This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Swinging Bridge 8K Trail Race

The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Running Club and Lake Forest Open Lands are proud to host the Swinging Bridge 8K Trail Race on Saturday September 21st.  We expect to have around 250 runners from the local suburbs as well as the entire Chicagoland area come out to participate in this unique event. Event information is available at www.lflb.org.

The trail race will take place on the Derwen Mawr prairie, part of the Skokie River Nature Preserve in Lake Forest. This preserve consists of woodlands, oak-hickory savannas, sedge meadows, and pockets of original prairies and wetlands. The landscape is so rare that it has become part of the Illinois Nature Preserve system, an organization that protects the last remnants of our state’s natural heritage.

This event benefits the Center for Conservation Leadership (CCL) - a Lake Forest Open Lands Association youth program for middle and high school students.  Of special note is that this 8K race will be a Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) certified "Green" race.  As a model for the community the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Running Club will strive to reduce the environmental impact through green practices: compostable food-service items, everything used must be reusable or recyclable, virtual goody bags and shirts made of recycled material.  

Find out what's happening in Lake Forest-Lake Bluffwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

 

Find out what's happening in Lake Forest-Lake Bluffwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Event name:                     Swinging Bridge 8K Trail Race

   Event date and time:         Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 8:00 AM

 Event type:                       8K

                           

Event address:                  95 W. Deerpath Road; Lake Forest, IL 60045  view map

                                             Race contact:                    racedirector@lflb.org

Website:                           lflb.org 

 

 

Registration:                     $35

Website:                           lflb.org 

 

Description:     The 8K Run will be a community event run on a beautiful scenic trail of the Lake Forest Open Lands Area in Lake Forest, Illinois. The trail race will take place on the Derwen Mawr Prairie, part of the Skokie River Nature Preserve. This preserve consists of woodlands, oak-hickory savannas, sedge meadows, and pockets of original prairies and wetlands. The landscape is so rare that it has become part of the Illinois Nature Preserve system, an organization that protects the last remnants of our state’s natural heritage. The event will be a Green race meaning that there will be no harm to the area and everything about the race will be managed ecologically. A purpose of the run will be to introduce the runners and walkers to the Open Lands and the pleasure of running in such bucolic surroundings.

Race proceeds will benefit the Center for Conservation Leadership (CCL) a Lake Forest Open Lands Association youth program for middle and high school students from diverse backgrounds with a keen interest in the environment and a passion for the outdoors with the goal of teaching students to learn how to become a steward of the environment.

The Lake Forest Lake Bluff  (LFLB) Running Club will strive to reduce the environmental impact through green practices: compostable food-service items, everything used must be reusable or recyclable, virtual goody bags and shirts made of recycled material.

                                            

Event features:

-  T Shirt               

-  Course Certified  

-  Event Timed  

-  Raffle                 

           

 

Post race activities:

-  Food and Drinks

-  Awards 

                              

Course maps:           8K Run

                                       

Directions to start:    Race begins behind Deerpath Middle School, 95 W. Deerpath, Lake Forest

                                             

Parking:    Parking is available at the Lake Forest City lot on Oakwood Avenue (two blocks East of Deerpath Middle School), North of Deerpath Rd. We encourage participants to bicycle to the race, car-pool, or use pubic transportation. Bicycle racks are available at the Start area. Metra Station is 0.6 mi from Start.                                         

Awards info:     Age Group awards will be presented to the first three finishers in each age group.                                         

Additional Info:     This is a trail race and will have some uneven surfaces. In addition, the race will have an open field cross-country style start.                                                                    

Packet pickup:     Race Packets will be available on Sep 19  and Sep 20 from 3:00-5:30 PM at Kiddle's Sporting Goods 258 Market Square, Lake Forest. In person registration will also be available at that time.                                  

                               

 HIGHLIGHTS OF RACE EVENTS

– An 8K community race to encourage fitness in a unique and rare prairie setting.

– Benefiting the Chicagoland running community - We have partnered with the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) the largest running organization in the Midwest and the third largest in the nation with nearly 9,000 members, and the primary source for recreational running and racing in Chicagoland.

– U.S.A. Track & Field Sanctioned Race.

– CARA certified Green Race.

– Serve as a model for best environmental practices for a green trail run.

– Increase community awareness of Lake Forest Open Lands and its trails.

– Increase the visibility of the LFLB Running Club within the community

– Proceeds will benefit the Center for Conservation Leadership.

– All volunteer race and event management, with participation by the Center for Conservation Leadership, LFLB Running Club, Lake Forest College and Lake Forest High School.

 

race website: http://www.runningguru.com/EventInformation.asp?eID=5845

 

club website: http://www.lflb.org/

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?