Champion runners return to Stampede

A pair of Notre Dame graduates figure to pace this year's Stampede Run, mounted by officials with Frontier Days, every year on Sunday of the holiday weekend.

Loryn King, a 2002 St. Viator High School graduate, and Jean Marinangeli, a 2002 Buffalo Grove High School graduate, both ran cross country together at Notre Dame, and they return Sunday as former Stampede champions.

Race chairman, Craig Carlson of Arlington Heights, cannot confirm the men's side of the draw, where last year Tim Marr of Buffalo Grove won the 5K while Arthur Baptist of Mount Prospect won the 10K.

However, this much he does know: this year's numbers are up, leading him to be cautiously optimistic about drawing as many as 1,200 runners.

"We're tracking over 30 percent of where we were last year," Carlson says. "We'll definitely have a bigger turnout."

Both the 5K and 10K runs, as well as the 5K fitness walk, step off at 7:30 a.m. July 6, at Miner School, 1101 E. Miner St. in Arlington Heights, and follow courses that weave them through the northeast quadrant of the village.

Having repeat champions return to their hometown race in Arlington Heights speaks volumes about the local flavor of the event, and its certified course, he says.

"The race draws a lot of families to run together," says Craig Carlson of Arlington Heights, race director. "There's always a lot of people home for the Fourth, and they seem to enjoy coming back to do the run."

The Stampede has been offered as one of the many family activities packed into Frontier Days since its inception, 32 years ago, but increasingly, the event caters to area runners.

For starters, Carlson saw numbers of participants take off when he brought back the 10K race to the event - shortly after taking over as director five years ago ˆ­- making it one of the few summer 10Ks in the Chicago area.

Now, the combination of the scenic neighborhood run, where residents line the route with hoses to cheer on competitors, along with the well stocked finish line event, draws participants of all ages to come out.

Specifically, Carlson says this year's entries ranges from 2 years old to 76, and people are coming from more than 70 communities to compete.

Still, a lot of has gone on behind the scenes to make the race happen. Carlson points to Scott Rowader and Arlington Heights Public Works, who clean and repave sections of the route, as well as Arlington Heights Police Commander Jeff Dufloth who coordinates all of his officers directing traffic.

Neighbors along the race route allow officials to close down their streets for much of Sunday morning, while merchants and businesses step up to sponsor or donate goods to the event.

One local merchant, Runner's High 'N Tri in downtown Arlington Heights, returned as a sponsor and registration site, along with Arlington Heights Park District locations. Registration also is available online at www.frontierdays.org.

Finally, he points to the 175 "red shirts" from Frontier Days, who arrive as early as 6 a.m. on the last day of the festival to help marshal the event.

"This type of race doesn't happen," Carlson adds, "without people like this."