Chicago Racing Events | October 2016

When you think of October, what images come to mind? Do you think of Halloween and finding, or making, just the right costume? Perhaps you picture a field full of brightly colored pumpkins ready to be harvested and become part of autumnal displays, be carved into jack-o'-lanterns to greet trick-or-treaters, or be baked into pies for a holiday meal. When I think of October, I picture colorful displays filled with autumn's bounty: pumpkins, gourds, ornamental corn, mums, and cornstalks.

If you're not already excited about the fall season, several of this month's events have seasonal themes that will be sure to help put you in a festive mood! Feel free to wear your Halloween costume at the following runs (get complete event details by following the links in the schedule):

• Rosehill Cemetery Crypt 5K on October 8


• St. Eugene School Trot 'n' Treat 5K & Monster Dash on October 22


• Pumpkins in the Park 5K & CLIF Kid Spooky Sprints on October 22


• Pumpkin Spice 5K on October 23


• Monster Dash Half Marathon, 10K, 5K on October 23

As you review the events below, be sure to visit the charity websites to learn more about the organizations benefiting from your registration fees, donations, and fundraising efforts.

In addition, check the event’s website to see how the charity partner is benefiting. Are 100 percent of the event proceeds given to the charity? Does the charity receive promotional benefits only? Does the charity receive a certain number of race entries in return for providing event volunteers? A charity may benefit from an event in many different ways. The answers can usually be found on the event’s FAQ, Charity, or About page. Each event should also have an email address or online contact form for any additional questions you might have.

Have a fabulous October, enjoy the warm autumn days, and get yourself a pumpkin!

October 1, 2016

AIDS Run & Walk Chicago
Location: Soldier Field, 1410 South Museum Campus Drive, Chicago
Start Times: 8:30 a.m. (5K & 10K Runs) and 8:45 a.m. (Walk)
Event Beneficiary: AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Mermaid 5K
Location: Lincoln Park, Grove 3, Chicago
Start Time: 9 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: No beneficiary listed

Friends of the Montessori Academy of Chicago (FoMAC) 5K Run and Walk
Location: Skinner Park, 1331 West Adams Street, Chicago
Start Time: 9 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: All funds raised will go toward purchasing materials to enrich Montessori Academy of Chicago classrooms at every level, teacher supplies, continued education for teachers, and student scholarships.

Lawndale 5K
Location: Lawndale Christian Fitness Center, 3750 West Ogden Avenue, Chicago
Start Times: 9 a.m. (5K) and 10:15 a.m. (Baby Crawl and Kids' Dash)
Event Beneficiary: All proceeds benefit Lawndale Christian Fitness Center's programs to promote health and wellness in the community.

Faith and Fitness 5K/10K
Location: Jackson Park, 6300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Start Time: 10 a.m.
Event Beneficiaries: Elijah Running Club, A Ray of Hope on Earth, and Teen-Train, Inc.

October 2, 2016

Bob Perkaus Memorial 5K
Location: Sauganash Park, 5861 North Kostner Avenue, Chicago
Start Time: 9 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: Sauganash Community Association

October 6, 2016

Strides for Peace Run/Walk & Tots for Peace Sprint
Location: Soldier Field, 1410 South Museum Campus Drive, Chicago
Start Times: 6:45 p.m. (Tots for Peace Sprint), 7 p.m. (8K Run), 7:15 p.m. (5K Run), and 7:15 p.m. (2-Mile Walk)
Event Beneficiary: Strides for Peace

October 8, 2016

International Chicago 5K
Location: Daley Plaza, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago
Start Time: 7:30 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: No beneficiary listed

Cougar 5K Run/Walk
Location: Saint Xavier University, Shannon Center, 3700 West 103rd Street, Chicago
Start Time: 9 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: Saint Xavier University

Rosehill Cemetery Crypt 5K 
Location: Rosehill Cemetery, 5800 North Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago
Start Time: 7 p.m.
Event Beneficiary: American Diabetes Association

October 9, 2016

Chicago Marathon
Location: Grant Park, Chicago
Start Times: Various
Event Beneficiaries: Visit the Chicago Marathon Charity & Community page to find out how the Bank of America Chicago Marathon interacts with charities and the community.

Dan Ryan Woods – Chicago Cyclocross Cup #3
Location: Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago
Start Times: Various
Event Beneficiary: No beneficiary listed

October 15, 2016

5K for Missing Children
Location: DuSable Harbor, Chicago
Start Times: 8:30 a.m. (Run) and 11 a.m. (Kids' Dash)
Event Beneficiary: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Making a Beer Run 6K Fun Run & Beer Fest
Location: The Field Museum, Northwest Terrace, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Start Time: 12 noon
Event Beneficiary: No beneficiary listed

October 16, 2016

Race for the Kids
Location: The University of Chicago Main Quadrangle, East 58th Street and South University Avenue, Chicago
Start Times: 9 a.m. (5K), 9:45 a.m. (Kids' Mile), and 10:45 a.m. (Kids' Dash)
Event Beneficiary: The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital

Stride Against Violence 5K Run/Walk
Location: Montrose Harbor, 601 West Montrose Avenue, Chicago
Start Time: 9:30 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: Apna Ghar, Inc.

October 22, 2016

Country Sole Chicago Half Marathon/10K/5K
Location: Montrose Harbor, 601 West Montrose Avenue, Chicago
Start Time: 7 a.m. (Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K)
Event Beneficiary: Back on My Feet Chicago

St. Eugene School Trot 'n' Treat 5K & Monster Dash
Location: St. Eugene School, 7930 West Foster Avenue, Chicago
Start Times: 9 a.m. (5K) and 10:30 a.m. (Monster Dash)
Event Beneficiary: St. Eugene School

Pumpkins in the Park 5K & CLIF Kid Spooky Sprints
Location: Lincoln Park, North Stockton Drive and West LaSalle Drive, Chicago
Start Times: 2:30 p.m. (Spooky Sprints) and 4 p.m. (5K)
Event Beneficiary: Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks

October 23, 2016

Run for the Warriors
Location: 400 East Monroe Street, Chicago (near the Chicago Yacht Club)
Start Time: 7 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: Hope for the Warriors

Pumpkin Spice 5K
Location: Jackson Park, 1901 East Hayes Drive, Chicago
Start Time: 8 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Monster Dash Half Marathon/10K/5K
Location: Soldier Field, 1410 South Museum Campus Drive, Chicago (directly east of Soldier Field's south parking lot)
Start Times: 9 a.m. (Half Marathon), 9:20 a.m. (10K), and 9:40 a.m. (5K)
Event Beneficiary: Team Ortho Foundation

Paint Edgebrook Pink 5K
Location: Bunker Hill Forest Preserve, Grove 4, North Caldwell Avenue and West Touhy Avenue, Chicago
Start Time: 9 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Running of the Bulldogs 5K & Kids' Fun Run
Location: Lincoln Park, Grove 2, North Stockton Drive and West LaSalle Drive, Chicago
Start Times: 9 a.m. (5K) and Kids' Fun Run follows the 5K
Event Beneficiary: Proceeds raised will help support Saint Andrew Parish's sister parish in Uganda and Saint Andrew School's health and wellness programs.

October 29, 2016

Chicago Lakefront 50/50
Location: Foster Avenue Beach, Chicago (tentative)
Start Times: 6:30 a.m. (50M) and 7:30 a.m. (50K)
Event Beneficiary: No beneficiary listed

Carrera de los Muertos/Race of the Dead
Location: Addams/Medill Park, 1301 West 14th Street, Chicago
Start Time: 8 a.m.
Event Beneficiary: United Neighborhood Organization

October 30, 2016

Hot Chocolate 15K/5K & Walk for Special Olympics Chicago
Location: Grant Park, Chicago
Start Times: 7:30 a.m. (15K and 5K Wave 1), 8:15 a.m. (15K and 5K Wave 2), and 9:15 a.m. (2-Mile Walk)
Event Beneficiaries: Ronald McDonald House Charities Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana (15K/5K) and Special Olympics Chicago (Walk)