Rally for Autism 5K Race Report
The truth about this race is that I ran it in 2009 with Erin* and vowed to never run it again. It’s not exactly set up for success for the heat-adverse (me), being in August, with a 9:00 am start**. There is no shade on the course and it was in the high 80s that year. Oh yeah, and when I ran it, I had an (undiagnosed at the time) stress fracture in my shin.
So, wah wah wah. Why would I run it again?
Well, when I joined the running club in the end of 2010 I found out that the race directors are two members of the club who both have autistic children. I wanted to support them. I planned to run it in 2011 but ended up being out of town. I was not sure if I would be around this year, but it obviously worked out that I was here… and that Gina, Steve and Luca were visiting as well! So I signed us all up!
The four of us planned to stick together for the entire race, so I knew it would be fun even if we had evil summer heat. But guess what…? WE DIDN’T! It was in the low 60s! IN AUGUST! RACE REDEEMED! I brought a jacket in case I was cold after the race (I wasn’t).
I was really excited to take Gina and Steve to Independence Grove, the park where the race was held. It’s the showcase forest preserve in Lake County, and it’s beautiful. And I was also really excited that so many of my running club members were going to be there, and they could meet Gina and Steve… okay, really, I mostly mean Luca. Ha ha. I talk about him all the time, and my friends ask about him a lot, so it was probably nice for them to see him in real life, rather than me shoving pictures of him in their face.
And the other thing I was really excited about… racing with a stroller. Muah ha ha. I borrowed a running stroller from a club friend and pushed Luca in it for the entire race. It was definitely an upper arm workout! I had a lot of fun doing it. I just feel bad for anyone behind me that I accidentally cut off. I was so busy trying not to hit people in front of me, that I think I was not watching behind as much as I should.
So, anyway. The race itself was really nice. We all stuck together as planned. We finished holding hands (aww). We had a good time (34:28). There were a lot of fun volunteers (a few who I knew) on the course and two water stops. There was a lot of raffles, bounce houses for the kids, and yummy post race food. The race is well organized and had a great turnout this year. I’m really excited that my running club friends put on such a successful race!
I am having a lot of fun doing 5Ks with Gina and Steve. I think we need to make it a tradition for every visit. And maybe one day we can get this guy in the Astoria shirt to do one with us.
*Our first ever race together!
**Since I know the director I asked why it starts so late – it’s because you can not use a loud speaker before 9:00 am in the park.
Themocracy
Like you, I have vowed never to run certain races again. However, I always seem to end up running them within a few years later. I guess my memory is short…
Thank you for coming with your family and for writing this beautiful blog Kim. It touched my heart.
You are welcome! Thank you so much for hosting a wonderful race! And I forgot to mention how AWESOME the tech tees are! My friends from NYC were super excited about them too 🙂
This is so cute and awesome! And I love those orange shirts! I wore orange on my run last night and I’ve decided I need more of that color in my wardrobe. 🙂
Yes. ORANGE. I have SO many orange tops.
Kim…I greatly appreciate the nice comments! We do all we can to make it a first class event (chip timing, tech tees, and new award design) whether racing, running or walking! Weather is something we can’t control of course and we have been fairly lucky over the years to have decent temps but this year was just perfect! Between the running club and the Autism families I was hugging and hand shaking people all day! That so many new and old friends come out for our event is so touching. I cannot express my gratitude enough!
As I was writing this post I was thinking about how much I have improved as a runner that even if it would have been a hot year, I know I still would have had a “good race.” The weather was just so perfect though, and the race was too! It’s so nice to have it chip timed, especially since we were pushing the stroller from the back. If anyone complains about a jogging stroller, it was probably me, my apologies 😉
I can’t wait for next year’s race! I hope it grows even more! Thanks for all you and the volunteers did!
I love that you found a stroller so Luca could race, too. You’re such a good friend!
I thought of you during the race. As in “How does Kim do this on her long runs?!” 🙂
Such a great day! And it was awesome meeting Gina and Steve and Luca 🙂
They loved meeting you! And muchos gracias for the toys!!! 🙂 I might start that puzzle today 🙂
This race sounds like it has really grown! And it sounds like you had a wonderful time with Gina, Steve, Luca, and everyone else. What a great day!
I love that you raced with a stroller. Way to cross train! 🙂
And that’s what I said originally about the Hot Chocolate 15k. I swore NEVER AGAIN! after the first year because of everything that went wrong. Ended up doing it then next year. I think we all feel the need to redeem ourselves from time to time…
I love that you borrowed a stroller and got lucky with the cadillac of strollers! I loved mine when I had it. Glad you had a great race!
That photo of you guys crossing the finish line is the cutest photo EVER!
awesome!
this looks like so much fun! I am so jealous of you for having friends you can run with.
Great to hear that you guys had such a fun time at the race! And thank goodness for the temperature…
Sounds like you all had a great time!!! This weather has been amazing for running!
Great job at the race. I love that you all finished together holding hands!
So, I’m a new runner (as you know)… 9am is a late start, huh? I better get used to getting up a little bit earlier 😉
And you are totally impressive- running with a stroller is pretty killer.
9 am is late for the summer. Not for a late fall or winter race though! 🙂
Look at you being all bad ass and pushing the jogger!!! Go Kim Go!!! Impressive!!! I am really glad that you ran this race again and that you got to run it with Gina, Steve, and Luca!! (Especially since Gina PR’d!!!) I am so proud of all of y’all!!
=^..^=
I love the picture of you guys finishing – so cute! 🙂 And I love the orange! And kudos for running the whole thing pushing Luca! I’m always in awe of people who run and race with strollers – maybe because I have like zero upper body strength. All in all it looks like you guys had a great time!
That looks like so much fun. Way to rock the stroller. I used to do a race with my Dad, step-mom, brother, and half-sister every year on Thanksgiving and it was a great family tradition. I wish we’d kept it up!
Congratulations on another fantastic 5K! I bet pushing a stroller is a lot tougher than one would realize. Luca is absolutely ADORABLE! And I love love LOVE Independence Grove. I used to picnic there with my parents fairly frequently, and I even looked into trying to get married there (it was too expensive for my budget). For future years, I’ve been looking at the Prairie State Marathon, which takes place there (it’s occuring the same weekend as the Chicago Marathon this year!) Would love to meet up with you out there sometime to go hiking or whatnot!
YESSS!!! When will you be out here next? Kelly J (Kelly the Culinarian) and I are doing our long run next weekend (not sure which day) on the Des Plaines River Trail south of there if you want to join. I have 26, she has 20… you have 18? Or cutback?
We also looked in to getting married there, and didn’t for the same reason. We ended up at the Cuneo.
I totally want to do the race there! And there is a 50 miler on the trail too!!!
Running with friends is so fun! I haven’t done a 5k in ages. Looks like Thanksgiving will be my next. My dad is running it so I need to at least be able to keep up with him!!