Race Information 

• Location: The start and finish are in the beautiful Lake Lansing Park North, 6260 E. Lake Drive, Haslett. Rain or shine. Strollers and dogs on leashes welcome.
• Time: 8:40 a.m.- Free kids run. 9:00 a.m. - 8K run/walk. 9:05 a.m.-1 and 2 mile walks.
• Entry Fee: For individuals, $28 through Sept. 19. $33 from Sept. 20-29. $38 on race day. For new family rates, see entry form. Includes a Brooks long-sleeve technical t-shirt, electronic timing, and parking.
• Registration: Online at www.playmakers.com, in person, or mail to Playmakers, 2299 W. Grand River, Okemos, MI 48864. Make checks payable to: Special Olympics Michigan Area 8.
• Packet Pick-Up: Saturday (9/29) - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Playmakers, or Sunday (9/30) - 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Lake Lansing Park North.
• Free Kids Run: 8:40 a.m. - 1/2 mile fun run (12 and under). 50-yard dash (6 and under). Medals for all finishers. Kid's t-shirts can be ordered for $10.
• Divisions: 8K men's and women's: 14 and under; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80+. Special award to overall, masters, grand masters, and the top 5 in each age division. The 8K walk, 1 and 2 mile walks are noncompetitive (no awards). Medals to all Special Olympian finishers.
• Teams: Form a team of 5 or more to compete for 4 awards - See Registartion Packet
• 6th Annual Sponsor-A-Champ Campaign: See Registartion Packet

Questions: Contact Alicia Armstrong, Race Director, 517.282.5035, alicia@playmakers.com.

Race Day Agenda

• 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
  Last Chance Packet Pick-Up and Registration
• 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
  Team Sign-In and Pictures
• 8:40 a.m.
  FREE - Kids 1/2 Mile Fun Run (12 and under) and Kids 50-yard dash (6 and under)
• 9:00 a.m.
  8K Run/Walk
• 9:05 a.m.
  1 and 2 Mile Non-competitive Walks
• 9:45 a.m.
  Runners Awards Posted and Prizes Ready for Pick-up
• 10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
  Team Awards

Meet Special Olympian Liz!

 

Liz can't remember life without Special Olympics! She has been involved with Area 8 (Ingham & Eaton Counties) for 14 years. Now 27, Liz works at Jackson National Life Insurance. Her primary job is to open and sort the mail. Her favorite part of the job is being with her co-workers: "we get our work done and have fun talking." She participates in softball, basketball, crosscountry skiing, bowling, and gymnastics. Improving her skills, spending time with friends and being active are important to Liz. Her co-workers enjoy seeing pictures and hearing about her experiences at the Summer and Winter Games.

"Responsible, respectful, fun, hard-working athlete with a big heart and ‘can-do' attitude" are words that coaches and co-workers use to describe Liz. Her family has seen her confidence and independence increase since joining Special Olympics. Her ability to inspire and motivate others as well as her dedication to Special Olympics earned her the title of 2011 Inspirational Athlete of the Year"! Liz was honored by running the last leg of the torch run into the stadium to light the Flame of Hope at the 2012 Michigan State Summer Games opening ceremonies - an incredible thrill for Liz and her family.

She also serves on the Area 8 Management Team and enjoys being an ambassador through the global-messenger speaking program, where she shares her experiences with community groups.

Liz and her co-workers are organizing a team to walk at the 2013 Autumn Classic. She is challenging other groups and businesses to form teams and compete for the team awards. She wants to thank you all for your support, and hopes to meet you at the Autumn Classic.

 

Teams at the Autumn Classic!

Gather a team - running or walking with a team doubles the fun! Form a team of family members, co-workers, or friends from your neighborhood, church, club, or school. Teams of 5 or more can sign up on the registration form. An award will be presented to the:
• Largest Team: most people
• Highest Fundraising Team: total team dollars
• Fastest Team: 5 must complete the race; fastest combined of the top 3 wins
• "Bucky" Worden Team Spirit: Inspired by 35 years of treasured Special Olympic team experiences, the second annual "Bucky" Worden Spirit award will be presented to the team that exemplifies the greatest joy, camaraderie, and teamwork!

To register or join a team, enter the name on the registration form. Team captains can download a team kit at www.playmakers.com or pick up at Playmakers.

Team questions - contact Leigh Braatz, Teams Coordinator, at 517.420.0393, leighbraatz@cablespeed.com or Alicia Armstrong, Race Director, at 517.282.5035, alicia@playmakers.com.

 

6th Annual Sponsor-A-Champ Campaign:

On the 20th anniversary of the Autumn Classic, Playmakers and Special Olympics advocate Bobby Crim invite you to participate in the 6th Annual "Sponsor-A-Champ" campaign! We are again appealing to individuals, groups, and businesses to support athletes for one season in their sport. Our goal is to raise $30,000 and sponsor 200 Ingham and Eaton County Special Olympians. The average cost for one season is $150 per athlete. Won't you please consider sponsoring an athlete or making a donation of any amount toward the campaign?

A donor board will be posted in the Playmakers lobby to track our progress. Incentives are listed below.

THANK YOU for making a difference in the lives of our special athletes!

Yes! I will fundraise for the Sponsor-A-Champ Campaign!

You can fundraise online or with a paper packet. Check out the new online fundraising tool at www.playmakers.com. Fundraising packets are available at Playmakers, or by contacting Alicia Armstrong, alicia@playmakers.com, 517.282.5035 or the Special Olympics Michigan Area 8 office at 2901 Wabash Rd., Lansing, somia8@aol.com, 517.887.1175.

Prize packages will be awarded to the top 7 individual fundraisers ($400 minimum); packages will be selected by the winners, beginning from the highest to the 7th place. For prize eligibility, fundraising packets must be received at Playmakers by Friday, October 12, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

2012 Individual Fundraising Prize Packages:

• 1. 2012 MSU Football package for 2: MSU vs. U of M (Oct 20, 2012) - 2 game tickets, transportation on board the Dean Trailways luxury motor coach, and MSU Alumni Tailgate tickets
• 2. 2013 MSU Women's Basketball package for 4: 4 game tickets, dinner at the State Room Restaurant in the Kellogg Center and a basketball signed by Coach Suzy Merchant
• 3. 2012-13 MSU Hockey package for 4: Tickets to the game of your choice, personalized tour of the Munn Ice Arena and dinner at the Harrison Roadhouse
• 4. 2012-13 MSU Men's Basketball package for 2: 2 game tickets, basketball office tour, post game Cleaves Family Center passes, dinner at Dusty's Tap Room and a basketball signed by Coach Tom Izzo
• 5. Cedar Point Amusement Park, "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World" package for 4: 4 admission tickets for one day and transportation on the Dean Streak Line Run
• 6. $300 Riverfront Cycle Gift Certificate and a Bike Repair Class for 2: 12 hours of instruction, 2 hours for 6 weeks
• 7. $300 Playmakers Gift Certificate and a personalized Good Form Running session.

The Winners will be announced at Playmakers on October 15th at noon!

Course Map 

Where does my money go? 

Your donations will help Special Olympics Michigan Area 8 support children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics Michigan Area 8 (Ingham and Eaton Counties) provides quality, year-round sports training and an athletic-competition program for more than 2,300 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Our athletes train in 21 Olympic-type sports and can participate each year in 17 different area tournaments and over 8 regional and state tournaments. Several athletes from our area have participated at the national and international level.

Special Olympics Michigan Area 8 is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization that does not receive federal or state funding. All funds are raised in our local communities and spent on local athletes. The money is used for equipment, uniforms, transportation, facilities, health appraisals, training, games registration, and other athlete needs. No fees are charged to the participating athletes or their families.

The Ingham and Eaton program is proud to be one of the largest and most active groups in Michigan. Our Special Olympians carry the benefits from their sports training, teamwork, and competitions into every part of their daily lives. Your generosity will help our athletes achieve their goals and make their dreams a reality.

 

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