June 22, 2005

Governor Granholm is short the goal of 300 running mates for this year’s fun run.

There is still time to enter the lottery for the second annual run across the Mackinac Bridge on Monday, September 5 (Labor Day). Organizers want at least one participant from each of Michigan’s 83 counties. Several counties are still unrepresented at this time.

Last year for the first time in its history, the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk was kicked off with a separate run of approximately 300 people from around the state. The response was overwhelming. Governor Granholm, an avid runner, will again participate in this unique event, which is sponsored by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, Farm Bureau Insurance and the Michigan Department of Community Health.

A web-based lottery has been set up to select the 300 participants, who must all have participated in at least one event endorsed by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports prior to June 30. To enter the lottery for a chance to participate, runners from endorsed races must pre-register at the Governor’s Council Web site, www.michiganfitness.org. The deadline to enter is June 29, 2005.

Runners will be selected by June 30th and will be notified in writing. Those not chosen to participate will not be permitted to run the bridge.

The run is not a timed event and will not be certified for distance. Only one lottery entry is permitted per person, regardless of the number of endorsed events in which entrants participate. Complete rules are available online.