New Pride 5K to get Chicago's Pride Weekend off to a running start
Thu. May 8, 2014 8:15 AM by Anthony Morgano
Chicago, IL -
Registration is currently open for the Pride 5K -- a brand new night race and party by Star Events set to kick off Pride Weekend on Thursday, June 26. The new 5K is as much, if not more, about having a good time as it is about running and aims to bring in the "evening crowd" not normally given to traditional morning marathons.
"Star Events has spent the past 16 years dedicated to raising money and awareness for community groups and local, nonprofit organizations," Aaron Brost, President of Ro-Bro who's handling the event's PR, told ChicagoPride.com. "We wanted to create a 'fun run' to kick off PRIDE week and to further unite the community -- which also aligns well with the mission at Center on Halsted."
Proceeds from the race will benefit the new LGBT Senior Center, a joint project of Center on Halsted and Heartland Housing set to open in Boystown later this year. The race itself kicks off at 7:30 p.m. near the Lakefront at Fullerton and Cannon Drive.
Following the race, runners and supporters alike can head over to Diversey Harbor for a post-race party featuring DJ Adam LeBlanc of the local festival-favorite band Sixteen Candles. The party is open to all and set to last until 10 p.m., at which point the crowd will make its way to the patio at D.S. Tequila, 3352 N. Halsted.
Interested particpants can register at Pride5K.com until the day before the race. The $50 individual registration fee includes a limited edition t-shirt designed by Chicago's own Borris Powell of Borris Powell Designs as well as coupons and gifts donated by local area businesses and two drink tickets for the post-race party. The Pride 5K is also turning up the fun by encouraging folks to register with a partner, or +1 -- pairs will each receive a special $5 registration discount.
"Much in the same way folks bring a +1 to a party, we saw this concept as way to double the fun on race day!" Brost said.
Packet pick-up with take place on Friday, June 20, between 6 and 10 p.m. and Saturday, June 21, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., in the lobby of the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Organizers are still looking for volunteers as well as additional sponsors -- interested parties can contact Michelle Krag at Star Events, michelle@starevents.com, for more information.
In addition to the new Pride 5K, Proud to Run, the annual 5K and 10K race organized by the Frontrunners/Frontwalkers club, takes place the morning of June 28.
Information and registration for Pride 5K is at www.iloveruns.com/pride-5k. Information and registration for Proud to Run is at www.proudtorun.org.
Calendar: Pride 5K, Thursday, June 26 | Proud to Run, Saturday, June 28
"Star Events has spent the past 16 years dedicated to raising money and awareness for community groups and local, nonprofit organizations," Aaron Brost, President of Ro-Bro who's handling the event's PR, told ChicagoPride.com. "We wanted to create a 'fun run' to kick off PRIDE week and to further unite the community -- which also aligns well with the mission at Center on Halsted."
Proceeds from the race will benefit the new LGBT Senior Center, a joint project of Center on Halsted and Heartland Housing set to open in Boystown later this year. The race itself kicks off at 7:30 p.m. near the Lakefront at Fullerton and Cannon Drive.
Following the race, runners and supporters alike can head over to Diversey Harbor for a post-race party featuring DJ Adam LeBlanc of the local festival-favorite band Sixteen Candles. The party is open to all and set to last until 10 p.m., at which point the crowd will make its way to the patio at D.S. Tequila, 3352 N. Halsted.
Interested particpants can register at Pride5K.com until the day before the race. The $50 individual registration fee includes a limited edition t-shirt designed by Chicago's own Borris Powell of Borris Powell Designs as well as coupons and gifts donated by local area businesses and two drink tickets for the post-race party. The Pride 5K is also turning up the fun by encouraging folks to register with a partner, or +1 -- pairs will each receive a special $5 registration discount.
"Much in the same way folks bring a +1 to a party, we saw this concept as way to double the fun on race day!" Brost said.
Packet pick-up with take place on Friday, June 20, between 6 and 10 p.m. and Saturday, June 21, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., in the lobby of the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Organizers are still looking for volunteers as well as additional sponsors -- interested parties can contact Michelle Krag at Star Events, michelle@starevents.com, for more information.
In addition to the new Pride 5K, Proud to Run, the annual 5K and 10K race organized by the Frontrunners/Frontwalkers club, takes place the morning of June 28.
Information and registration for Pride 5K is at www.iloveruns.com/pride-5k. Information and registration for Proud to Run is at www.proudtorun.org.
Calendar: Pride 5K, Thursday, June 26 | Proud to Run, Saturday, June 28