Featured Running Event of the Week - Get Your Rear In Gear (Tinley Park)

The Get Your Rear In Gear 5k in Tinley Park is the Featured Running of the Event of the Week.  This event consists of a 5k Timed Run, a Kids Dash, and a 5k Untimed walk.  The 5k run starts the day at 8:00am, the Kids Dash at approximately 8:30am, and the 5k Walk at 9:00am.  The event is hosted by the Colon Cancer Coalition.

The course is an out and back style, starting in Tinley Park's Community Park - located right next door to White Water Canyon Water Park, Tinley Fitness, and the Tinley Park-Park District.  Plenty of parking is available. (I just wanted to say "park" one more time).

The course starts cross-country style with a wide starting line on grass, but after about 20 yards it narrows down to a paved bike/walking/running path.  That path is then used for the duration of the event.  Runners start off by circling all of the venues mentioned above and then head south on the bike path towards the water tower (which can be seen from the start).  At the water tower, runners make a u-turn - and also reach a water-station (how appropriate - do you think they planned the water stop and the foot of the water tower??).

Runners then return to Community Park and loop the venues mentioned again for a finish back at the park proper.  The path is smooth and quite new - it runs past backyards and open fields, along streets, around buildings and over a small wooden bridge.  And along this route are 2 or 3 locals who provided hoses to water down participants who wish to be watered down - and this summer, with humidity over 80% at start time (and an 82 degree temp) - that water was more than welcome!

But what really makes this course something special is "The Blue Mile".  After (or before) the loop around the Park Campus there is about a mile of blue signs on both sides of the path.  These signs are dedications to people who runners are running in memory of, or in dedication to, or in honor of.  The signs are a combination of survivors and those that did not win the battle with cancer.  Some signs have photos, others quotes, and others just names.  Each sign holding significance to all runners and special significance to selected runners (and walkers).

The event isn't just about the races/walks - before it even starts members of the Colon Cancer Coalition talk about colon cancer statistics, survivors, noticing the symptoms, prevention, and screenings.  There is a tent on-site which provides information on screenings.  There is literature related to this terrible disease all over the grounds.  This is truly an opportunity to raise awareness, not just funds, but actual awareness of the disease.  They do such a great job of intermixing the enjoyment of running and walking - with the raising of funds and awareness, that it all just blends together naturally to be an informative and enjoyable time all at once.  Special awards are given to the top survivor finishers as well.

Sponsorship, entry fees, and Blue Mile Donations are all reasonably priced and accessible to nearly everybody who is interested.  The race itself is on an enjoyable course - and the cause is an important one.

More information about the Colon Cancer Coalition can be found at http://coloncancercoalition.org/