dairy6

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.

whaaa whaa im mad. whaaa whaa. welcome to ann arbor.com

CPLtownie

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.

If there's one thing Ann Arbor City Council does well, is turning an otherwise fun event into a total clusterduck for the participants & city inhabitants - so no one could wins, has fun, or benefits from the fabled "boost in the local economy" (tell that to the people that closed shops, or any of the workers that were late trying to get to state st.) First marathon, and hopefully the last that we will allow city council to "organize". Actually, can it be that last thing city council has a hand in?

brimble

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 5:53 p.m.

Fortunately, I had looked at the route, and knew that the way to get to church on time was to leave 1/2 hour early to take Ellsworth across the south side of town. But my family did not go to brunch for Father's Day (for the first time in a decade) because I figured we flat couldn't get there. My wife and I are both runners (and ran the Dexter-Ann Arbor), but chose not to do this one and don't care to see it return, at least in its current route and choice of date.

operabethie

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 5:41 p.m.

I find it hard to believe that The City planned on closing virtually every major thoroughfare in town and that there was not a bit of pre-planning and notice to residents. It was disrespectful and disorganized. There should have been a massive campaign to let everyone know that this was coming. Flyers, local news, earlier website info. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we don't have a newspaper anymore?

BernieP

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.

So who won? and what was the time? Was there a battle at the kick?

MRunner73

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.

In the future, if there will be a 2013 version of an Ann Arbor Marathon, there should be an out and back loop or route as one of the posters commented on. There are way to go to Dexter and back without tying up Huron Parkway. The problem is that there are too many people taking 5 hours or more to complete a marathon. That prolongs the road closures. In fact, some folks will be out on the course 6 or more hours, even after the closures cease. Way too long.

RUKiddingMe

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.

Just got back from walking to the library; took a pass around some of the busier intersections (Main and William, Main and Washington, Liberty, etc.), and it was a relatively steady stream (not bumper to bumper, but steady flow) of cars driving up to the temporary barriers, veering right and left as they approached to figure out how to get through, and cops and/or people yelling and motioning them that they had to turn around. One poor fellow had obviously had this happen multiple times already as he tried to figure out how to get where he was going, because the crazed profanity pouring out of that vehicle as he had to do a 3-point turn to get out of the mess was blush-inducing. Poor guy. I also noticed that downtown's looking pretty shabby; empty store fronts, trash all over...perhaps my mood made negative things a little more impactful. The sidewalks in a lot of places look really bad; I wonder if the whole millage for sidewalk repair was because businesses just weren't doing it, so after the citizens fixed their sidewalks, city council decided to have them pay via millage to do the businesses too. Be nice to fix the roads and sidealks before increasing AATA millage.

Michigander74

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.

Here are the emails for the entire city council and mayor. Good luck getting a response, let alone a sympathetic one, as usual, they seem to not be impacted by events they set into motion: JHieftje@a2gov.org, SBriere@a2gov.org, SSmith@a2gov.org, JLumm@a2gov.org, TDerezinski@a2gov.org, SKunselman@a2gov.org, CTaylor@a2gov.org, MHiggins@a2gov.org, MAnglin@a2gov.org, CHohnke@a2gov.org. If there's anyone running for Council who is responsive and cares about the taxpayers and residents, please let me know so I can vote for you in August.

Brad

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 3 p.m.

I was just out for a walk and ran into my neighbor who was on her way home from an aborted attempt at going to church. I'm sure there are numerous other simlar stories out there. Nice job again, council. "Renting" our city out for yet another event that's just a pain for most of the taxpaying residents. Yeah, it generates some money for the "entertainment" segment of the city. But for me and many, it's just an incovenience. And we still won't be Boston or New York, which is fine by most of us. Everyone should contact mayor/council tomorrow about this. It was a poor decision and very poorly publicized. A nusiance we don't need. A marathon is fine, but not through the heart of the city.

Jeff Richard

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 2:36 p.m.

Just finished the race and no problems with the potholes.... just a very hilly course. The course was fine, but while running it, I was thinking about how many intersections and roadways were impacted. They should look at more miles in an out-and-back type course. These events whether athletic, music, cultural do drive the AA economy. While eating outside at Connor O'Neils last night, it was obvious there were many runners and their families from out of town around us. The course organizers just need to minimize the number of impacted roads... but otherwise they did a great job. Thanks to the AA Police for their efforts!

Halter

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.

Well here is the scoop about this completely disorganized event ----- I have no way of getting to my job at all, let alone any customers coming in.....so I basically had to send all my employees home this morning....That means no income for me, and no income for any of my employees today. Since there was absolutely no notice of the street closures to residents OR to the businesses effected, I will make sure that the City Council gets my invoice for disruption of business/services tomorrow morning....by my estimate, it's a loss of income of about 2000.00 for the morning, and my employee loss of income/tips to the tune of about 1000.00 as well.... That's a nice 3000.00 invoice to the Council.

jen777

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.

http://annarbor.com/sports/ann-arbor-marathon-by-the-numbers/ 800 runners? sorry i do not see the need to do this in a small city. I enjoy my sunday mornings but this is not enjoyable Ann Arbor is fast losing charm - panhandlers, ugly buildings, no planning per se, extremely overrated restaurants,

JRW

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.

Let's get an accurate count of who participated, whether they came in from out of town and stayed in hotels, ate in area restaurants and spent that $500 each someone on this thread mentioned. I bet none of these runners spent a dime in A2. They brought their own food and drove in from surrounding communities and slept in their own beds. Let's see all that cash that supposedly was infused into the community after this huge inconvenience to residents.

Robert Granville

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.

If you typed a complaint, be sure to call the city clerk's office tomorrow morning. They granted the noise permit for the marathon. They open at 8. Here is the number: (734) 794-6140

Steve

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.

may it be the first and last.

Robert Granville

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.

Where do residents go to collect our portion of the profit for putting up with this mess?

Stanthepotter

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.

This is sad , this race is just the people that the a2track club hired to do the dexter/a2 a couple of years ago and they didn't do a very good job so the track club didn't want to use them again so this for profit group is trying to start its own race. Stupid!

RUKiddingMe

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.

Actually, scratch the boombox. I'll be wanting the permit for exactly what these jerks are using; a four and a half foot tall concert/PA speaker, at what I'm guessing is at least 8 out of 10 on volume, but probably 10. No wonder this was louder than a frat party. Just wonderful. You know, I can't even imagine runners like going by this thing; they've got it right on the sidewalk where they run by it, and I saw several runners cover their sidewalk-facing ear as they went by it. And it's just blaring nonstop, starting at 6:30 or whenever it woke me up this Sunday morning, directly across from my house, an hour before my job interview. I just love the message this sends to the renters on my street, too; "hey, if they can do that at 6:30 in the morning on Sunday, imagine the awesome parties we can have until 5 AM on weekdays and Saturday!!"

JRW

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.

Thank you for posting this info. I totally disagree with this route, and the fact that it affects emergency routes throughout town. Take this 26 mile race and start in A@ and run west to Chelsea or something. Or merge with the well-established Dexter-A2 run two weeks earlier. Closing down all these streets costs big bucks. Where is that $$ coming from? Who is paying for all the extra police along these routes? Exactly how much $$ was raised and exactly how much went to charity, and AAPS? I hope this is the first and last race. Closing all of these city streets is a HUGE inconvenience to AA residents who pay big bucks to live in A2.

RUKiddingMe

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.

Robert Granville, don't bother. I actually DID call the police because at 6:15 AM, on the sidewalk directly across from my house, they started BLARING music and shouting as loud as any frat party I've ever been to/heard. Police said they had a permit. I asked if the permit was for any volume, starting at any time. They said yes. They said City Council approved the permit. I repeated that maybe they had permission to play music, but surely they couldn't be allowed to make any noise at any volume they wanted starting at 6:15 AM. They said on the contrary, they did. Thanks City Council. Thanks Ann Arbor. Sure hope I didn't lose out on that job I had a phone interview for. Certainly didn't seem very professional with Foreigner being VERY audible to the interviewer while I tried to concentrate on my answers to her questions. I hope I won't be turned down for a permit to station a boombox and shouting boneheads outside the window of the mayor and every city council member at a day and time of my choosing, for 6 or so hours.

BigMike

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 12:32 p.m.

I'm totally in support of the idea of a well organized Ann Arbor marathon, but this is not it. I had no idea this was coming, and like other others who have commented here, the closures have made it really difficult to get to my business this morning. Let's hope next time the organizers do a better job of planning the course, letting the community know about the event, and arranging for the safe and convenient travel of both runners and drivers.

Robert Granville

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 12:20 p.m.

I am about ready to call the non-emergency line and complain about the noise. There has been a particular woman screaming her head off and ringing a stupid bell since 6 something outside my house. This is complete disrespect. I pay to sleep in my house, I should be able to do that without piercing screams every 20 seconds.

Lawrence Own

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 12:17 p.m.

This was terrible. I'm a graduate student working near the hospital and I couldn't even get near it. I tried all the major arteries ~ 7 AM, washetenaw, packard, state, main... pointless. I'd have to drive all the way AROUND ann arbor just to almost get to my lab. OH BUT WAIT, there's street construction on the one road that would actually reach the building, so... I GUESS I CAN'T. Stupid run. Stupid organization. Really, can't run anywhere besides all the major roads that cars actually use? Seriously, get over yourself.

jen777

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.

I admit I am not a runner but I do not see the need for this. pI usually run errand and go to breakfast Sunday morning (which others might wantto do on Father's Day) and wm wddexted by street closures. I too did not nw of this until i was in annarbir.com on friday

CLX

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 11:36 a.m.

For a truly interesting story, you should report on the organization that is operating this event "for charity" -- having a for-profit company that organizes these runs so that folks can raise money is truly absurd and borders on deceptive. The entire thing is distasteful. Detroit has a well-organized and well-attended marathon as does Toledo. Is one in this small town really necessary?

DeeDee

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 11:25 a.m.

Well, I guess there aren't very many runners who have the time and energy to comment, so to add balance, here goes. First, as a runner, I agree that the course is absurd; don't know what they were thinking to keep it all in city limits, when it could have been much prettier, cooler, more interesting, less intrusive etc., but cut the planners some slack, it's the first year. Second, popular marathons draw a huge number of runners who stay at hotels, eat at restaurants, buy souvenirs, book massages, etc., and their friends and families often come with them. If you assume that the AA Marathon could have 3000 out of town runners in a few years if successful, and each one spends at least $500 on the above (and probably more) local impact on the economy would be $1,500,000. Nothing to complain about. And, just remember, people coming to football games throw trash all over town, disrupt traffic, stop their cars in the middle of STREETS THAT ARE NOT EVEN CLOSED and drink beer at 6AM in the middle of the road while waiting to get into parking lots. But, we are used to it, and appreciate the money they spend, so remember that and keep the runner mess issue in perspective.

Halter

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.

Hmm...considering I didn't even KNOW about this and I live on one of those streets: people are blocking up my driveway and access to the road-- to get to my Sunday morning appointment I had to drive through the milling crowd: show my ID that I LIVE there to three separate officers: detour 30 minutes around to get to the other side of town, a 5 minute normal drive away, and I bet we don't have any customers this morning since all access roads are blocked off to our business. I had to come here to even see why/what was blocking it all up. Ridiculous.

Chip Reed

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 2:48 a.m.

Kyle, where is the reader's poll on this?

a2phiggy

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 2:05 a.m.

Kyle, can you shed light on how this affects emergency response traffic? Seems to be a significant burden on the main arteries of first responders traveling across town as well as key paths for emergency crews to get to UM Hospital from within and without Ann Arbor.

gladys

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.

Sure hope none of the runners fall in the numerous potholes around AA.

Kafkaland

Sun, Jun 17, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.

It's a very poorly planned course. For whatever reasons, the organizers tried to keep it all in Ann Arbor, which means a lot of running through streets that aren't appropriate for this kind of event, to the dismay of the runners and local residents. And lots of 180-turns, and awful stretches like the run around the Briarwood Mall parking lot. Ann Arbor deserves better, and, in my opinion, can do better.

dconkey

Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 11:15 p.m.

Seriously? So the poor folks who live along the route are cannot take their cars, etc out while the race is going on? That is almost like being under house arrest. One more reason I am glad I do not live is A2.

Ignatz

Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 11:05 p.m.

I reckon I won't go into AA tomorrow.

Major

Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 9:42 p.m.

Not a fan of this at all...the closures and running through public streets that is, the marathon is fine. Seems to me there are many better, safer alternatives that would be more respectful to the people of Ann Arbor trying to go about their business and or sleeping in. Gallup Park Pathway for instance. Running through the pot hole filled streets of Ann Arbor has GOT to be a hazardous undertaking! Glad they aren't running by my house, wake me up with all that noise at 6:30 am on a Sunday....NOT!! OK, let the bashing of my comment begin...LOL

BernieP

Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 8:59 p.m.

It would be an interesting study to see how attendance at the various churches and breakfast spots are impacted by this Sunday morning event.