Wet racers slosh through 10k in Naperville

When Keya Porch's parents suggested she compete in the NCO Spring Ahead Run at the Calamos Investment campus in Naperville Sunday, the six-year-old wasn't interested.

"She didn't want to go last night, but we talked her into it," said Keya's mom, Lisa Porch, after the children's 1-mile fun run.

The Lisle family recently moved to the area and were looking for a way to stay active, Porch said.

The Porches joined more than 1,000 runners Sunday morning in sloshing through the rain in both 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer heats, as well as the milelong youth race.

Race organizer Dawn Portner said Sunday's event is expected to generate about $40,000 for NCO Youth & Family Services in Naperville, a social services agency that provides transitional housing, counseling services, crisis intervention and other programming in Kendall, Will and DuPage counties for troubled youths and families. Sunday's race is among three of the largest fundraisers for the agency.

"This is a very big deal for us," Portner said. "Every year it gets bigger as participants tell their friends."

Teens from Naperville North, Neuqua Valley and Naperville Central high schools were among the roughly 150 volunteers who arrived as early as 5:30 a.m. to set up water tables, put cones along the race route and help direct traffic.

Jeff Harris, a member of the board of NCO, has been volunteering at the race for the last three years with his daughter, Jenny. The pair spent the day cheering runners on as they directed them to the finish line.

"This is just the best racing weather," Harris said of the cool, overcast morning. "It's great when a plan like this just comes together."