Metro 10 will stay in downtown Albion
Photo by Tom Rivers: The runners in the 10-mile Metro 10 race gather at the starting line on Main Street on Aug. 18. The start and finish of the race shifted from Bullard Park to downtown Albion this year.
Last-second change proved to be better for start and post-race party
ALBION – The Metro 10, a race that pits runners from Rochester and Buffalo, has had three different courses in its first four years.
This past race on Aug. 18 was stressful for organizers because the course had to be changed on short notice. The state Department of Transportation wouldn’t approve a permit to use Route 31 because that road was getting milled.
Route 31 covered the first 2 miles of the race and the last half-mile from Butts Road to Bullard Park. Not having access to 31 also meant Bullard Park couldn’t be used for the start and finish, with a post-race party to follow.
Rather than cancel the event, organizers shifted to the downtown for the start and finale of the race. A survey of runners showed they overwhelmingly preferred the downtown site over Bullard, said Thom Jennings, the race organizer.
“I thought it looked beautiful having everybody lined up on Main Street,” he told the Village Board on Wednesday.
He met with the board and asked for a three-year commitment to have the race on the third Saturday of August, and have the start and finish in the downtown businesses district.
The race just finished its fourth year and has now had three different 10-mile courses. Jennings is looking to have continuity in the course.
He also thinks having the race in the downtown gives the merchants and community a better chance to piggyback on the presence of about 400 runners. (The runners also have the option of doing a 5-mile course. A 10-mike bike event was added this year.)
Board members voted to support having the race in the downtown the next three years. Four of the five board members also participated in the bike race on Aug. 18.
Jennings said the race was able to raise about $3,000 for the Warrior House, which offers a hunting retreat in Shelby for wounded veterans.
“We’re just hoping to grow the event and do something good for the community,” Jennings said.
