It's race time!


If you have not yet picked up your race packet, you can do so on race morning between 7am and 8:30am at the race site.



Start collecting goods for the food pantry.

Help us support the Evanston Vineyard Food Pantry and bring items to donate to the race. Items the food pantry needs most are listed below.

About Endeavor Health


Endeavor Health℠ is a Chicagoland-based integrated health system driven by our mission to help everyone in our communities be their best. As Illinois' third largest health system and second largest medical group, we proudly serve an area of more than 4.2 million residents across six northeast Illinois counties. Our more than 27,000 team members and more than 7,100 physician and advance practice provider partners are the heart of our organization, delivering seamless access to personalized, pioneering, world-class patient care across more than 300 ambulatory locations and nine hospitals, including eight Magnet-recognized acute care hospitals – Edward (Naperville), Elmhurst, Evanston, Glenbrook (Glenview), Highland Park, Northwest Community (Arlington Heights), Skokie and Swedish (Chicago), and Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital (Naperville). For more information, visit endeavorhealth.org


Donate your old shoes at the race.



The Evanston Running Club will once again be collecting old shoes at their tent on race morning. Bring along old shoes of any size and condition to be donated.

RACE WEEK INFO:

 

Below you will find all the information you'll need for race day.

 

WHERE/ WHEN/ HOW: 

 

WHERE: 

Arrington Lagoon, south end of Centennial Park, Evanston. Located on Sheridan Rd, at Church, just south of the Northwestern campus. 

 

IMPORTANT: If you are picking up your race packet on race morning, plan on arriving around an hour before race time to give yourself enough time to park, pick up your packet, and get ready to run. The later you arrive, the longer the lines may be, so be sure to arrive early! If you have already picked up your packet, we recommend arriving about 45 minutes before race time.


Race day packet pick-up is from 7am to 8:30am.

 

WHEN:

Race time is at 9:00am. Second wave at approx 9:03am. Walker wave will start shortly after.

 

IMPORTANT: If you plan on running slower than a 29:00 overall time, you should line up in the second wave. (If you plan on running faster than that time, you should line up in the first wave.) The waves will be done by honor system, so please line yourself up accordingly. Wave 2 will be walked to the start line after the first wave has started and will have a second air horn when it is time to start. Your timing chip will not start until you cross the starting mats. We will have signs out with paces on them to help you determine where you should line up for the start of the race. 

 

If you are walking the 5k, please line up in the Walker Wave at the back. There will be a sign to direct you. The Walker Wave will follow behind Wave 2 to the start line.


If you are pushing a stroller, please line up at the back of your respective wave for the safety of the participants around you.

 

DIRECTIONS: 

Directions and parking info can be found HERE.

 

If you did not pick up your race packet before race morning, we recommend arriving before 8:00am in order to have enough time to park, pick-up your packet, stretch, and check your gear. The later you arrive, the fewer parking spaces there will be that are close to the start line and the longer the line to pick up your packet will be. Please plan accordingly. If you have picked-up your race packet ahead of time, we recommend arriving about 45 minutes before race time.

 

COURSE: 

A course map can be found HERE. Remember, we have a new course this year due to the temporary stadium on Northwestern's campus.

 

The start line is on Sheridan at Church. The course will head north on Sheridan before going west on Lincoln, and south on Orrington. There will be a 180 degree turn on Orrington and participants will then head north, before circling Long Field, and heading south on Sheridan. The course will cut off the street and onto the Evanston bike path and Clark and then finish on the Evanston bike path, just south of Church.

 

There will be arrow signs and course marshals along the course to guide the way.

There are no dogs, bikes, or rollerblades allowed in the race. If you are pushing a stroller, you must start in the back of your wave at the start. No exceptions.

 

TIMING: 

Your timing chip will be attached to the race bib. Do not remove the timing chip. No chip = no time.

 

Pin the race bib flat on your front and on the outermost layer. Do not crumple or bend the timing chip before pinning it on. Make sure your bib is on your outermost layer and/or be sure to unzip your jacket when crossing the timing matts if covered up. If your bib is covered up, it may not register over the timing mats and you won't get your time.


GEAR CHECK: 

Gear Check will be located in the Arrington Lagoon Pavilion, at the rear doors. Look for the GEAR CHECK flag. If you wish you check any of your gear, please remove the "Gear Check" tag from your race bib and pin it to the bag you will be checking. Hand it to the gear check volunteers at the shelter. You can retrieve your gear after the race by showing the volunteers your race bib. Pinning your "gear check" tag to your bag before you get in line is recommended.

 

Please do not check any items of high value. We are not responsible for any lost items.


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

If you know someone that would like to volunteer on race day, we can always use an additional hand or two. We will be in need of additional course marshals and gear check workers. Anyone that would like to volunteer can email us at flyingturkey5k@gmail.com or go to the volunteer check-in table at the rear of the shelter to get an assignment. All volunteers receive our winter hats!

 

AID STATION: 

There will be an aid station with water located just before the 2 mile mark.

 

Keep Evanston clean! Please be sure to use the trash receptacles for any garbage.

 

BEAT THE TURKEY CHALLENGE: 

Back again is our Beat The Turkey Challenge. Anyone that crosses the finish line before our Flying Turkey will receive an "I Beat The Turkey" button.

 

Runners must cross the finish line before The Turkey to receive a button. Chip times do not count. Our Official Turkey will carry a sign indicating it is him, so you don't get him confused with any other runners that might be dressed up and on course. (He will run the race somewhere around 21 minutes, so get your fastest shoes on.) The Turkey will start in the first wave. 

 

POST RACE:

After the race, you will find water and snacks back at the Arrington Pond Shelter. They are in two separate areas to help the line move a little faster.

 

RESULTS AND AWARDS: 

Results will be posted online HERE right after the race.

 

We will have an awards ceremony for the top three finishers in the male, female, and non-binary categories. After that, Age Group Awards can be picked up at the announcer's tent, roughly 10:15. If you think you won an Age Group Award, go to the tent and they will verify you earned one and give you your ribbon. The Awards Ceremony will be for top three overall males, females, and non-binary only. The Awards Ceremony will start around 10:15am. If you won an award but were not able to pick it up, we will mail your award to you.

 

The top three overall males, females, and non-binary will receive plaques. The top three finishers in each male and female age group will receive a ribbon. Age groups are in five-year divisions from 14 and under to 85 and above. For awards, the top three male, female, and non-binary runners will be determined by gun time and age group awards will be determined by chip time. 


OLD HATS:

Do you need a replacement for one of our previous winter hats or did you miss a year that we had a design you loved? We will have winter hats from previous years available at the race site for $5 each. Cash only.