Featured 5k of the Week - Harvest 5k Plainfield

This blog has featured two other Plainfield 5Ks in the past; The Community 5k and the Wounded Warrior / Welcome You Home 5k.  Both of these took place at Settler's Park.   You can find those reviews on this blog.  However, this one; The Harvest 5k, not at Settler's Park.

Oddly, it's just across the tracks and river from Settler's Park.  At one point, I supposed the routes could almost be "a stone's throw away" as they say - assuming one is a good stone thrower.  The Harvest 5k starts on the East side of the railroad tracks and DuPage River, starting at Village Green Park.  The park has a covered pavilion, large open lawns, standard playground equipment, and splash pad (not in operation during the 5k, which is held in late September).  A perfect starting point, given that the morning starts with a 1-mile Kids Dash.  The Kids Dash is both competitive and fun.  There are some very fast kids running amazing times - and also some younger kids just out running and having fun.  The start/finish chutes are lined with parents and spectators cheering on the kids from start to finish (literally).  This is my personal favorite way to start a racing event - with the Kids Dash - it's such a positive and fun start to the day.

The 5k drew almost 1000 runners, and fortunately, was a chip start/chip finish - as it took up to 1 minute or more to get from the front of the fields to the back.  This is a good problem to have.  Large crowds were definitely expected as the start/finish chute even had the standard barriers at the curbs.  The course starts just outside the park and heads into a very runner friendly neighborhood, before circling back towards the river area.  The route then quickly turns onto the local High School property and follows the road through the perimeter of the school.  The course then has a nice little touch where it actually then traverses the perimeter of a school parking lot (3 sides of it at least).  Not sure what it was about that part, but it was kinda cool.  Upon exiting the parking lot the course makes almost a hairpin onto the road which runs next to the river.  At the end of the road, instead of a cone turn around, there happens to be a road that leaves the main road and circles back, maybe it passes 10 houses.  At least 75% of those homes had residents curbside cheering on the runners as they visited their cul-de-sac neighborhood.  The course the goes back along the riverside road and then turns towards the finish line for a one-block finishing line sprint - perfect for those "finish-line kickers". 

Residents line the route trough the residential areas to cheer the runners.  Also, throughout the entire course, volunteers/voluncheers everywhere.  Every turn, water stops, and just in general.  And these were vocal volunteers, happily yelling out words of encouragement and ringing bells and clapping.  Same can be said for all of the residents along the route.  In the cul-de-sac mentioned above, one house had 4 or 5 kids wearing matching shirts high-fiving runners that went by.  Very cool - makes the run that much more enjoyable - and it came right around the 2-mile mark, which for many is when they need that boost to keep going strong!!  Much appreciated!

Live timing results at the finish line - runners just needed to type in their bib number and a receipt was instantly printed.  Awards were given in the middle of the park in a perfect "arena" set up.  A post-race party as also held at the nearby Tap House Grill.  Each participant was given a free drink and free sandwich coupon in the swag bag!