Community Corner
Chasing the Sun 5K/8K Fun Run Attracts a Crowd
Nearly 200 runners and walkers along with a couple hundred onlooking supporters came out for the first annual Chasing the Sun 5K/8K Race and Fitness Walk.
The first annual Chasing the Sun 5K/8K Race and Fitness Walk attracted a crowd of fun-loving enthusiasts Thursday to the Village Commons. Moms, dads, teens and babies joined in the fun.
The event was the result of a partnership between the New Lenox Community Park Dist. and the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce. The plan was born in January 2013, when the two organizations successfully merged their interests in hosting a healthy event that brings out a crowd from New Lenox and surrounding communities.
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Deb Hypke, executive director of the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce, along with Lisa Durcan, recreation supervisor at the New Lenox Community Park Dist., decided to marry their interests on behalf of the community.
For the past several years, each organization had been sponsoring a walk/run event independently, said Hypke. It made sense, Durcan added, to form a partnership to create an event with a bigger splash.
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Durcan said this was first time the groups had planned an evening run during the week. The race started at 7 p.m. Racers stepped off the starting line at the Village Commons and wound their way through a designated route that included the Old Plank Trail.
The time frame seemed to work to attract a nice crowd, she said. About 200 runners/walker participated. The registration fee was $30. The proceeds will be divided between the Chamber and the Park Dist. Both organizations plan to use the money to seed existing scholarship funds.
Hypke said she was particularly fond of the support the community provided. This was designed as a family-friendly event, and the New Lenox Library Dist. came up with some fun children's activities. The Village made sure to accommodate the run and the concession stands were open, selling food and beverages for the official race party.
GET RACE RESULTS FROM THE NEW LENOX PARK DIST. WEBSITE.
The winner of the 8K race was Jackson Waters, 16, of New Lenox. Waters, who is on the track and field team as well as the cross country team, attends Lincoln-Way Central High School.
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