Healthy West Chicago 5K Walk/Run

For the first time in 200 years, children in America may have shorter life expectancies than their parents. This alarming prediction is directly connected to obesity and weight issues (and unhealthy lifestyles-skinny does not equal health). Across the country, more children and adults are overweight or obese than ever before.

Sadly, the City of West Chicago is no exception to this heart-breaking trend. West Chicago has an obesity rate that is 10% higher than the rest of DuPage County. One out of every four kindergarteners in DuPage County start school already overweight or obese The people of West Chicago — especially our kids — deserve better.

It is time for West Chicago to come together for our future. It is time to become Healthy West Chicago.

Healthy West Chicago is dedicated to increasing healthy eating and physical activity in the City of West Chicago to make West Chicago one of the healthiest communities in the region. Through engaging events and policy efforts, we aim to make the healthy choice, the easy choice.

Partners

As a partnership, Healthy West Chicago is a ground-breaking collaboration among community organizations committed to improving the health of West Chicagoans. Our Action Plan is based on extensive community input and guidance from technical experts. The Action Plan will guide our work for the next 5-10 years.

Healthy West Chicago is currently funded with generous support from Northwestern Medicine, the City of West Chicago and WeGo Together for Kids through their partnership with the United Way of DuPage/West Cook and Metropolitan Family Services. Healthy West Chicago’s fiscal agent is People Made Visible, a West Chicago 501(c)(3) whose mission is to foster community through dynamic cultural and social programming.

We are back! This year we are offering both a LIVE and a VIRTUAL option for our event! During your registration process you will get to choose which option you would like.

Live Race will start and finish at Reed Keppler Park by the ARC Center. Certified course on the Prairie Path! Registration will be near Zone250 at Reed-Keppler Park west of the ARC Center. Please park at Turtle Splash.

Pre Race Day Packet Pick Up: Thursday, August 19th from 5-7PM at Zone 250

**Must register by August 9th to be guaranteed your shirt size.

Age Groups and Award Categories:

5K:

One Overall Male and One Overall Female Winner

Age groups: One male/female winner in the following age groups:

10 & under

11 - 14

15 - 19

20 - 29

30 - 39

40 - 49

50 - 59

60 & over

Virtual Race: You can complete your virtual run anytime that weekend! Virtual participants are not eligible for age group awards. Please see details below on how to participate virtually!

All proceeds from the race will be used for Healthy West Chicago sustainability and continuation of community programing for West Chicago residents.

A special thank you to all of our generous sponsors!

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Community Sponsors

Race Day Safety Guidelines:

Please understand our goal is to provide a family friendly, fun event where everyone can “Come and Run/Walk Safely”.

With that in mind, please observe the following guidelines;

• If you have a fever, are feeling ill or have been in recent contact with someone unrecovered from COVID-19, please do NOT come to the event.

• Per the Illinois Department of Public Health recommendations, it is requested a face mask or face covering be worn by everyone when not on the race course and social distancing should be observed.

• NO SPITTING! Participants should carry their own tissues or hand towel for spitting, blowing nose, wiping sweat, etc., before, during and after their race.

• If family members or friends are attending the event with you, they must wear a face mask at all times and we ask that the do not congregate around the finish area.

• Unless you are with someone living in the same household, participants should not engage in traditional forms of physical contact such as handshakes, high-fives, hugs, partner stretching, etc.

• Water stations on the course and finish lines will be self serve. Volunteers will not be handing out water to eliminate contact.

The following must be followed at all times by all participants:

• Maintain Social Distancing
• Stay home if filling ill
• Use hand sanitizing stations
• Wear Masks
• Agree to temperature checks

Participants whose actions do not meet the above expectations, and/or are creating a risk for themselves or others, will be asked to leave the event.

Want to be a part of our event....but just can't make it? Run with us virtually!

Your shirt will be available for pick up during our pre race day packet pick up on Thursday, August 19 at Zone 250 from 5P-7P.

Below are details on running our virtual race!

• Run anytime between on the weekend of August 21-22, 2021.
• Choose your own course
• Most importantly….have fun and enjoy the time outside!

Follow these easy steps to prepare for your tracking:

TRACKING STEPS 1. Download the ASICS Runkeeper™ app to your phone and create an account or scroll down to log into an existing account 2. Follow this link and click "Start Virtual Run" button to add the Healthy West Chicago 5K Run to your in-app virtual events 3. To record your run between August 21 and August 22, simply click the flag icon in your app, select the Shamrock Shuffle 5K and follow prompts to start recording Once you have completed your 5k distance in the app, save your workout and it will automatically post to Race Roster results. (This step must be followed from your mobile device)

VIEWING AND POSTING MANUAL RESULTS If you plan to record using another software or tracking device or post manually from what is recorded on your watch, simply head here and "Submit Virtual Result" between August 21 and August 22, 2021 .

FAQS:
- To record with tracking on the ASICS Runkeeper™ app, you will need to run or walk with your phone or with a connected wearable (see instructions below)
- You do not have to track with these technologies, it is optional!
- More detailed end-to-end instructions (with images) for using the ASICS Runkeeper™ app to track your virtual event are linked here
- Instructions to link a recent activity recorded on a FitBit, Garmin, or Apple Watch linked here
- Steps to connect your FitBit, Garmin, or Apple Watch to the Runkeeper™ app are linked here
- Steps to manually post your results on Race Roster (not using the app) are linked here

If you have any technical questions, please reply to this email and the Race Roster team will support you. Take pictures out there! get creative with your finish line - share your images and stories with us in the Facebook group and tag us on social!

We look forward to seeing your name on the results board!

This year we are offering gift incentives with your donations!

• $25 - $50: Healthy West Chicago Measuring Spoon Set
• $51 - $75: Healthy West Chicago T-Shirt
• $76 - $200: Healthy West Chicago Apron
• $201+: Healthy West Chicago Activity Tracker