Flossmoor Plans New Half-Marathon For September

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Move over North Shore, Oak Brook and Magnificent Mile half-marathons — there's a new race in town. Flossmoor will be holding its first race, The Hidden Gem, in September to show that the sleepy south suburb is the best place to live (and run!).

The Hidden Gem Half Marathon is the first major project coming from Flossmoor’s Future, a nonprofit group that advocates for the vitality of the village. It is designed to build a sense of community pride and to signal to Chicagoans that Flossmoor is an attractive suburb to live, work and play in — a "hidden gem," said Tom Dobrez, one of the event's organizers.

"It’s just been a real adventure so far and once idea start to germinate, it was like a snowball going downhill with everybody jumping on board," he said.

Flossmoor Station, for example, will brew a special "Hidden Gem" beer just for the occasion.

The race route is certified, sanctioned and publicized by the Chicago Runner’s Association, and it was designed by Nicholas Quirke of Homewood. It will take runners past every church, school, park and Flossmoor attraction, including the village's famous sculpture garden.

So far, Dobrez said, people from three states, including New York, have signed up for the race. At least 500 runners are expected to hit the streets that day.

The race will be held Saturday, September 7, timed to coincide with training schedules for runners preparing for the Chicago marathon.

If you're not running the marathon, maybe the Hidden Gem's swag bag will entice you. Dobrez promises it's the swag bag to end all swag bags, and will offer a high-end, zip-up hoodie, discounts for local restaurants and shops, and a free beer from Flossmoor Station.

"We're going to blow this away," he said.

For more information or to register, visit HiddenGemHalf.com.