Law Enforcement Torch Run Moves Through Metro Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ) - Officials are alerting motorists that the Law Enforcement Torch Run 'Central Route' runners will be moving through suburban and metro Detroit beginning on the morning of Friday, Sept. 16, as they wrap up their annual, 5-day, 750-mile, non-stop relay run for Special Olympics Michigan athletes.
For most of the stretch, one runner is running at a time, at a pace of about eight minutes a mile. The police escort vehicle in front of the runner, and trail vehicle behind the runner, will be moving at about eight miles per hour. The runners will mostly utilize the right lane.
Officials with Special Olympics Michigan are asking that drivers be patient, and honk or cheer on the runners to show support.
The runners will be moving along eastbound M-59 and will reach the western edge of Oakland County early Friday morning. From there, they will continue along M-59 until they turn south onto Telegraph Rd. near Pontiac at about 9:14 a.m. They will turn east on 6 Mile Road (McNichols Rd.) to Grand River Ave. and continue on Grand River near the Masonic Temple at about 1:20 p.m. They will take Grand River into Detroit and head out on Jefferson to Metro Beach Parkway at about 3 p.m. They will turn north onto Mound Road and end at the Sterling Heights Fraternal Order of Police at about 6 p.m.
Central Route began on Monday, Sept. 12 at noon in Copper Harbor in the tip of the Upper Peninsula and ends Friday between 6 and 6:30 p.m. at the Sterling Heights Fraternal Order of Police hall.
Central Route is made up of three teams – Michigan State Police, Fraternal Order of Police and Michigan Department of Corrections. Each team is made up of six runners who each run five miles at a time, averaging about eight minutes a mile. When one team's runners have completed their scheduled leg of 30 miles, they have about eight hours to drive ahead about 60 miles, eat, and try to grab a few hours of sleep.
