A new tradition stepped off on Saturday in Antioch, and village officials are already gearing up for next year following the success of its inaugural Shamrock Shuffle 5K Run/Walk.
More than 500 participants showed up on a cold and blustery morning for a race around the perimeter of the Tim Osmond Sports Complex on Depot Street.
The all-ages 5K route was set up for seasoned runners or others just looking to enjoy a brisk walk with family and friends.
“A lot of our residents were clamoring for something to do, in addition to what we normally offer, and this idea was brought up,” Antioch Trustee Brent C. Bluthardt said. “We thought a St. Patrick’s Day run and walk was a great way to get outside and have a little fun. It’s the unofficial start of spring, and the weather is cooperating now, too.”
The event was not designed as a charity fundraiser or benefit. The sole purpose was simply a “community get-together,” and a way for people to get outdoors after being cooped up all winter.
A post-race schedule was organized to include relay races and other fun activities for children, along with live music from the School of Rock, plus a race day “Irish pub” with food and beverage options including smoked corned beef sandwiches from local vendors.
“I’m hoping we’ll break even,” said Mark Sural, the village’s business development manager. “We were looking at the calendar, and there was a hole in our activities for the spring. I wanted to come up with a fun family day … that kind of a feel. A 5K event was perfect.
“It started raining Wednesday, and that dampened it a bit,” he continued. “There are some wet areas along the course. I still think this is a fun environment. There’s a lot of open space. We had to move the music stage to a firmer footing because of the ground being wet.
“All in all, we had to improvise some things, but this came together really well,” Sural said.”
Race participants began arriving an hour early to limber up, meet up with people, or warm up in one of the oversized inflatable “pub” tents. They also checked out the racecourse, which was a bit soggy in some places.
“It’s OK … we’re good mothers and good mudders,” said Samantha Johnson, who was alerted to the event by her friend, Melissa Thornburg. “We like to run Shamrock Shuffles, or some kind of race like this, every year around this time. She found it, and roped me into it. Why not?”
“I grew up in Antioch, and live in Grayslake now,” Thornburg said. “This was nearby, and I love to run these kinds of races, (so) here we are.”
The Wilson family, touting themselves as “The 7-minus-1,” gathered around a picnic table. “We have one family member not here today,” Jen Wilson said. “We came out to support the village and have some fun.
“We have runners, we have walkers…we intend to finish the course,” she said.
As the race started, and the contestants took off, Antioch Township Supervisor Tom Shaughnessy was impressed by all the green T-shirts moving in a meandering formation under the trees that lined the course.
“It looks like a green river,” he said. “Everybody’s enjoying themselves out here today. Even the weather is happy. Everybody is having a good time. That’s a good beginning, and it’s only going to get better from here.”