Zucchini Fun Run and Walk 5k

Have you ever run a 5k with your immediate family? If not, I highly recommend it!! Back in March when I announced to family, our plans to visit Illinois, my oldest sister suggested we all register for a 5 or 10k. This is probably a good place to mention that the reason I am so interested in running today, is because of my sister. I remember being 13 years old and heading to downtown Chicago with my parents, to watch my sister finish her first ever half marathon. I didn’t understand the magnitude of the distance, I just knew it was really, really far and I was really, really proud. There were also lots of fresh cut oranges that I wasn’t allowed to eat, but I digress.

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My sister running in the Lake County Half Marathon, April 1991

The days that Mr. Zucchini Runner and I were in town actually fell on M-F. Let me tell you, there was a big shortage of races that a) fit our family criteria and b) fell on a M-F. What now?! My sister and I had the same thought – do our own! I asked if everyone was still on board if we just created our own 5k and the response was less than enthusiastic.

However as time went on, I began to think that maybe deep down they just didn’t think it would actually HAPPEN. So, I got to work creating a Facebook event page, ordering finishers medals, and compiling items that would be fun in a reward bag for the youngest participants. (Real fruit strips, bouncy balls and temporary tattoos were some of the items. 🙂 Once I picked up the medals I also posted a black and white, blurred picture of them to the Facebook event page for to raise excitement! Who doesn’t like mysterious medals?! Then I got to thinking… my family in Idaho that couldn’t make it to Illinois for the visit could do this virtually! I posed the idea to them and they LOVED it! They were on board! Yay!
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I’m 100% glad I did the medals! They were a huge hit! Many people where still wearing them hours after the 5k. Awesome!

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We had one participant reluctantly give up their spot walking/running the course in order to track everyone’s laps, especially the little ones. It was a huge help, because I kept losing track! haha

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After the 5k Mr. Zucchini Runner and I prepared breakfast for everyone! The staple was our gluten-free and vegan banana walnut pancakes. Then we also did a large batch of eggs, with a ton of fresh fruit and my homemade applesauce. Some of the little ones said they were the best pancakes they every had!! AWESOME!!

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Our Idaho participants!

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They even had friends and neighbors participate! 🙂

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EVENT SLIDESHOW

To see all the details of the event you can watch the slideshow below!

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2 Responses to Zucchini Fun Run and Walk 5k

  1. Kim says:

    I just found your blog recently and really enjoy it. I love this idea and everyone looked like they had a great time!

    • They did; there was definitely some grumbling at the 7 a.m. start time, but later they thanked me we didn’t run in the heat. 🙂 Glad you are enjoying the blog! Thanks for following and commenting!