Friday's Featured 5k of the Week - THE GREAT PUMPKIN RUN - Homer Glen

THE GREAT PUMPKIN RUN was held at Konow's Corn Maze in Homer Glen, IL in Mid-October.  This was the first time this nationally-traveling 5k held an event here - and it was was amazing.

First, Konow's Corn Maze is more than just a corn maze.  What a great place to take the family - any time of the year.  They have a giant outdoor "bouncy", a giant corn silo cut away (just the bottom) filled with corn (saw lots of adults making corn-angels (snow angels) in there).  A petting zoo!  An education barn, complete with a giant cross-section of a Sequoia tree.  Standard food and beverages - a kid's play area, and a little kids train.  This time of the year, they also had a pumpkin patch.  And of course, a Corn Maze, when not used for 5Ks can be used for leisurely strolls.

The event itself was 100% off-road.  The race starts inside the complex, then quickly takes to the dirt/mud trails around the parking lot, around some farm land and back, and then into the corn maze.  The corn maze makes up about 1 mile or more of the event - and the runners exit the corn maze just before a sharp semi-circle finish back in the complex.  The corn maze was wide in some points and not-so-wide in others - which adds to the fun.  Several hairpin turns and 90 degree plus turns.  It has rained most of the week making the trails a combination of mud in spots - 1) the mud you lose a shoe in and 2) the kind of packed mud that ice skates would be best for.  BUT, the conditions are FAR from being a negative.  Most people felt those conditions ADDED to the enjoyment of the event.  Primarily a flat off-road course, with an early slow climb at the start.

ADDED BONUS - You could opt to run in the Angry Pumpkin division, in which you can choose a pumpkin up to 10 lbs and carry it with you the entire race.  I did it - got a football sized one and pretended I was a running back.  For me, added a new dimension of fun to the event.  Those who finished with the pumpkin received a special Angry Pumpkin mason jar!

 ADDED BONUS 2 -  You could enter the Hungry Pumpkin division, in which you sit at the head table, right at the start line, and eat three (one for each mile) slices of pumpkin pie.  You then get a cool sash to wear, and get to start the race about 1 minute ahead of everybody else.  I admit, I did not partake in this bonus - but people did.

Definitely a fun event!!!  I hope they come back in 2015.