About This Event:
The 7th Annual Portage Winter Blast Half Marathon/10K/5K is organized by Susan G. Komen Michigan, Kalamazoo Area Runners, and the City of Portage in a community celebration of health and wellness presented by Premier Radiology. All proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen Michigan.

About Susan G. Komen Michigan

Susan G. Komen Michigan was formed on January 14th of 2015 through the collaboration of three, independent Komen affiliates:  Komen Southwest Michigan, Komen Mid-Michigan, and Komen West Michigan.  This collaboration began when the West Michigan affiliate and Southwest affiliate shared personnel to manage the administration of both offices.  After working together for months, the staff and boards of directors realized that an even greater impact could be felt by widening the partnership to include the Mid-Michigan affiliate.  The three organizations then determined that by joining forces while keeping local offices, outreach, and races, greater savings and efficiency could be recognized, maximizing the impact on the fight against breast cancer. 

Komen Michigan is an independent, local non-profit organization that is dedicated to combating breast cancer, saving lives and reducing breast cancer mortality in Michigan. There are barriers that prevent women from getting screened and receiving treatment including financial, cultural and language barriers, transportation issues and a lack of knowledge. With the help of our patient-centered network of nonprofits and community support, we are overcoming these barriers through innovative education programs, screenings, diagnostics, transportation, survivor programs and cutting-edge research. 

Through Komen Michigan, money raised here stays here to fund life-saving programs and research. Komen Michigan has funded more than $12 million in local breast health programs over the last 20 years, filling the gap for much-needed services across the region. 

Komen Michigan’s mission is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring the quality of care for all, and energizing science to find the cures. 

Where Our Money Goes In Your Area 

Breast Health Programs

Susan G. Komen Michigan is the local source for funding breast cancer detection, support, and educational awareness programs. With its 2018 community grants, Komen Michigan is investing $300,971  to support quality breast health programs throughout the affiliate’s 24-county service area.

2018-2019 Grant Programs

Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department 
The Southwest Michigan Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Wrap Around Program (BCCNP) will target services to low-income, uninsured and under-insured women and men under 40 in need of breast screening or diagnostic services. 

Provides: Breast exams, screening mammograms, diagnostic procedures, community education 

Available free to: 

• Women and men of any age 
• Uninsured or underinsured 
• Low income If you live in or near: Allegan, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, Van Buren, and St. Joseph counties, call and ask for the Komen Program, 269.373.5213 

West Michigan Cancer Center 

WMCC Survivorship Navigators will provide one-on-one guidance and assistance to men and women living in Southwest Michigan who are diagnosed with breast cancer as they complete cancer treatments and move into survivorship. 

Provides: Survivor support, community education 

Available free to: 

• Women and men of any age 
• Uninsured or underinsured 
• Low income - If you live in or near: Cass, Kalamazoo, or Van Buren counties, contact West Michigan Cancer Center, 269.382.2500 

Grass Lake Sanctuary 

This 145-acre retreat invites new, low-income and underserved breast cancer survivors in Michigan between the ages of 25 and 80 with emotional isolation and disconnects following treatment by cultivating a deep sense of connection and belonging among program participants. 

Provides: Survivor support, community education 

Available free to: 

• Women and men of any age 
• Low income 
• This program is open to all breast cancer survivors state-wide: ask for Grass Lake Sanctuary Survivor Retreats, 734.726.0290 

Course:
The half marathon, 10k and 5K courses highlight the Portage Trail Way System and include a mix of mostly flat paved bike trail and city roads, road closures will occur as appropriate.  The course is cleared of snow and ice as much as possible, however, this is a mid-winter run and conditions may include extreme cold and windy conditions and slick surfaces caused by snow, ice, sleet, hail, mud, and rain.

Event Dates and Times:
All running events will start and end at Loy Norrix High School at 606 E. Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49001  on Sunday, February 24, 2019.

Each Race will have its own start as follows:

• Half Marathon - 8:00 am
• 5K - 8:10 am
• 10K - 8:20 am
• Cutoff time to be included in half marathon results is 3 hours, 45 minutes. Roads will be re-opened at 12:00 noon.

Registration:

• Online registration closes Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 11:59 pm.  The half marathon will close registration once it attains a cap of 1500 runners.
• Early packet pick-up and late registration for all events will be held from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School. Race day registration will be available for all events.  
• Sponsor Expo and Race Day packet pick-up will be Sunday, February 24, 2019, at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School.  Race Day packet pick-up will be from 6:30 am - 7:30 am. 
• There is no shirt guarantee for transfers or late registrations received after February 21st.
• OR
• NO REFUNDS after February 21st. 
• Due to safety and potential liability issues, anyone running with a bib not their own in any race will be disqualified. Please visit the KAR website (www.kalamazooarearunners.org)  or the event website at (www.portagewinterblast.wordpress.com) for additional information on this event.

Registration Fees:  

• Period 1: October 1 - December 31, 2018
• Half Marathon: $65 ($10 discount for KAR members)  FEES INCLUDE TECH TEE SHIRT
  5k/10k: $15 ($5 discount for KAR members) REDUCED REGISTRATION FEE WITHOUT A TECH TEE SHIRT.  PARTICIPANTS MAY ORDER A SHIRT WITH A $20 EXTRA CHARGE

• Period 2: January 1 to February 21, 2019 (Registration closes 2/21/2019)
• Half Marathon: $75 ($10 discount for KAR members) FEES INCLUDE TECH TEE SHIRT
  5k/10k: $20 ($5 discount to KAR members) REDUCED REGISTRATION FEE WITHOUT A TECH TEE SHIRT.  PARTICIPANTS MAY ORDER A SHIRT WITH A $20 EXTRA CHARGE

• Late Registration (On-site only, Saturday, February 23rd and Sunday, February 24th)
• Half Marathon: $85 ($10 discount for KAR members)
  5k/10k: $45 with shirt ($5 discount for KAR members)

Awards:

Awards to first place overall open, masters, grand masters, senior masters and five year age division three deep. Finisher medals to all half marathoners completing the race within the time limit.

Please visit the KAR website (www.kalamazooarearunners.org ) or Komen Michigan (www.komenmichigan.org) for additional information on this event.

2019 Winter Blast - Course Directions (Turn-byTurn)

• All 3 routes start in the parking lot to Loy Norrix High School, exiting onto Lovers Lane by the southern-most exit.
• All races utilize the PCBT system, accessing from Lovers Lane at the access gate just south of I-94, across from Hamelink.

1/2 Marathon Route

• Exit southern-most exit of Loy Norrix High School parking lot
• Turn left from the lot and proceed south, crossing into the western-most lane of traffic
• Proceed South on Lovers Lane to Access Gate.
• Turn right to go through the Access Gate and follow PCBT south towards Romence Road
• (Please note there may be construction on the legs of the trail between Milham and Romence)
• Course proceeds south on the straightest/shortest sections of trail
• Pass under Romence Road and proceed to Garden Lane
• Cross Garden Lane and continue south on the trail towards Centre Street
• Continue south on the trail behind the library, using the trail section running parallel to Currier
• Cross Centre street and turn right, proceeding along Centre Street on the south sidewalk
• Continue on the south sidewalk, crossing over Cross Westnedge, past Chicken Coop, and under the Centre Plaza sign entering the Shaver Rd. Bikeway.
• Stay on the Bikeway south, parallel to Shaver Rd.
• Cross Melody Ave. and continue south on the trail as it runs parallel to Industrial Drive
• Just before the driveway to BASIC, turn right and continue onto the Eliason Trail, continuing south
• Near Delineator #73, and just south of “Becky’s Bench” you reach the TURN AROUND
• Retrace all routes along the roads and trails back to the Access Gate on Lovers Lane near Hamelink
• At the gate DO NOT reenter Lovers Lane, but continue north on the trail toward Kilgore Road, crossing under the highway
• At the Kilgore Road Trailhead turn right towards Low Norrix High School, utilizing the south sidewalk
• Cross Lovers Lane at the intersection with Kilgore, proceeding east along Kilgore Road on the south sidewalk
• Turn right at the Kilgore Road entrance to Loy Norrix High School and follow the cones/markings toward the finish

10K Route

• Exit southern-most exit of Loy Norrix High School parking lot
• Turn left from the lot and proceed south, crossing into the western-most lane of traffic
• Proceed South on Lovers Lane to Access Gate.
• Turn right to go through the Access Gate and follow PCBT south towards Romence Road
• Please note there may be construction on the legs of the trail between Milham and Romence
• Course proceeds south on the straightest/shortest sections of trail
• Pass under Romence Road and proceed to Garden Lane
• Cross Garden Lane and continue south on the trail towards Centre Street
• Just south of the Grain elevator to the west of the trail at Celery Flats, and up the hill behind the housing community, you reach the TURN AROUND
• Retrace all routes along the roads and trails back to the Access Gate on Lovers Lane near Hamelink
• At the gate DO NOT reenter Lovers Lane, but continue north on the trail toward Kilgore Road, crossing under the highway
• At the Kilgore Road Trailhead turn right towards Low Norrix High School, utilizing the south sidewalk
• Cross Lovers Lane at the intersection with Kilgore, proceeding east along Kilgore Road on the south sidewalk
• Turn right at the Kilgore Road entrance to Loy Norrix High School and follow the cones/markings toward the finish

5K Route

• Exit southern-most exit of Loy Norrix High School parking lot
• Turn left from the lot and proceed south, crossing into the western-most lane of traffic
• Proceed South on Lovers Lane to Access Gate.
• Turn right to go through the Access Gate and follow PCBT south towards Milham Road
• Cross over Milham Road using the pedestrian bridge
• Just beyond the parking lot to the Milham Road PCBT access/park you will reach the TURN AROUND
• This turn around is just south of delineator #23
• Retrace all routes along the roads and trails back to the Access Gate on Lovers Lane near Hamelink
• At the gate DO NOT reenter Lovers Lane, but continue north on the trail toward Kilgore Road, crossing under the highway
• At the Kilgore Road Trailhead turn right towards Loy Norrix High School, utilizing the south sidewalk
• Cross Lovers Lane at the intersection with Kilgore, proceeding east along Kilgore Road on the south sidewalk
• Turn right at the Kilgore Road entrance to Loy Norrix High School and follow the cones/markings toward the finish