Darien Dash Moves Forward, Despite Concerns

DARIEN, IL — While many running events are canceled, the Darien Dash is planned for August. This week, a divided Darien City Council approved the use of city streets for the annual event.

"It's a little tone-deaf to say we're going to do the Darien Dash when everyone else is canceling," Alderman Tom Chlystek said at Monday's council meeting.

He said runners are next to each other during a race, which violates social distancing.

In response, Alderman Joseph Kenny said Chlystek had no problem going to a car show.

Chlystek said that was different.

"Are you running at a car show? Have you run a half-marathon? It's tough. You're exhausted," he said.

Mayor Joseph Marchese said the Darien Chamber of Commerce, which is holding the event, has had a tough year and it is hurting. If the pandemic worsens, the mayor said, the city may have to pull the Darien Dash permit. "They may want to think of an alternative fundraiser," he said.

In a letter to the city, the chamber said it had been in contact with its race timing company, which said social distancing could be achieved by having participants schedule their individual start times before the event.

When city officials were asked where runners would be staged before the race, they had no details.

That didn't sit well with Kenny.

"I'm concerned that a minute ago, you said you didn't know how many people they were going to stage," Kenny said to the mayor. "I don't mean to call you out on it, but up until then, I was leaning for this. If we don't know what the protocol is and how they are going to stage that many people, I think we really need to know what that is going forward. I have a really bad feeling about not knowing all the details on this."

By a 4-3 vote, the council voted to approve Darien Dash's permit. In support were Ted Schauer, Mary Sullivan, Eric Gustafson and Tom Belczak. Chlystek, Kenny and Lester Vaughan were the dissenters.

The Darien Dash was canceled in May because of the pandemic, but rescheduled for Aug. 23. It is in its 20th year. This year's event is set to include 1-mile, 5K and 10K races.