Paczki Run will take over the city streets on Saturday

The annual 5K Paczki Run will kick off paczki festivities in town this Saturday morning. The run welcomes runners and walkers, but no pet dogs this year.

By Charles Sercombe
Time to get your paczki running shoes on.
The annual Paczki Run is back this Saturday, Feb. 18, and is once again hosted by Tour-de-Troit.
This Saturday morning, a number of Hamtramck streets will be blocked off to accommodate the family-oriented run. It’s a unique chance to tour Hamtramck’s many interesting side streets – just watch out for potholes.
Registration ended on Thursday, the day The Review went to press, but if you get there early — say around 7 a.m. — you may be able to squeeze in. Maybe.
The 5K race attracts a few thousand hardy souls who aren’t fazed by February’s freezing temps. Although, cold temperatures won’t be a concern this year since weather forecasters say it will be in the 40s by midday.
Here’s the schedule for the day, and we quote the Paczki Run website:
7-9:30 a.m. — Packet Pick-up. Please get there early. Do not wait until 9:15 to arrive. Packet Pick-up will be on-site.
8 a.m. — Music starts! Party begins! Streets begin to close.
9:20 a.m. — Start lining up for the race on Jos. Campau (just south of Holbrook). For the safety and improved experience for all runners, we encourage you to line up according to your pace. Runners with a pace of 7-minute miles and faster in the front, those 10 minutes and slower and those with strollers, to the rear.
9:45 a.m. — Weather permitting, Polish Dancers will dance on Jos. Campau in front of the start.
10 a.m. RACE STARTS!
11 a.m. — Results begin to be posted, and Award Pick-up begins at the same tent as Packet Pick-Up.
Note, pet lovers: dogs are not allowed on the route.
You can find out more about the event at tour-de-troit.org.
What to watch for: This is a fund people-watching morning, and there is one person you might want to be on the lookout for. Sue Briskey, the owner of Suzies Bar on Evaline, gave us a heads-up about her 92-year-old uncle, Tommy Kacer, who is participating in the run.
Also her cousins are running in memory of another cousin, Steve Vojtush, who passed away awhile ago.
For non-runners/walkers, there is plenty to see and do at the site. As usual, there will be a huge, heated tent under which to watch the polka dancers and tap your toes to live polka music.
Of course, there will be plenty of paczki on hand to sample. Want to party? You’re in luck. There will also be a beer tent to get your Mardi Gras mojo in motion.
Posted Feb. 17, 2023