Suburban runners share favorite races for distance, food, fun
What makes a race "the best" depends on the runner.
For some, it's the scenery: The Fox River, the scenic downtown streets of Libertyville, the hills or prairies or trees of a forest preserve.
For others, it's the cause: Maybe the race supports veterans or domestic violence survivors or cancer patients.
For casual runners, it could be the holiday costuming - perhaps a leprechaun headband, a turkey hat or a Santa suit - or quirky additions like zombies or splashes of colored flour. Foodie runners might even pick their favorite based on the post-race spread or an aid station treat.
So, which are the best races in the suburbs? Ask a handful of running club leaders and here's what they say:
Mike Brunette, founder of Libertyville Running Club, is partial to the Libertyville Twilight Shuffle held the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
The race awards families for being the fastest (based on the average time of at least three family members with one younger than 17) or the fittest (awarded to the family that has the most members finish the race). It's become the center of family barbecues and gathering around town. It even has a doughnut station - yes, doughnuts - at mile 1 and mile 1.5, Brunette said.
"The doughnuts will be back," he says. "The Libertyville Running Club sponsored that part for the first time last year and the runners loved it."
Batavia resident Mark Selesky with Fox River Trail Runners says he's a fan of the Great Western Half Marathon in St. Charles, scheduled for May 3, the Peapod Half Madness half marathon in Batavia, scheduled for Aug. 30, and one shorter race, too - The Fox & The Turkey Thanksgiving four-miler in Batavia.
The Fox & The Turkey usually draws 2,500 runners and it serves as a fundraiser and food drive for the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry. Selesky said people make it a tradition, and for some, it's the only race they'll run all year.
The Elgin Fox Trot, which includes a 10-miler and a 5K, gets rave reviews from Mark Piercy, Lisle Windrunners past president, who has run the longer race 16 times.
"There is ample food, one free beer and a great area for runners, friends and family to meet, eat and sit together," he said, proving again that food factors heavily into runners' evaluation of a race. "There is a long downhill straightaway coming into the finish that you can see for more than a half-mile. Some runners may not like that, but it motivates me to finish hard."
Best races in the 'burbs
A sampling of some of the best running races coming to the suburbs this year:
• St. Paddy's Day 5K: 8 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Jackson and West streets near Centennial Beach in downtown Naperville. A 3.1-mile race along the Naperville St. Patrick's Day parade route. With a costume contest and green beer for participants 21 and older. stpaddysday5k.org
• March Madness Half Marathon: 8:35 a.m. Sunday, March 15, at Cary-Grove High School, 2208 Three Oaks Road, Cary. 13.1-mile race dubbed the most challenging half marathon in Northern Illinois. hillstriders.com/Hill/Half_Marathon_Race.html
• Salute, Inc. Got Freedom 5K/10K: Sunday, May 24, at 1101 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights. 3.1- and 6.2-mile races raise money for Salute, Inc., which works to meet the financial, physical and emotional needs of veterans. saluteinc.org
• Libertyville Twilight Shuffle 5K: Sunday, Sept. 6, at Newberry Avenue just east of Milwaukee Avenue. 3.1-mile race with doughnuts at mile 1 and mile 1.5 and a free post-race meal at Mickey Finn's Brewery. Raises funds for MainStreet Libertyville. twilightshuffle.com
• Fox Valley Marathon: 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at Illinois and First streets, St. Charles. 13.1-, 20- and 26.2-mile races along Fox River Trail and streets on both sides of the river. Boston qualifier. fv26.com
• The Fox & The Turkey: Thursday, Nov. 26, at 151 Island Ave., Batavia. Includes a 4-mile race and a youth 1-mile run. Thanksgiving tradition in the Tri-Cities. foxrivertrailrunners.org/foxandturkey