Got2Run benefits school wellness programs
The third annual "Got2Run … for Education" run/walk, which funds school wellness programs, will take be Saturday, May 17, in Arlington Heights.
The popular community event has raised $27,000 for more than 130 schools in its first two years. Participation has grown, starting with 800 runners and walkers in year one and 1,200 in year two. Organizers expect to see that growth continue this year, as more local schools are forming running clubs to help students prepare for the race.
The event will feature a 2.62-mile "micro-marathon" run/walk and an 8K (4.97-mile) run, both of which will begin and end at the southeast corner of Sigwalt Street and Arlington Heights Road, in the municipal parking lot across from the Arlington Heights village hall. The races start at 8 a.m. and will be run through the beautiful Scarsdale and Scarsdale Estates neighborhoods.
Complete details can be found at www.got2run.org. Online registration is at www.signmeup.com/97631. Participants also can print a registration form from the website and mail it in, or they can register on race day from 7 to 7:45 a.m.
Participants, who last year came from 82 towns in seven states, select which public or private school should receive their proceeds. Money raised from Got2Run supports activities that encourage student wellness.
"We were able to donate $13.50 for each runner or walker last year," said Jeff Chamberlin, founding planning committee member and race director. He's also a Mount Prospect father of a District 57 student and Prospect High School student. "We are so pleased that this event has become a very popular community tradition in just a few years. There has been an incredible response and outpouring of support, including the large volunteer team and long list of sponsors.
"We think we'll have another great turnout this time and be able to help a lot of schools," he added.
In 2011, Chamberlin and a group of Mount Prospect parents started a running club, Northwest Road Runners, with the goal of organizing a community run/walk to benefit local schools. They established the mission of encouraging kids and their parents to become interested in running as a healthy lifestyle choice, while also bringing the community together to support wellness at schools.
Chamberlin said Got2Run is unique because participants can support kids in their own neighborhoods.
The registration fee for Got2Run is $15 for students under age 19 if they sign up before May 10, or $20 after the deadline. The cost for adults is $25 before May 10, and $30 after. Participants receive a technical T-shirt, a backpack tag/zipper pull, a bumper sticker, healthy refreshments at the finish line and awards for the top three finishers for each race in each age group.
In addition to online registration, the website www.got2run.org includes course maps, age groupings, packet pickup information, a training page to help runners prepare, information about being a sponsor or volunteer, and more.