Friday's Featured 5k of the Week - The Mid-Winter Cruise

The Park Forest Running and Pancake Club, which dates back to 1978, hosts the annual Mid-Winter Cruise 5k in mid-January each year.  This is a twice-around course which begins at Forest Trail Middle School and circles a neighborhood and Winnebago Park, finishing just outside of the Middle School.

There are some really unique things about this course.  As a person born and raised in the Chicago Southland, this event has a special feel to it, for me at least.  The location of the event really showcases the green-space and community concepts that Park Forest created back in the late 1940s/early 1950s.  None of the roads that this course takes are straight, they wind and curve and meander.  As you run down these streets you can look down other streets and see the same meandering and "court" concepts and community concepts.  In addition, about 1/4 of the race consists of running next to the Winnebago park, which is to the runner's right, then appears to disappear in lieu of houses, then at the next turn appears again - only disappear and reappear again on the final turn.  Many runners find twice-around courses boring, well, because you do the same thing twice.  But the winding of the streets and the scenery of the park (even in the winter) actually negates that "I've seen this once already" feeling.

The event itself is very well run (no pun intended) with finish-line chip timing / gun start.  The course is extremely easy to follow and there are signs and volunteers along the way.  The course is all in the street, so depending on the January snow fall it might be wet, clear, slushy, somewhat slippery, or down right snowy - or every combination just listed.  Prior to the event, runners may wait inside the gymnasium or basement of the Middle School (or outside).

But, there are some more fun nuances.  Notice the name of the race - "cruise"?  Don't worry - that name is not forgotten during the post-race celebration!  And notice the name of the organization?  "Pancake Club".  Yep - that's right - finish your race - go inside to the basement and grab some fresh made pancakes - literally right off the griddle!!!  (donuts and fruits are also available)

This is a very fun course and a nice way to break up the winter blues!