The quarter-mile Kids Fun Run, Presented by Foresters, gives moms and dads time to finish the 10K, then cheer on the little ones if they choose.
The Fifth Third Bank Solstice Run is held near the longest day of the year by necessity.

It takes all the daylight you can get to have this much fun.

The event -- set this summer for Saturday, June 25, in Northville -- has grown in three years to one of Michigan's landmark races. Why?

Start with courses through historic Northville that culminate at Ford Field. Add top competition -- both the 5K and first-time 10K this year offer prize money -- and children's fun.

Add an Outdoor Expo that features a Taste Fest, live entertainment, hot- air balloon rides, face painting, MoonWalk and more fun for kiddies, and the fact proceeds go to charity -- and we're talking family fitness fun you won't want to miss.

The new Fifth Third Bank 10K, which adds parts of Northville Township to the 5K course through Victorian Northville neighborhoods, gets festivities underway at 7:30 a.m. Based on time limits for road closures and safety issues, runners must be able to go the distance at better than a 12-minute-mile (roughly 1:15) pace.

The quarter-mile Kids Fun Run, Presented by Foresters, takes place at 8:45 a.m. -- giving moms and dads time to finish the 10K, then cheer on the little ones if they choose. Foresters will provide medals for all participants.

The 9 a.m. 5K Run/Walk, Presented by Michigan Television, is part of the Michigan Runner Race Series, in which the top-three open, master and senior runners earn points toward this magazine's Runner of the Year honors. Karen Newman will sing the national anthem before the start.

Presenting sponsor Comcast will broadcast events on tape delay via its new local channel, which reaches more than 1.3 million Michigan homes.

The race staff, headed by director/ founder Alan Whitehead and course director Doug Kurtis, has set goals of making the Solstice Run a world- class event. Three years and they're there.

For more information and/or to register online, visit www.solsticerun.org. MR