Ann Arbor Marathon Returns This October

July 21, 2021

Epic Races and Rotary Club partner to E-Race the Stigma

Ann Arbor, MI (July 21, 2021) – The 10th running of the Probility Ann Arbor Marathon will be held on October 24, 2021, after receiving final approval from Ann Arbor’s City Council last night.  Typically held in March, it was postponed to October after the cancellation of both the 2020 and 2021 events.

The Probility Ann Arbor Marathon features a full marathon (26.2 miles individually, or as a 4-person relay), a half-marathon (13.1 miles), a 10K, and a 5K.  Organized by local event company Epic Races, the race chooses 4 local charities to support each year. “This year we are having a charity takeover,” says Eva Solomon, CEO of Epic Races. “In partnership with the Rotary Club, we are committing all our fundraising efforts to organizations that help and support mental health and/or issues associated with mental health, and which play an active role in reducing the stigma around mental illness. We are currently supporting 20 local charities and are taking applications through the end of this month.  Our tagline this year is E-Race the Stigma.”

Collyer Smith is the Mental Health District Coordinator for Ann Arbor’s Rotary Club chapter, Rotary 6380, “The mission of Rotary is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through their fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Recently, they have had a focus on increased awareness and ending the stigma surrounding mental health issues. “We started this partnership with Epic Races at the end of 2019 when issues surrounding mental health were a huge problem. At that time, of course, we did not know what was coming.  The Coronavirus pandemic and the continued spread of illegal Fentanyl took a devastating toll on drug users: drug overdoses soared to a record 93,000 last year, followed by a staggering increase in fatalities. It is important to increase awareness and to educate, and we hope to do what we can through this event.”

The 26.2-mile course stays within the Ann Arbor boundaries while going through downtown, the University of Michigan campus, Gallup Park and Nichols Arboretum. The organizers are looking forward to setting up the course in October, as opposed to the traditional date in March.

“We love our course any time of year,” says Solomon, “but March has always brought challenges of icy roads and beginnings of construction projects.  I am excited to be able to focus on the fall foliage and course entertainment!”

All events will start and finish at 8 a.m. on South Fifth Street between Hill and Madison.  For registration and more information visit www.annarbormarathon.com.

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About Epic Races

Founded in 2008, Epic Races is Southeastern Michigan’s premier organizer of triathlons and endurance events. Epic’s mission is to provide professionally-managed and safe events that welcome athletes of all ages and abilities, showcase the resources and beauty of Southeastern Michigan, and make each participant feel like a champion. The Ann Arbor-based company hosts more than a dozen multi-sport events and clinics each year. For more information, to register for an upcoming race, or to learn how to register your nonprofit charity to volunteer as a fundraiser at a future event, visit epicraces.com or call (734) 585-7101.

About Rotary International

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves.  Rotary members believe that they have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. For more information about Rotary, visit rotary.org.

Press Contact:
Eva Solomon, CEO
(734) 585-7101 ext. 700
Eva@epicraces.com