The dark, stormy skies that hung over Ridgewood High School on Friday night were no match for the group of determined runners who toughed out the cold, wet weather to finish an annual 5K run/walk to benefit adults in the Norridge-Harwood Heights area with developmental disabilities.
Covered in rain ponchos and decked out in beach gear and colorful inflatable floaties to coincide with the race’s “Wave Runner,” theme this year, the rain poured down as runners took off from the main entrance of the high school just after 7:30 p.m. Friday night.
The rain started to come down heavier as the race continued, causing the usual crowd of supporters who hang out at the finish line behind the school to dwindle to only a few supporters. The small group of fans included the families of Tim Pracyna of Chicago and Norridge resident Melanie Radosta, who were the first runners to finish with the same time of 24:30.
For Radosta, who said she’s lost more than 90 pounds since she started training for and participating in 5K events all over the Chicago area about seven years ago, the race Friday night marked her first time breaking through the finish line tape as the winner.
“It felt great; it was so exciting,” Radosta said. “My shoes feel a bit heavy from the rain, but otherwise the rain didn’t really slow us down.”
Both well-seasoned 5K runners, Radosta and Pracyna have participated in at least 30 races each — mostly in Chicago where 5K events are held regularly. Radosta said the Ridgewood 5K was a refreshing change from the usual 5K events they usually run in Chicago.
“I liked running through the residential areas and being able to enjoy the quiet streets,” Pracyna said. “The police did a good job of closing off the streets and directing us where to go.”
Participants took off from the high school’s south parking lot on Montrose Avenue and wound down multiple residential side streets, including Olcott Avenue, Belle Plaine Avenue, then north on Ozanam Avenue, east on West Bertreau Avenue, and North on Oriole Avenue.
Runners then headed back down Montrose, then up to North Osage Avenue before going down Wilson Avenue and wrapping around several side streets before looping back onto Wilson Avenue and into the back entrance of the school onto the football field.
Now in its fifth year, Ridgewood’s annual 5K typically draws around 300 participants, who raise donations for two nonprofit causes — the New Horizon Center for children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism, and the Easter Seals’ Chicago Metropolitan Autism Spectrum Disorder Services Program.
School officials did not have final figures to show how much was raised this year, but Lisa Balata, the teacher who runs the Ridgewood Rotary Club (the student group that organizes the race) said a lower-than-usual turnout likely pushed fundraising totals below the $5,000 that is usually raised in a typical year.
“The timing of the rain has been awful, but a lot of people still showed up tonight. It’s a family-oriented event that people look forward to,” Balata said.
Only about 100 of the 220 people who had signed up for the race showed up Friday night, according to Balata.
The wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the runners who decided to brave the rain to reach the finish line, however.
Ridgewood senior and Rotary Club President Desiree Ovalle said the race was about people being able to enjoy having the chance to support a good cause while embracing the opportunity to bond with their classmates before graduation later this month.
“We don’t always get to do things as a class, so this is something fun we can all do together,” Ovalle said. “Everyone enjoys it because you’re doing something small that goes a long way.”
Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.