Friday's Featured 5k of The Week : New Year's Day 5k (Chicago)

That's right - a 5k on New Year's Day.  But don't worry, it has a late start, 11:00am, so you can get some R&R time before running.

This 5k takes place on New Year's Day in Lincoln Park, Chicago.  This route does not go near or to the other side of Lake Shore Drive.  However, in the winter, you'll still feel the Lake Effect breeze - and possibly even snow!  When I ran in Jan 2014, it snowed the entire time - that nice wet lake effect snow.  And the (in)famous Chicago wind.  We literally had to run with our eyes straight down - for two reasons.  1) Otherwise the wind and snow would be right in our eyes - since it was blowing from the lake, it was in our faces northbound and southbound.  2) We had to see where we were running, there was already at least 9 inches of snow already on the ground, making for a challenging route.

Now, having said all that, I have to say, it was one of the most enjoyable 5Ks I have ever ever ever run!!!  It was like being a kid outside in the snow again.  The challenge of the snow covered course, the wind in our faces.  I can imagine a kid (and there were some running/walking with their parents) just imagining this was some North Pole Expedition!!  Seriously, while running, I had all sorts of memories of being a kid in the snow again.  Anybody who grew up in the Midwest would have appreciated this run. Hard to say what it will be like this year though, still no snow - but it's still a week away.

This is the 30th Anniversary of this event.  The course starts near the south end of Lincoln Park, starts off heading south but quickly heads east and then north.  It then heads north until the northern end of Diversey Harbor before it turns back and runs an almost there-and-back style route before finishing.  Anybody who ran the Jingle Bell 5k in Lincoln Park, don't worry, this is a different route - you will not be doing a rerun.

The post-race prizes are handed out at the Select Cut Steakhouse on Halsted - a few blocks from the event.

Event information can be found here.