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.
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!
I’m 100% glad I did the medals! They were a huge hit! Many people where still wearing them hours after the 5k. Awesome!
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
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!!
Our Idaho participants!
They even had friends and neighbors participate! 🙂
EVENT SLIDESHOW
To see all the details of the event you can watch the slideshow below!
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!