Probably the coolest race bib so far :
The Liberty 5k is run on July 3rd in Morris, IL. It's a night race with a 7:15pm start. Prior to the main 5k, there is a series of kids runs. The kids are divided by age groups and the distances range from a half mile to a 1-mile - both out-and-back straight line runs.
The streets of downtown are blocked off hours prior to the event and there are fire trucks and military vehicles on display near the start/finish line. In addition, also near the start/finish line is a full school band rocking before and during the race. The entire closing off of the downtown district, gives it a great small-town America feel. (This isn't like a box store downtown, this is the kind where businesses are in older buildings and people park right outside the door on the street).
The course has a couple of unseen hills, the kind where a person doesn't realize they are going up hill, until all of the sudden they look back and see it has been a hill the entire time. There is also a real obvious hill going through the park.
The course itself starts in the downtown district, runs through the neighborhood district, and then through a wooded park area. All on streets - and all streets are closed to traffic during the event.
This is one of those neighborhood runs that gets huge support from the houses along the way. People would be sitting along the curb cheering, joking, some having bonfires and/or cookouts on the front driveway and waving at runners. Lots of support from the residents. Again, giving it that great small-town feel - and also providing motivation for the runners.
The race draws a large crowd and is chip-timed from start to finish, so it doesn't matter how far back in the pack one starts - the timing doesn't start until they cross the start-line.
And, an added bonus, if participants time their departure just right - they can watch dozens of towns' fireworks displays as they drive home - especially if they are driving home on the expressway!
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