Featured Running Event of the Week - Jingle Bell Run / Kankakee River Valley

This might seem like deja-vu, yes, we have reviewed this race before.

However, this is different, as the location has changed.  The old location was the Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee.  The new location is Kankakee Community College.  Change of venues = new review.

The new location consists of 90% bike/jogging trails which are a mixture of crushed gravel and pavement, plus 10% of street and parking lot.  The route is primarily an out-and-back route, with about 25% of the course being separate from the outs and the backs – especially the very beginning and the very end.  Even though it is an out-and-back, runners don’t finish on the same path they started on, so in a way, this has the feel of a circular route as opposed to just a straight out-and-back.

Around halfway, the route goes up a street and back down the same street with cones in the middle separating the runners.  This is always a fun part of any course, as runners get to see fellow runners and friends heading one way or the other.  This always lends itself to many high-fives, many “you got this” comments, and many “good job” comments and thumbs up gestures.  Many runners find these segments of courses as some of their favorite parts of the run.  It’s definitely a moment for camaraderie and encouragement.

The bulk of the path runs behind the college and alongside the Kankakee River.  It’s a fairly scenic view, but of course, it is winter (race takes place in mid-December), so the trees have no leaves, but it’s still a scenic river front path. 

The opening of the race takes place in the parking lot giving runners plenty of time to spread out and get into a rhythm before funneling down to the bike/jogging paths.  I also finishes, from another direction, in the parking lot, giving plenty of room for those finish-line kickers to make last minute passes.

The pre/post race festivities take place inside the college in a break/lounge/commons area, which has a nice comfortable feel to it.  It’s not too big and it’s not too small.  Finishers can actually watch others finish from a large bay of windows (it’s not on the finish line itself, but runners can be seen near the finish).

Of course, like most holiday races, some of the best memories are of the costumes, there was a Grinch, a fleet of reindeer (is fleet the proper term), Santa, Mrs. Claus, and elves all on the course, keeping the entire day in that festive light holiday mood.  There were photo ops with Mr. & Mrs. Claus as well.

For many runners, this event signals the end of their season, and the nice indoor area provides a perfect setting for runners to hang out with their running friends and say Happy Holidays and say goodbyes until the next season starts.