June 29, 2004

Governor Granholm needs a running mate – actually, 300 of them.

For the first time in its history, the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk on Monday, September 6 (Labor Day) will include a separate “fun run” with approximately 300 joggers from around the state. Governor Granholm, an avid runner, will participate in the inaugural 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.

The 300 joggers will begin their race just moments prior to the start of the traditional Labor Day Bridge Walk that hosted more than 58,000 people in 2003. All runners must be pre-registered and pre-qualified to participate. Beyond those pre-registered for the fun run, absolutely no running will be allowed on the bridge.

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 July 30.

To enter the lottery for a chance to participate in the event, runners from endorsed races must pre-register at the Governor’s Council Web site, www.michiganfitness.org. Deadline to enter is July 30, 2004.

At least one resident within the lottery from each of Michigan’s 83 counties will be chosen as their county’s “fitness ambassador.” As ambassador, he or she will be invited to participate in special events associated with the Labor Day Bridge Walk and receive recognition from the governor.

The remaining 217 runners will be randomly selected by the Governor’s Council from the Web lottery. Runners will be selected in early August and notified in writing. There is no registration fee.

A current list of endorsed events is available at www.michiganfitness.org. Participants in endorsed events from August 1, 2004 through July 30, 2005 will qualify for the lottery for the 2005 bridge run. 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.