During the non-winter months, there are one or more road runs every weekend somewhere in the Chicago area.
There are, however, none quite like the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association’s 5K Twilight Run, Walk and Roll.
The eighth annual event, held earlier this month in Lake Forest, stands out because competitive runners, recreational runners and athletes with disabilities compete side by side.
“The purpose of this event is to provide exposure to the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, and an opportunity for athletes who have physical disabilities or visual impairments to embrace the GLASA motto of ‘Let No One Sit on the Sidelines,'” said Cherie Hrusovsky, development director of the GLASA.
This year’s event drew more than 325 participants, and the total swelled with family members, friends and supporter attending the post-race party.
“The proceeds from this event will help the GLASA provide year-round, daily adaptive sports programming and financial assistance for over 63 percent of GLASA athletes through the Athlete Scholarship Fund,” Hrusovsky said. “Our goals are to help increase the overall health and wellness of our athletes, assist with funding of athlete scholarships and to expand outreach to surrounding communities, such as Waukegan and North Chicago.”
The race started and finished in the parking lot at the Gorton Center on the southeast side of Lake Forest, and the course wound through neighborhood streets.
There were divisions for runners and running teams, as well as for competitors in manual wheelchairs, racing chairs and hand cycles. There also were divisions for the ambulatory, amputees and the visually impaired.
More than 25 members of the Chiefs and Chief Selects from the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes marched in cadence alongside race participants.
“This group has participated in this race since 2010,” Hrusovsky said.
This year, the Run, Walk and Roll was part of the Chicago Area Runners Association’s four-race North Shore Race Series. The others were The Swinging Bridge 8K in Lake Forest, the Pumpkin Chase 5K in Lake Bluff and the Red Ribbon 5K in Lake Forest. The event was sponsored by NorthShore University Health Systems.
Saturday in Ingleside: The fourth annual Big Hollow 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday.
The event is a fundraiser to help support Big Hollow School District 38. Members of the Big Hollow PTO work together with the school district, teachers, and community to provide educational, social, and cultural experiences for our students.
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There is race-day registration at 7:30 a.m. Cost for the 5K is $30. The race will start and finish in the parking lot at Big Hollow Elementary School in Ingleside.
Saturday in Highland Park: The District 112 Fun(d) Run and Family Walk will be held at Ravinia at 8 a.m. Race-day registration starts at 7 a.m. and the cost is $35.
The event is a fundraiser for the District 112 Education Foundation, which supports elementary schools in Highland Park.
Sunday, Oct. 18 in Antioch: The Sequoits Pride 5K fun walk/run will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 with the start and finish at Antioch High School.
There is race-day registration starting at noon. When signing up, a runner/walker will designate what Antioch High School group he or she wants a portion of the entry fee to support. Cost to participate is $35.
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