Fox River Beckons as Registration Opens for Mid-Am Race

I always pause each winter while crossing the Fox River on the Illinois Avenue Bridge. Whether looking north or south, an expanse of ice and snow cover the river.

The view is cold but quite peaceful, and a vision of contrasts to what the river will look like on the first Sunday in June, when a brigade of canoes and kayaks will be splashing through happily.

For 50 years, the Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race has celebrated the Fox River as a recreational resource. An estimated 44,000 paddlers have taken part in this historic event since it first launched in 1961. The memories are magical, and new ones are always in the making.

The ice has vanished in recent weeks, and the ol’ waterway looks welcoming once again as the Mid-Am prepares for its 51st running on June 3. Amid long-held traditions and new features, this race, like the paddlers it hosts, continues to evolve.

Registration has begun, and the early birds are already locked in. One-stop sign-up is available at www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Once again, as it has since 2009, the Mid-Am will offer two race lengths, with a 10-mile course starting in St. Charles and a six-mile race beginning in Batavia. Both routes finish at the Illinois Avenue Bridge with a riverside celebration and lunch party at beautiful McCullough Park.

Appealing to a wide range of abilities is a top priority. From first-timers to 30-year veterans, the Mid-Am strives to strike a balance between easy-going recreation and hard-core competition.

Early heats starting in St. Charles are “racers-only” heats in order to give competitive racers free run of the course to avoid potential crowding in tight spots and portages. Those who are less experienced at being on the river—such as first-time paddlers and young families—can start later and travel at a more leisurely pace. 

Also, continuing a new wrinkle, the Mid-Am will have staff and volunteers offering assistance to paddlers who request help at the three portages: dams in Geneva, Batavia and North Aurora. There is a catch, though; assistance will only be provided to those in the open (non-competitive) division.

Offering to help carry boats will make things easier for those who request assistance. Generally, paddlers in the open division sign up simply to enjoy the river experience and the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, those racing for awards (all other divisions) are on their own at the portages, so there is no perceived advantage given to one team over another.

There’s the added convenience pre-race packet pickup, too. All paddlers who register before May 30 can obtain their boat sticker, lunch ticket, goodie bag and T-shirt during designated times on Friday and Saturday (June 1 & 2) at the Prisco Community Center.

For the last two years, the Mid-Am has offered boat rental packages that have been immensely popular and helped encourage folks to get involved in this great event. You can’t beat the convenience of showing up, having a boat and gear waiting for you and then leaving it at the finish line while you enjoy lunch.

Speaking of food, paddlers and spectators alike will enjoy a variety of offerings at the finish line party. While each paddler receives lunch as part of his/her registration, local vendors also will be on hand selling hot dogs, hamburgers, sub sandwiches, popcorn and other favorites.

It’s all in celebration of one great, shared, recreational resource—the Fox River—and the people who enjoy it.

Jeff Long is the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District. Contact him at jlong@fvpd.net