Annual Harvest 5K Run Steps Off Sunday

Downtown Plainfield will be abuzz Sunday morning with more than 1,000 competitors in races for adults and kids plus post-race festivities at the Village Green and Tap House Grill.

The 13^th annual Edward Plainfield Harvest 5k Run/Walk “is a great day, a great family event with the Joliet Slammers mascot, a DJ, sponsors’ tent and pizza,” said race director Dave Jones, a Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce board member, Chicago Marathon runner and co-owner of Overman-Jones Funeral Home in downtown Plainfield. “The kids’ race has really brought a lot of life to the event.”

The 5K, which has age categories from 14 and under through 80 and older, is a flat course with split times that starts and ends at the Village Green, , located a block south of Lockport Street, between Des Plaines and Fox River streets.

The Meijer Kidz Miler, which typically draws 250 participants, is open to ages 6 to 12

The Meijer Kidz Miler begins at 8 a.m., with the 5K following at 9 a.m., at the Village Green.

Registration will be from 6:45 to 8:45 a.m. The cost is $35 per adult and $12 per child. Members of the Chicago Area Runners Association receive a $5 discount while chamber and Plainfield Soccer Association members receive a $2 discount.

For the 5k, the top male and female runners win cash prizes and DNA running shoes. For the Meijer Kidz Miler, the top winners in each age group will get a medal while other participants will receive ribbons.

“Everyone is excited to have this event again and each year it gets bigger,” said Debbie Slutzky, kids’ race director, a chamber member and owner of the home-based business Nutrition and Health Counseling. “It promotes health and wellness for families in Plainfield.”

Following the 5k and kids’ race, festivities at the Village Green will include complimentary pizza from Aurelio’s, music and freebies from sponsors, which include DuPage Medical Group, Rasmussen College, Diageo Global Supply and WERV-FM (95.9) in addition to Meijer and namesake Edward Plainfield.

Race participants also will receive complimentary food and drinks at the Tap House Grill, 22402 W. Lockport St., Plainfield.

Last year was the first time the kids’ race was chip-timed, which turned out to be a plus.

“The kids see the adult race being timed and adults looking online to see where we rank and they like to know how they are doing in the race, too,” she said. “It makes it more exciting and more like the 5k.”

Kids’ goody bags, included with the registration fee, include promotional items from sponsors and a Meijer T-shirt designed by a contest winner. Meijer also supplies water and bananas for racers. Kids registered in advance can pick up their packets from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Meijer, 13521 S. Route 59, Plainfield.

 “I have kids who are active and I’m always trying to get them involved in local events,” said Slutzky, a marathon runner herself whose twin daughters will compete in the Meijer race. “One is looking to win while the other just wants to participate.”

For 5K participants registered in advance, packets may be picked up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Edward Plainfield, 24600 W. 127^th St., Plainfield.

More than 1,300 runners participated last year. About $15,000 was donated to the Plainfield Area Interfaith Food Pantry, Green Harvest Food Pantry, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA and Plainfield Emergency Management Agency, Jones said.

Parking will be available at Plainfield High School Central Campus on Fort Beggs Drive.

For more details, call the chamber at (815) 436-4431 or visit www.plainfieldharvest5K.com.