Friday's Featured 5k of the Week - BT5K (Breakthrough For Brain Tumors 5k)

The BREAKTHROUGH FOR BRAIN TUMORS 5K (the BT5K) benefits The American Brain Tumor Association (the ABTA).

The mission of the American Brain Tumor Association is to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors with the goals of improving, extending and, ultimately, saving the lives of those impacted by a brain tumor diagnosis.

This is a well run event, which allows for individual and team fundraising opportunities via their online portal.  There are also prizes awarded to those who raise the most funds.  This gives the runners 3 opportunities to raise money and awareness for the ABTA, the first being the entry fee itself, the second being the fundraising portal, and the third being donations that can be made at the event itself.

In 2014 this event was held in April - which, typical for Chicago, turned out to be a VERY COLD and VERY WINDY day.  But it didn't impact the turnout at all.  The course begins at Stadium Green Soldier Field (where the "south lot" used to be).  It then runs along side McCormick Place on the Lakefront path.  It is a there-and-back course, returning on most of the same Lakefront path.  Due to wind and extremely high waves, crashing well past 15 feet onto shore - the course was altered in 2014, normally, the "back" portion would have utilized paths right on the lake shore itself.  Due to the waves, the "back" portion was on the trails closer to McCormick Place.  Admittedly, this did cause some congestion, and also shortened the course by about .2 miles.  However, the organizers apologized for the changes and explained the reasoning.  If you saw the waves, you'd agree.

Some courses that run in this area choose to route under McCormick Place, and that is fine, but, had this been a NICE spring day, I'm glad we did it all outdoors.

This is a chipped timed race with plenty of pre-race and post-race activities on Stadium Green.  Plenty of parking available in the new South Lot garage.