Ravenswood Run 5K

I love the Ravenswood Run 5k! I look forward to this race every year, and it never disappoints.
I love that the race benefits a couple of neighborhood charities: the Ravenswood Community Services Food Pantry, and this year it also benefited the Student Health Centers at Lake View and Amundsen High Schools. There is also an optional pancake breakfast after the race ($ 10 extra — you can purchase your tickets to the pancake breakfast when you register for the race) that also benefits the food pantry.
The race is well organized by Fleet Feet, with everything you need to know clearly communicated via their website and via emails to participants. I have always gotten a quick reply if I send a question to the race organizers, and I feel that everyone I come in contact with who works or volunteers with the race actually cares about the event. Everyone is just so friendly and helpful.
Packet pick up was quick and efficient, available the couple of days leading up to the race at various Fleet Feet Chicago locations and also available the morning of the race at the race site. The course itself is great — flat and fast, winding through the streets of the Ravenswood/​Lincoln Square neighborhood. I love races that are on city streets instead of the lake front trail, so that is always a bonus for me. Runners are asked to seed themselves at the starting line based on estimated pace, and there are pace markers set up so you know where to line up. Most folks seem to choose the right place, but there are always a few who head straight to the front even though they will be running slowly, so things can get pretty crowded at the beginning of the race. The course always seems to open up a bit after the first mile.
After the race, there are always plenty for free snacks (bananas, fruit snacks, packets of cookies — that sort of thing) and water. This year, there was also bottles of chocolate milk. And the best post race treat ever? Cinnamon rolls. Anne Sather’s always has a tent handing out free samples.
My only quibble with the race has to do with the shirts. I love the design, and I’m always a fan of gender specific sizing — it is the only way that I get a shirt that actually fits properly. I don’t, however, love gender specific colors. I know that race organizers have to work with what is available from the sponsor, but I really dislike that this year women were given pink shirts and men were given blue shirts. I really wish that all participants had the same color shirt.

I was really excited to run the Ravenswood 5k, as running is now my only competitive outlet, having been banned for steroid use from my other pasttime (1992 Scripps spelling bee). I got a fun shirt with a raven on it, you know because of the word «Raven» in «Ravenswood.» Much preferable to the previous year’s emphasis on the word «wood» and the nonsensical «I got wood for Ravenswood» slogan. Unfortunately, the event (priced at $ 39) was not fun and entertaining like its namesake, Poe’s «The Raven.» Instead, on this cold and windy day, it took on a gloomy and depressing quality, like Disney’s «That’s So Raven.»
The race runs through the Ravenswood and Lincoln Square neighborhoods. Volunteers are present throughout the first mile shouting at you to watch out for the speed bumps. The last mile goes east on Lawrence, and we ran through intense wind. Good thing my iPod, watch, and Google glasses were all wind-​powered. Also this race features a disproportionate number of runners with strollers. I tend to cut them some slack because my mother would also push me around in a stroller during her physical activity. It very nearly cost her her place on the soccer team. I already felt guilty enough hearing her constantly tell me the reason I was born was because Planned Parenthood didn’t take American Express.
Post-​race includes bananas and bagels. But, sorry my fellow Unilocalers, I was unable to get a very simple question answered by the high-​school volunteers. How hard it is to tell me if the Brookshire pomogranate dark chocolate drops are fair trade? WTF Junior?! I was so blinded with rage I didn’t pay attention to other post-​race details. For example, ChicagoAthlete was there passing out free copies of their magazine, but it could have also been ChicagoAtheist. One thing I did notice is for an additional $ 10, you can have a pancake breakfasts, with the proceeds going to the neighborhood food pantry. Although a worthy cause, is eating a pile of pancakes the most appropriate way to fight hunger? Let that join the list of other well-​intentioned yet missing-​the-​point fundraisers, like the charity female boxing tournament, whose proceeds went to the local battered women’s shelter.
And, as with many of these races, there is a kids run, including 3-​yr old (and under) 20 m dash. That’s right, «and under.» So if you’re driving back from the maternity ward, you can enter your hatchling in the fray. The good news is he’s probably still so greased up with amniotic fluid that he won’t even have to run. Set him on his back and with one good push, he can hydro-​plane his way to victory.

I did this run for the first time today. It reminded me a lot of the Bucktown 5K. This was a really nice neighborhood race. They limit the capacity so that it doesn’t get too crazy. The race proceeds from the Ravenswood Run benefit the Ravenswood Community Services Food Pantry at All Saints’ Episcopal Church and the Student Health Centers at Lake View and Amundsen High Schools.
There is also an optional $ 10 add on for a pancake breakfast (proceeds also going to the above charity).
Plus, the shirt is super cute!
This was sponsored by Fleet Feet –they have numerous races in Chicago and they always do a great job as far as easy packet pick-​up and race organization.
The only constructive feedback I have is that it was very casual and there weren’t staggered starts. You could just walk up to your estimated mile time and get in line. Since this year it was so popular and sold out, I would recommend at least a 3 minute staggered starts between the mile times. The first mile was pretty crowded but, entering mile 2, things started to thin out a bit.
I think it’s fair to say that if you are an «elite» runner trying to accomplish a personal best or even win the race, get in the front of the line. Otherwise, you just run it to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and to simply participate, as I did. Despite the initially congested nature of the first mile, I hit my typical completion time.
I’m glad I finally did it and am excited to make this part of my yearly race schedule!