Elgin Valley Fox Trot back to in-person race for 2021

After being limited to a virtual race in 2020, the Elgin Valley Fox Trot is back live and in-person this year.

The 44th annual event is scheduled for June 6 and will feature 10-mile and 5K runs with new courses that incorporate a portion of the Fox River Trail north of downtown Elgin.

The race is organized by local running group Kenyon Farm Runners and the Elgin Lions Club.

"Our goal is to make the Elgin Valley Fox Trot the premiere 10-mile race in the Chicago area," said Tim Williams of Kenyon Farm Runners.

Williams said organizers are planning a post-race party, finisher medals and awards ceremony with safety protocols in place in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that limited them in 2020. "Our goal is to host the Elgin Fox Trot in the safest possible manner," he said.

The 10-mile race starts at 7:30 a.m., with the 5K starting 10 minutes later. The race starts and finishes just north of the Gail Borden Public Library, and Williams said both courses offer challenging hills and will take the runners through the streets on the north end of Elgin and onto the Fox River Trail as they head back south to the finish.

The post-race party will feature the awards presentation, music, refreshments, free massage therapy, vendor exhibits, and a beer tent. Williams said organizers are expecting about 500 runners, but "our planning and infrastructure will allow us to easily handle 1,000 plus." More than 660 runners took part in the 10-mile and 5K races in 2019.

Online registration is open at www.elginfoxtrot.org. Registration is currently $50 for the 10-mile race and $35 for the 5K. The fees for both races will go up as race day approaches. Proceeds from the event go to several local nonprofits.