A sunny, windy Saturday morning was the backdrop for the new Lakeshore Shuffle 5K Run and Walk, sponsored by Evanston’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Amanda D’Agostino, special events coordinator for the department, said she was encouraged by the level of participation for the new event, which saw 152 registrants.
“For a first time 5K, I think we did great,” she said. The 5-kilometer distance is roughly 3.1 miles. All participants who managed to cross the finish line received a medal.
The route ran along the lakefront from the Arrington Lagoon area down to Lee Street and back. It’s roughly the same course used for the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate that will be held in June this year, except that race has an extension to allow for a 10K option.
Many participants in this event are veterans of the Race Against Hate.
Some participants, like Flo Dinny, “just started running recently.” Many people alternated between walking and running. “This is the third (race) I’ve ever done,” said Cindy Hicks, who settled for “somewhere in the middle” of shuffling and running.
More seasoned runners, such as Rasmus Jensen, appreciated the “nice, flat” route used for the race. Jensen has done competitive running “on and off” for about 10 years. Asked if it was a generally easy run, he said that it “depends on what you want to make it. I have a time in mind I want to make.”
D’Agostino said that the city wants to hold more events that encourage competitive physical activity.
“We do a lot of events, but none of them are physical activity events,” she said. While the city does sponsor events like the Zombie Scramble, a Halloween-themed event that involves running, those are usually part of an observance that is not related to physical competition.
“We wanted to do an athletic event that was timed…we’re trying to do more of these athletic competition events.”
Another trash-sport event created by the Parks Department to violate the lakefront and disturb the neighborhood. Was this event cleared by the City Council and discussed with residents before it was approved? I got a notice in the mail two days beforehand. The new parks director seems determined to build up her job by ruining the natural character of the lakefront without consideration or approval. And did the lakefront aldermen approve this event? If so, shame on them! They are violating their pledge to protect the lakefront. Stop the new parks director before she dumps her bad ideas on the lakefront again!