PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

Thousands of runners and walkers will lace up their running shoes and head over to the Detroit Zoo on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, for the Detroit Zoological Society’s 23rd annual Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo. Proceeds from this fundraising event benefit the Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex and veterinary care for the animals at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center.

Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, the event includes a 5K run, 10K run, Too Wild! 5K + 10K combo and noncompetitive 1.5-mile fun walk. Runners in the 5K and 10K races start at the Detroit Zoo’s 10 Mile Road entrance and wind through the scenic streets of Huntington Woods surrounding the Zoo. Walkers follow a course past many of the award-winning animal habitats as they stroll through Zoo grounds.

Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo begins with the 5K run at 8 a.m., followed by the untimed fun walk at 8:45 a.m. and the 10K run at 9:15 a.m. Online registration is available at www.detroitzoo.org/runwild until 10 p.m. Sept. 5, and registration will also be available at the Zoo on Sept. 6, 7 and 8. A post-race party, sponsored by Kroger, follows the Run Wild event with live music, family entertainment and complimentary food and beverages.

Medals are presented to the top three male and female finishers in each age category for the 5K and 10K runs. All Run Wild participants receive a commemorative T-shirt, a Detroit Zoological Society water bottle, a finisher medal at the completion of their race and admission to the Detroit Zoo on race day.

Runners will cross the finish line inside the Detroit Zoo. Special spectator admission includes access to the finish line, the post-race party and admission to the Zoo for the day. Spectator admission can be purchased in conjunction with race registration or during packet pickup hours. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 2-18.

Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo is also supported by AT&T, Bank of Ann Arbor, Genisys Credit Union, Hour Detroit, Lifeworks Chiropractic, Lipson Neilson, Michigan Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Pepsi, Prairie Farms, Service King, Sleep Number, Southeast Michigan Veterinary Medical Association and White Claw.

The Detroit Zoological Society is looking for volunteers 16 years of age or older to assist as course marshals during the event. For information, contact volunteer@dzs.org.