Featured Running Event of the Week - Reagan Run 5k

Fourth of July weekend/week - seems like the perfect time to write about the Reagan Run 5k  - and also the perfect time for the run itself to occur.

The Reagan Run took place on July 1st in Dixon, IL - the boyhood home of President Ronald Reagan.  The race starts right outside of the boyhood home of President Reagan, faithfully restored to its look when "Ronnie" lived there, back in the 1920s.  The current home owners, the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home Preservation Society obtained the property in 1980 and fully restored it over the next 4 years - completing it just in time for then-President Reagan to visit it in 1984.  One neighboring home has been turned into the Visitor's Center and the other neighboring home has been removed and turned into the Ronald Reagan Park complete with benches and a statue.

The race starts at this historic site and runs down Hennepin Avenue towards the Rock River - passing other historic sites, including the very school President Reagan attended while living in Dixon - which has a room restored to its look when "Ronnie" attended.

There is a lot I want to say about this course, as it is VERY unique, but the discovery of the course is most of the fun - so I hesitate to give any detailed accounts of this course.  I will say one thing for certain - if you aren't going uphill - you are going downhill.  I don't recall much "flatness" on the course.  The start line is literally on an downhill slope and the finish line is literally on an uphill slope - and it's all VERY noticeable visually and when running.

So, as not to give anything away, I will not talk about the course itself - other than - this is unique - and they hint at that during the opening remarks before the start.

The town is fully supportive of this race with residents sitting on their porches or parkways cheering runners on for nearly the entire course - they love it!  Even some residents spraying a water hose into to air for runners to run under - and trust me - that was much appreciated!

The race drew somewhere around 1500 runners and walkers this year - and both are welcome (runners and walkers and joggers and woggers and everything in between - but no strollers or dogs).

This race is something to be experienced and if you are into unique races - this is a "must do" race.

Very well organized, very pleasant and peaceful town, very fun and interesting course, and lots of history.

Wow,  I really want to give a run-down of the course, but spoilers would spoil this run.  It's a must-do-yourself type thing.

Highly recommended!