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Fall Color 5K ushers in autumn at Morton Arboretum

Posted October 02, 2016 1:00 am

Daily Herald Staff Report

Stephen Rogers of Lombard brings daughter, Hannah, to run with his wife, Caitlin, near the finish of Sunday's Fall Colors 5K Run and Walk at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. More than 1,700 runners competed in the 5K and young runners competed in shorter distance fun runs. Mary Beth Nolan for the Daily Herald

Runners raced a 5K at the Morton Arboretum on Sunday that took them deeper into fall with every step.

The Fall Color 5K Run and Walk drew more than 1,700 participants to the Lisle tree museum for the first event of the arboretum's Fall Color Festival, a monthlong celebration of the season.

The USATF-certified course led runners through the rolling grounds on the arboretum's east side, providing a tour of the reds, yellows and oranges emerging on the trees in the arboretum's collections.

Afterward, participants were treated to a post-race party, and those of age could partake in a post-run beer. Meanwhile, the sold-out Kids Run challenged preschoolers to a 50-yard dash, 5- and 6-year-olds to a quarter-mile run and kids up to 10 to a half-mile race.

Throughout October, the arboretum will showcase its trees in their most colorful season with a mix of fall festivities and Halloween happenings. The Glass Pumpkin Patch features colorful handcrafted pumpkins blown by artists Oct. 12 to 16, and visitors can sample seasonal flavors during the Cider and Ale Festival on Oct. 22. Mystery dinners, written with the arboretum in mind, are scheduled on Oct. 20, 27 and 29. Trick or Trees activities for kids and zombie-themed Theatre-Hikes performances run each weekend.

For a full schedule, visit mortonarb.org.

Young runners race to the finish of the 50-yard Kids Dash during the Fall Colors 5K Run and Walk Sunday at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. More than 1,700 runners competed in the annual event. Mary Beth Nolan for the Daily Herald

Race winner Mitchell Gilbert (914) and Joseph Fleming (1641) head out from the starting line Sunday of the Fall Colors 5K Run and Walk at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. More than 1,700 runners competed in the 5K and young runners competed in shorter distance fun runs. Mary Beth Nolan for the Daily Herald

Runners approach a hydrangea bush awash with fall color near the finish line of the Fall Colors 5K Run and Walk Sunday at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Mary Beth Nolan for the Daily Herald

Competitors pass a scarecrow while competing Sunday in the Fall Colors 5K Run and Walk at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. More than 1,700 runners took part in the 5K and young runners competed in shorter distance fun runs. Mary Beth Nolan for the Daily Herald

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