Pro Football 5K in Wheaton to offer Dan Hampton high-five, Canton trip
If you've ever dreamed of high-fiving Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Dan Hampton, you'll get your chance at a new 5K run/walk coming next month to Wheaton.
"It's a theme-based, family activity where they'll get to run, jog or walk a 5K, get great swag at the end of the race in the form of the big finisher medal and get to high-five Dan Hampton," said Jim Chaney, executive race director for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Gold Jacket 5K.
The running series started this spring. For the first year it includes stops at the seven NFL cities closest to Canton, Ohio - where the Hall of Fame is located - including Baltimore, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Aside from the Wheaton event, remaining races will take place in Detroit on July 19 and Buffalo on Aug. 16.
The top male and female finishers at each race receive a free trip for two to Canton to participate in the Pro Football Hall of Fame championship race in September. All runners are put in a national ranking system, too, which gives them a chance to see how they did in comparison to other runners in their age group.
Roughly 1,500 people are expected to come to the race in Wheaton, which begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at Wheaton North High School, 701 W. Thomas Road. Packet pickup will take place on the two days prior to the race at Road Runner Sports and from 6:30 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. at the race site on Sunday. Registration is $40 and open to all ages.
"We're planting a seed to see, does the concept work?" Chaney said. "We'd love as many runners as we can get, but at the same time we wanted to keep it manageable. That's why you're not seeing it in downtown Chicago. We want to iron out the kinks."
Chaney said the Hall of Fame sponsors annual events, such as golf outings and luncheons, in each NFL city, but they are limited to about 100 people.
"We believe that a run/walk, once we get the right form, could be 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 people," he said. "It gives the Hall a little wider audience."
Participants will have a chance to browse a traveling Pro Football Hall of Fame display that will include Bears memorabilia from the Hall's archives. In addition, everyone who crosses the finish line will get a ribbon they can wear around their neck. A 13-ounce, tennis ball-sized medal shaped like a championship ring will hang from the ribbon.
There also will be several activities for kids, including a timed 40-yard dash, an agility drill and a mini obstacle course.
The overarching goal of the race, Chaney said, is to get people off the couch, much like the NFL's PLAY 60 campaign for kids, which encourages school-aged children to get active for 60 minutes a day.
"We believe this is sort of the adult equivalent," he said, adding that the Hall of Famers are a motivator for people who otherwise wouldn't complete a race to come out. "What people are really looking for is an experience. We want something for everybody."
Chaney said the Gold Jacket players have enjoyed the races so far because it's different from their typical interactions with the public, which usually involve sitting at a table and signing autographs.
"It's almost a burden lifted off their shoulders," he said.
Eventually, the hope is to offer the race nationwide. Chaney said there are already several people who are traveling city to city to get new ribbons and shirts in each NFL town. There are also talks to offer additional medals for runners who complete races in every city of an NFL division.
For information or to register, visit www.goldjacket5k.com.