Runners young and old find success in 39th annual Elgin race
The Elgin Valley Fox Trot on Saturday morning gave runners a chance to finish with a flourish, a fury or a fade during the traditional 5K or a new 10K race.
A Memorial Day weekend tradition since 1977, the race featured runners young and old in the longer events and charity walkers galore in the 2-Mile Walk for a Cause.
With sweaty T-shirts or tank tops clinging to torsos, finishers began crossing the line as early as 8:02 a.m., when men's 5K winner Braxton Schuldt of Sterling finished with a time of 17:57. Women's 5K winner Kasey Moreno of Elgin finished in 19:32.
The community run was full of first-timers, too, like 6-year-old Elgin Sharks Track Club newbie Jacob Vences of Elgin.
"I passed a lot of people," Jacob said after his run was done, thrusting his arms up as he celebrated with his mom, Erika Vences, and his grandpa, Nicholas Martinez.
The hometown 5K was the perfect first competition for Jacob to join his older brothers, Ruben, 8, and Nicholas, 13, in their love of running.
"He was excited," his mom said about her youngest. "He was waiting for this moment."
Nicholas Vences spent his early hours Saturday excited for his favorite racing moment - the triumph at the end.
"With the motivation of everyone cheering, it just got easier and easier as it went," he said. "My favorite part is finishing."
Some finishers crossed the line at Douglas Avenue and Kimball Street with a smile, a wave or even a hop. Others crossed while slowing to a shuffle, a full effort already expended. Free bagels, bananas, beer and a new addition to the post-race spread - hot dogs - greeted them no matter their finishing style.
The subdued blue of this year's race T-shirt was outnumbered among the crowd by bright athletic gear from other races and past Fox Trots held when the event included a 10-mile race instead of a 10K of 6.2 miles.
Barb Keselica, special events and community engagement manager for the city of Elgin, said the move to go shorter wasn't desired, but was a way to help the city cut costs in light of the state's budget standoff and an anticipated decrease in funding.
"We're hoping the 10K is just a temporary thing," Keselica said.
John Knudson of Elgin won the new distance in 36:10, while Rosalinda Lopez of Elgin won the women's division in 45:05.
Cutting course distance by nearly four miles allowed the city to deploy 18 fewer police officers at intersections along the route. The race also kept costs down by eliminating packets with freebies for participants and cash prizes for winners.
Still, the Fox Trot benefited 28 Elgin nonprofits through the Walk for a Cause. From a $12 entry fee, $8 went to the charity of the walker's choice, while $4 went toward a T-shirt for a fundraising total of more than $8,000.
"We work very hard to try to help social services and nonprofits survive the tough times they're going through in the state of Illinois," Elgin Mayor David Kaptain said from the extended arm of a bucket truck above the start line, from where he fired the starting gun. "We all need to give a little more."