more than just the 5K for the day.”
Participants who registered for the race prior to October 15 will receive a long-sleeve commemorative T-shirt, as well as a medal for finishing. Anyone who registers after then will not be guaranteed a shirt or medal, as they are subject to availability. Racers can pick up their bibs on the day of the event, beginning at 8 a.m.
“This is what our department is all about,” Kay said. “We want to create memories that last a lifetime.”
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