By Andrew Dawson
Oct 13, 2020

michigan pro ekiden
Kevin Hanson

The number of professional running teams in the United States continues
to grow each year, and while we all love seeing our favorite athletes
duke it out on the track and on the roads, we don’t really get to see
the clubs face off against one another in a team format. Think:
Bowerman Track Club vs. Hansons-Brooks, or NAZ Elite vs. Boston
Athletics Association.

Well, that’s exactly what we’ll get to see in the Michigan Pro Ekiden.
On October 21, six pro clubs will race against each other in an ekiden
relay in Shelby Township, Michigan.

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“I love the ekiden at a pro level because the one thing that is lacking
for pro athletes, especially with a strong club system, is we never run
anything as a team,” Hansons-Brooks Distance Project coach Kevin Hanson
told Runner’s World. “We always see individual results. Not a team
result. The ekiden is the ultimate team event.”

The event was the brainchild of four coaches: Hanson, Amy Begley
(Atlanta Track Club), Ben Rosario (NAZ Elite), and Lee Troop (T.E.A.M.
Boulder). In a group chat, they were trying to figure out ways for
their athletes to safely compete with the end of the season approaching
and the pandemic preventing travel.

The answer came in two parts: the ekiden and the Michigan Pro Half
Marathon to be held a week after (the latter is an opportunity for
athletes to reach their time bonuses included in their contracts
because they weren’t able to during a year without races).

Both events will be a must-watch as some of the best athletes race in
traditional ekiden fashion. Because the ekiden is likely an event
you’ve never encountered, we put together some information about it and
the races below. Here’s what you need to know.

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What is an ekiden?

An ekiden is a team relay popularized in Japan. The first ekiden was
held in 1917 to celebrate the anniversary of the capital moving 315
miles from Kyoto to what is now Tokyo. The race course ran along the
old communication and transportation route from station to station. The
ekiden name comes from the Japanese words “station (駅)” and “transmit
伝.”

The race is organized like a typical relay, with runners handing off
sashes (like batons in track) in a specific transition zone
(“stations”). Races vary in distance and length (single-day to 10-day,
typically). For the annual Hakone Ekiden, where college teams square
off over two days, TV networks devote the entirety of their coverage to
the race and millions come out to the streets to watch.^

How will the Michigan Pro Ekiden work?

The coaches didn’t want this to be just a relay. They wanted it to be
an authentic event, so they did their research and consulted experts
such as Brett Larner, founder of Japan Running News and former
agent of Boston Marathon champion Yuki Kawauchi.
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Larner explained how to run the event and also helped the coaches
acquire official ekiden sashes from Japan.

“They love that Americans are willing to take on what they do,” Hanson
said. “This is their thing. We want to be a compliment to Japan, not be
trying to show how we can do it better. We want it to be something
where we appreciate what they do.”

This comes not only in the form of using sashes, but also in little
things like transition zone sizes and handoff etiquette. Traditionally,
when a runner finishes a leg, they pass the sash off to the following
runner, and then turn around and bow to the course.

Where is the ekiden being held?

Hansons is hosting the race at their training spot at Stony Creek
Metropark in Shelby Township, Michigan. With a lake at the center,
teams will run a 10K bike path around the lake. According to Hanson,
“It is a little rolling, but definitely not hilly.”

The race is USATF-certified, and the total distance of the relay is
26.2 miles. The legs will happen in this order: 10K men, 6.1K women, 5K
men, 10K women, 6.1K men, and 5K women.

Who is running?

Six teams will be competing: Atlanta Track Club, T.E.A.M.
Boulder, Bowerman Track Club, NAZ Elite, Minnesota Distance
Elite, and Hansons ODP. Two of those teams (Hansons and Bowerman)
will run two teams of six.
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Other teams were invited but were unable to attend. Clubs like
Boston Athletic Association, ZAP Endurance, and Mammoth
Track Club will have runners racing in the half marathon on October 21.

We do not know everyone who will suit up for the race. However, we are
hearing that most teams’ top athletes will be attendance.

How to watch

The ekiden will start at 10 a.m. ET on October 21. Both races will be
low-budget productions, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tune in.
The races will be streamed live on Hansons Run Shop Facebook page.

Announcers for the race will be Todd Williams and Samantha Hanson.
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Is there prize money?

Yes. The coaches pooled together $5,000 from their pockets for prize
money. The winning team will receive $2,000 and the fastest athlete for
each leg with receive $500.

Will COVID-19 protocols be enforced?

Yes. Every athlete will need to have one negative test in the seven
days prior to the event in order to enter Michigan. Athletes who are
staying in Michigan to race the half marathon will be required to take
another test.

The race also complies with the park’s coronavirus regulations by
limiting the number of people allowed in the park at a time. To make
sure they respect this restriction, the event is being held on a
Wednesday when fewer people are likely to be in the park. The park will
not be closed to the public, which means some unsuspecting park-goers
will likely be startled by speedy runners going by.

What about the Michigan Pro Half Marathon?

This is another event you won’t want to miss. The Michigan Pro Half
Marathon will be held on October 28, on the same course as the ekiden
in Stony Creek Metropark. The race will feature 35 men and 35 women,
including five pacers for men and women. There is no prize money for
the half marathon.

The field is stacked:
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In addition to the #MichiganProEkiden that was announced on
October 21st, the coaches of the teams racing, decided it would be
good to add the #MichiganProHalfMarathon on October 28th for our
athletes.@hansonsrun & Keith have made it possible for this to
happen 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/KNt2dwin3G
— Lee Troop 🇦🇺 (@runtroopy) October 9, 2020

Anything else I should know?

If you’re craving racing, these two events are just what the doctor
ordered. If you want even more. tune in to The Marathon Project on
December 20, when some of the country’s best marathoners will go
head-to-head.
Andrew Dawson Gear & News Editor Drew covers a variety of subjects
for Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and
editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness,
gear, and fitness for the brand.
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