Join #BigfootNation by getting out of the house and going for a ride. Sign up to support US food banks and get the commemorative shirt mailed straight to your door. Ride free and solo on a route of your choice and connect with our national community of motorcyclists by posting to our Facebook event page and using #BigfootMotorcycleRide.
Who are we? We are All Community Events and organizing great events is our passion. Each year we organize over 100 events, in over 40 different states for over 200,000 participants. You can find us on Facebook,Instagram or at our main website, AllCommunityEvents.com.
During the registration process, participants can choose to donate to Children’s Hunger Alliance, Hunger Task Force, Mid-South Food Bank, and/or Whole Again. Participants can select one food bank or they can split their donation evenly among all the food banks.
TEXT MESSAGE OPTION: If you enabled text messaging during registration you can text your results to “49514” using the formats below. Please note there are different text formats depending on which event option you selected.
5K Text format: MOM5K bibnumber hh:mm:ss Example: MOM5K 352 00:34:56
10K Text format: MOM10K bibnumber hh:mm:ss Example: MOM10K 352 00:34:56
-To register, click on the register button at the top of the page. -Your t-shirt will be mailed to the address you sign up with during registration. It will ship out on 5/5.
For more information contact us at: Email: info@allcommunityevents.com
Office hours: M – F from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CST *We may not be in the office due to the COVID-19 Crisis
We know you are busy training for the upcoming St. Paddy’s Double weekend on March 14th & March 15th (Deer Park St. Paddy’s 5K/10K on Saturday, March 14th and the AMITA Health Bolingbrook St. Paddy’s Half Marathon/5K on Sunday, March 15th) and we want to keep those feet happy and healthy. As your training ramps up, you might notice new blisters on your toes that were never there before. The freeze-thaw cycle of the Midwest certainly doesn’t help with wet gym shoes as you embark on your training runs. Follow these quick and easy tips to make the best out of your blisters until they go away once and for all:
If You Already Have a Blister:
1. Carefully disinfect the blister and cover it up with a Band-Aid
Pro tip: Put some Vaseline on the blisters to it doesn’t stick to the band aid when you take it off (ouch!).
2. Wear the thickest socks that you can find you fit into your shoes
The thicker the sock the smaller the chance of your shoe rubbing against your blister or causing another one entirely. We recommend Balega socks as they are specifically padded to prevent rubbing on common blister areas.
3. Soak the Foot in Epsom Salts
That will draw the fluid out of the blister and help it to deflate naturally.
To Prevent Another Blister
1. Wear New Running Shoes Around Your House
Then you can be sure how they affect your feet and what they feel like. This will also break them in so your feet don’t cramp and swell on your first long run with the new shoes.
2. Buy Running Socks
The right running socks in your size will completely reduce friction and help circulation and blood flow. Our favorite brands are Balega and Nike.
3. Avoid Running through Water
Extra moisture makes the skin softer which makes it easier for a blister to form. Though this can be impossible at the end of winter in the Midwest, try your best to run around puddles instead of through them.
4. Wear Shoes That Fit
If your shoes are too big or too small, they will rub in new places on your feet. This friction will create new blisters and will make it even more difficult to get the shoes back on for a second go-around.
Blisters can make running seem impossible and painful, but just know that crossing the finish line in March will make it all worth it!
Winter Training in the Midwest is an Extreme Sport
By: Alexandria Seavey
Running an outdoor race in March can be tricky in the Midwest, to say the least. One day it might be 65 degrees and the following day you might be digging your car out of a snowbank. How are we supposed to know what to wear to a race when our weather is so unpredictable at this time of year? There is only one answer:
Layers.
I don’t mean put on 20 shirts like Joey in that episode of Friends, though you might trend on Instagram if you do that. Think of yourself as a sandwich, you need layers in order to be your best.
Base layer. This is the layer closest to your body that you will not take off for the duration of the race. Great options are Under Armor, a long-sleeve tec shirt, or if you’re naturally warm blooded, you can even use a tight tank top to do the trick. This layer doesn’t need to break the bank. Check out Kohl’s Tek-Gear line or Old Navy’s workout line if you’re not interested in the more expensive brands.
Mid-Layer. This is the hardest-working layer. It is important that this layer includes some insulation that will contain the heat your body creates while you’re in the race. My favorite mid-layer is my Nike Running vest. It is very thin so it is not heavy, but the thermal insulation keeps my core warm as I move. Another option is to layer a thermal t-shirt over your long-sleeve base layer if you are not in-vested in the vest idea.
Outer Layer: This is your water-proof, snow proof, wind proof, Midwest weather-proof layer. It is your shell that will protect you from getting wet or harsh winds. Make sure it can breathe – a windbreaker jacket is ideal. Avoid heavy winter jackets such as long parkas or thick jackets that won’t allow sweat and heat to escape. If you need to lose this layer as you run, drop it off at a water station and ask the volunteers to bring it back to the finish line for you. They’ll drop it off at the announcer tent and you can pick it up after the race.
Don’t forget!
Thin, running gloves. I have incredibly poor circulation in my hands, so the first thing to turn purple on me is my fingers. It puts me in a bad mood and not to mention I can’t use my phone! If you like to change your music/text when you run, be sure to bring gloves with “hot fingers” that allow you to touch your screen.
Warm Leggings or Double Leggings. Instead of spending money on wool leggings, I am a big fan of throwing on 2 pairs of sport leggings on cold days. I already have them in my closet and it feels like exact same as wearing a single pair.
Head gear. If you have long hair, check out the hats that have holes in the top for your ponytail. Keeping your head warm will allow most of the heat to be retained by your body and will keep your body and muscles warm as you run. They cost only about $10 at Kohl’s. Ear muffs are another great option but do not offer as much warmth as a hat.
Socks. It sounds simple, but it is easy to forget that this is a crucial part of staying warm. Be sure to wear longer socks that will cover your ankles from the wind and any precipitation on the ground.
One Last Thing…
If you want to be able to be tagged in those sweet post race photos, make sure you keep your bib on your outermost layer!
Long Grove Turkey Trot 5k/8k Run/Walk- November 2019
By: Krista Volk, All Community Events Ambassador
It was a beautiful, brisk morning for a Turkey Trot! It was roughly 33 degrees out, with no sun in sight! Luckily the wind had died down greatly from the gusts the night prior. So many families attended this amazing, well-run event. Many young children were eager to run the kids dash that started at 8:30am, ten minutes before the 8k kicked off. So many excited faces as they crossed the finish line. Having the kids dash is a great way to incorporate kids of all ages, and to promote the love of running.
The 8k began at 8:40am. Over 700 smiling faces lined up in their corrals a few minutes prior to start. A great turnout of over 2200 racers for the 5k waited patiently for their race to start. The 5k had two different start times based on pace. The quicker group started at 8:50am and the second group started at 9am. The race was accommodating to runners, walkers, and strollers. The course was scenic, went through neighborhoods, passed beautiful houses in Long Grove. It was primarily a flat course, which many appreciate! Families were spectating at the ends of their driveways and cheering for the runners on different corners throughout the course. There were a few areas where the course was very narrow and racers had to be single file. Towards the finish, the 8k and 5k merged back together to head towards the finish.
The crowds cheering as the racers near the finish line!
Each finisher received an amazing apple cinnamon donut, and cider, along with water to rehydrate, and a celebratory beer for the 21 and over participants! Runners spent time before and after the race taking pictures with their families and friends in front of the giant blow- up turkey! There was a great live band playing at the finish, so some stuck around to listen to them. Others headed to the Village Tavern then to gather and enjoy their beers with others!
#TurkeyTradition
The Top Finishers were as follows:
5k Men
1st: Tyler Polak, 18, of Wheeling finished in 16:02
2nd: Paddy Furlong, 18, of Barrington finished in 16:23
3rd: Noah Kadera, 29, of Brookfield finished in 17:08
5k Women
1st: Christine Pacewicz, 28, of Saginaw, MI finished in 18:55
2nd: Megan Janezic, 28, of Libertyville finished in 19:14
3rd: Angela Epifano, 27, of Barrington finished in 19:26
8k Men
1st: Ryan Moncrieff, 26, of Columbus, OH finished in 26:00
2nd: Jeff Glatz, 20, of Barrington finished in 27:22
3rd: Peter Coffey, 27, of Chicago finished in 27:40
8k Women
1st: Bree Bogucki, 22, of Cary finished in 32:45
2nd: Grace O’Connell, 13, of Lake Zurich finished in 33:14
3rd: Annie Jensen, 41 of Denver, CO finished in 35:05
