Runner returns to his roots
People whose passions include running will say it has changed their life.
Henry Lato is one of them.
The junior at Glenbrook South High School began running as a participant in the Healthy Kids Running Series, a program for children 2-14 founded in 2009.
Headquartered in Pennsylvania with locations in 40 states plus the District of Columbia, it's designed to address childhood obesity, build self-esteem and instill an active and determined attitude.
One thing it helped Lato discover is leadership. Years after he was one of those middle schoolers tackling a mile run, this spring he volunteered to be a community coordinator for the Glenview chapter of the Healthy Kids Running Series.
"I'm just a big runner myself and I'm a big believer that running has changed so much of my life. I just wanted to bring that to the kids, and inspire them and introduce them to the sport," Lato said.
He started running in fifth grade, continued at Attea Middle School and now runs with a club out of Chicago as well as for Glenbrook South. His first 5-kilometer race was the 2015 Lew Blond Run, which had its 20th anniversary last week.
"In the spring it was especially important because with COVID it was a way to get them out of the house. It gave them a sense of normalcy," he said of the Healthy Kids kids.
The five-week fall series - Lato also held a similar spring season - concluded Oct. 17 at Johns Park, 2101 Central Road. At the conclusion Lato presented $1,000 of his proceeds from the spring season to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.
He'll donate $1,000 more from fall proceeds to Boys & Girls Clubs CEO and President Mimi LeClair, who attended last Sunday's event.
The races range in distance from a 50-yard dash for the tots to a mile run for middle-school students.
"Some kids take it more seriously than others," Lato said. "It's supposed to be for fun, but everybody gets a medal at the end. The top three get trophies so there is a competitive side, but we're just there to have fun."
Lato, assisted a little by his parents, Patty and John, aunt Val Golden and uncle Jerry Olsen, had to get the young runners signed up for the series and enlist volunteers. For the final races he purchased shirts, medals, runners' "bibs" and trophies.
After expenses the remainder was profit - which is what Henry donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.
The Healthy Kids Running Series is finished for the time being. Lato is not.
Spurred by a business class at Glenbrook South, "Lato Athletic Events" will present the Glenview Turkey Trot 5K and "Kids Dash" on Nov. 20. The course will begin at the downtown Glenview Metra parking lot next to Jackman Park, wind its way through the Swainwood neighborhood and finish where it started.
Lato has contracted a timer, he's got the medals, T-shirts and bibs, and has about 100 people signed up so far; he's looking for around 300 participants. Information is at www.glenviewturkeytrot.com.