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Eddie Kline and his team are working hard to make this fall’s Holland Haven Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K an in-person event. Now in its 7th year, these west Michigan races are set for Sunday, Sept. 13.
“As race day approaches, we are putting together our plan to keep runners safe,” Eddie says, adding that efforts are evolving as government recommendations and regulations continue to change.
As of today, in late July, the race is on — with some changes to ensure participants stay safe during the pandemic. “We cannot eliminate all the risk — this is a public event with hundreds of people — but we’re putting safety measures in place.”
Eddie joins me on the show to share these safety measures — reduced capacity, no-contact aid stations, prepackaged finish line food, among other efforts.
To listen to this episode, click on the player at the top of this post. Or, download the episode (and subscribe to the show!) using your favorite podcast app.
He also shares what he’s been up to during the quarantine and this summer, why he’s doing more cycling these days after successfully finishing a 50-miler in Big Rapids last fall, and what he likes best about his new temporary part-time job delivering packages for the U.S. Post Office.
A race discount code for readers and listeners — $12 off race entry to the Sept. 13 Holland Haven races — also is shared during the show.
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More details about race precautions to be taken at the 7th annual Holland Haven Marathon, Half Marathon & 8K:
Holland Haven Marathon 2K20 Covid Safety Plan
- Reduced capacity – We have cut the overall amount of runners in half for 2K20. The registration totals for each race: Full 300, Half 300, 8K 200.
- Masks on buses – All runners riding the bus to the full and half starting lines are required to wear a mask on the bus. The front 2 seats of every bus are reserved for seniors 65 and above.
- Masks for runners – All runners must wear a mask until they enter their starting corral. Runners do not need to wear a mask while running.
- Masks for volunteers – All volunteers are asked to wear masks during the event.
- Starting line corrals – Large corrals are set up at the starting lines to separate runners. Each corral can hold 100 runners and keep them 6’ apart. Runners choose a corral at the starting line based on their running pace.
- No contact aid stations – Aid stations this year mainly just have water and Gatorade. The cups are filled and set out on tables by volunteers for runners to pick up. Volunteers do not hand runners the cups.
- Prepackaged finish line food – Runners receive a boxed lunch upon finishing their race. The boxes are prepackaged and set out on tables by volunteers for runners to pick up. Volunteers do not hand runners the food boxes.
- No after party or race expo – By eliminating these gatherings this year we are limiting the exposure of our runners, staff, volunteers and spectators.
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A special thanks to Mike Moran, Mike Youker and Jonny Tornga of Quarter After Productions in Traverse City, Mich. for producing the show.
