DATE OF RACE
SUNDAY, MARCH 11 2012
STARTING TIMES
CORK TOWN RACE 12 NOON
KIDS QUARTER MILE 11:30AM
LOCATION
MICHIGAN CENTRAL STATION
michigan ave and vernor
PARKING
Macomb Park Donation
Parking
Click arrow for map

No one could have imagined that the St. Patrick's Parade Corktown Races would become one of the largest 5km races in Michigan. Originally a 4 mile race that began in 1989, the race fluctuated between 700 and 1000 runners before Doug Kurtis and the Downtown Runners and Walkers took over operations in 2007. Since then the event has seen steady growth to over 6000 entrants. In 2010 the run and walk was combined to the 5km which enabled the race to stay almost completely on the Parade route.


Both the Fraternal Order of United Irishmen and the Motor City Striders have been a part of the organizing committee since its inception. In addition to attraching more people to the parade, the race is a vehicle for raising funds for the Saint Patrick's Senior Center and the Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS).

7000 finishers will recive a commemorative 30th Annual Cork Town Race metal.
The shirt of our 30th is made out of a technical mesh with dual tone panels. We have a variety of sizes but if you don't act now you may not get the sizes you'd like. Stop in to one of our packet pick up and registration locations to guarantee your size before the race.
Packet pickup is a convenient feature where you can go grab your tshirt and bib number before race day. find a location near you.

available from march 3rd to march 9th
SOUTHGATE
TOTAL RUNNER
directions
TROY & FARMINGTON HILLS
New BALANCE
directions
BRIGHTON
ELITE FEET
directions
ST. CLAIR SHORES
HARPER SPORTS SHOP
directions

DOWNLOAD COURSE MAP

Full race results at

Gaultracemanagement.com

The 1983 debut was a rare day for area runners. For the first time in the 25-year history of the Motor City Striders, runners could choose between two different Strider races, in separate events, on the same day.

The first was the Ernest Smith Memorial 5-Mile Run at 10 a.m. on Belle Isle. The second event, the inaugural St. Patrick's 4-Mile Run, started at 12:30 p.m. three miles away in front of Cobo Hall and finished on Woodward Avenue.

The Smith race honored one of the founding fathers of the Striders and state distance running. Ernie Smith, recently deceased, had been active in the sport since the early 1920s. The memorial race had been scheduled long before the idea of a St. Patrick's race was born. Since no one wanted to cancel the Smith memorial, both races were held that day.

Course records in the four miler were set by Sue French, 23, of Toronto in 1984. She surprised the split timers with her fast early pace and finished in 21:53. French went on to run for Canada in the 1984 and '88 Olympics. Until 2004, she held the Canadian 10K record with a time of 31:50.51.

Paul Aufdemberge holds both the four miler and 5Km course records with times of 19:01 in 1990 and 15:41 in 2010. Aufdemberge, one of Michigan's celebrated runners, has won Corktown on four separate occasions. Denisa Costescu holds the women's 5km record of 17:51. In 2005, the Motor City Striders decided to pass along organization of the race to the Downtown Runners and Walkers. It was also the first year that all the runners were chipped timed. After years of starting at Tiger Stadium and finishing at the Gaelic League the course was moved to the Michigan Central Train Depot for a common start/finish in 2009. In 2010 the run and walk was combined to a 5km which enabled the race to stay almost completely on the Parade route. It also marked the first year that the race offered technical shirts. To celebrate the 30th anniversary, commemorative medals will be distributed to all finishers.

30 YEARS OF OVERALL WINNERS

In 1973 Sister Mary Watson opened the doors of St. Patrick Senior Center to seven elderly residents of Detroit's Cass Corridor neighborhood and served a home-cooked, healthy meal. In 1983, St. Patrick Senior Center was incorporated as a non-denominational, non-profit organization for elders, aged 60 and over.


Today, the center is the only remaining community based health clinic for seniors in the City of Detroit.

Over 30 years of serving the of Detroit's elderly + Serving over 2,000 area residents + A non-denominational, non-profit organization + Nutritious meals 7 days a week + Detroit's only remaining community based health care clinic for seniors + Providing social activities including classes, trips, and special events + Offering transportation assistance to community seniors

FOR MORE INFORMATION

(Community Health and Social Services Center)
Serves as a medical home for individuals at three sites. The largest site, which also houses the organization's administrative headquarters, is located in Southwest Detroit.


Within each site CHASS' medical and dental staff provide culturally competent, bilingual health care services.

NEW FACILITY OPENING IN MAY 2012

In 2011 CHASS initiated construction of a new 48,000 sq. ft. facility that will serve as the organization's Southwest Center and Administrative Headquarters.

FOR INFORMATION

CONTACT JOHN SCOTT: scottinig@hotmail.com

Pre-Race Packet Pick Up

We will be distributing race numbers and shirts at five locations in the metro Detroit area between March 3 through March 9. Locations include: New Balance in Troy and Farmington Hills, Total Runner in Southgate, Elite Feet in Brighton and Harper Sports Shop in St. Clair Shores.

Registration / Shirts

Be the first to greet runners at the Roosevelt Park tents in front of the Michigan Central Train Depot. Work with the Registration Captain to hand out race numbers and our new technical shirts.

Course Marshal

Your bright colored Corktown vest will identify you in helping to point runners in the correct direction. We have an exciting course that runs along the entire parade route as well as Michigan Ave. We'll need a few of you for the kids run too.

Water Stations

We have two stations, so we need help. 5 km runners are especially grateful for your support as some catch them on the way out and the way back. It's all about the cups. Pouring into them, stacking them, handing out or sweeping them up. As a team, it's often a rewarding experience.

Food Court

Many new items will be handed out in our food court. Pair up and distribute post race goodies to rejuvenate runners after their run.

Start and Finish Line

We have a new two wave start. Keep the runners in their corral or set up banners in the staging area.

Double dip and serve as crowd control and/or medal distributor to all the runners coming into the finish chute.

CONTACT JOHN SCOTT: scottinig@hotmail.com