Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Ironwood Walk, Run, Roll set for Saturday

By Zachary Marano

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Ironwood - Festival Ironwood's weekend events will start with the Walk, Run and Roll on Saturday morning. Activities will include a two-mile walk/run and five-mile run through the city and surrounding area.

"The race couldn't be done with volunteers. So many people stepped up this year," Kathy Saari said.

Saari will lead the Walk, Run and Roll for the first time this year. The Walk, Run and Roll was canceled last year because of COVID-19.

The two- and five-mile courses start on McLeod Avenue near South Lowell Street in downtown Ironwood, turn on South Suffolk Street and follow Burma Road up the hill and around the Hiawatha statue, coming back down the hill and turning right on South Mansfield Street and right again on East Vaughn Street.

At this point, the two runs separate. The two-mile group will follow Curry Street to the Iron Belle and finish in Old Depot Park. The five-mile runners will continue east on the border of Miners Memorial Heritage Park and enter the Western Gateway Trail via Easy Street. They will also follow the trail west and finish in Old Depot Park.

The streets will be closed by the Ironwood Public Safety Department so participants will not have to share the road with motor vehicles, Saari said.

Saari said the most difficult part of the walk-run will be climbing up the hill to the Hiawatha statue.

Race day check-in and late registration will be from 7 to 8:15 a.m. on Saturday. The races begin at 8:30 a.m.

Saari said she expects 85 to 125 participants this year.

After the race, awards will be presented to the top two male and female finishers in each age category in both events. The age divisions for the five-mile race are 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60 and over. There is also a division for wheelchair entrants. Awards will also go to the top male and female runners overall, and the youngest and oldest participants.

Prizes will include gift certificates, cooling towels, sweatshirts and water bottle holders, Saari said.