(Scroll down for Saturday Race Day Instructions)
Race Day Instructions for Trail-Glo 5K 2024
Hello and THANK YOU for participating in the 2024 Allerton Trail-Glo 5K event on Friday, April 19, part of Allerton Races Weekend. You're running and walking to raise funds for Allerton Park and Retreat Center, with some bonus proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Illinois!
FIRST, An appeal for volunteers! We could use a few more people to cheer on runners and walkers and just help ensure safety. If you know of anyone who would like to help, please have them email [email protected]! (We need some for Saturday, too, btw!)
5K RACE INFO:
The race starts at 8:30PM on the road right in front of the Visitor Center. We'll be running and walking that road down, circling the Sun Singer statue counter-clockwise, reversing back down the road for a bit, then taking a right turn at the Centaur trailhead, then continuing down a straight path through the Sunken Garden, Chinese Musicians, Rodin's Adam Statue, and finishing in the Walled Garden just past the greenhouse. Yes, that's not a lot of TRAIL in our Trail-Glo, but the course has been a hit since 2018 and we're sticking with it!
A map of the 5K can be found on our web site (scroll down the page)
FRIDAY NIGHT CHECK-IN:
Our check-in opens at 7:00PM Friday in the Visitor Center. It takes a bit to get parked and there's a line... so it's recommended to give yourself (and us) lots of time to assign you your number and get you set!
By the way, it's never too late to find more people to drag into this with you! Our online registration is actually going to stay open on into Friday evening until just before the race. Help us grow! It's going to be a blast for a great cause!
PARKING:
When you arrive at Allerton, use the main parking lot that’s near the mansion, or simply follow the directions of our fine parking volunteers. DO NOT PARALLEL PARK ON ROADWAYS/SHOULDERS. We must keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles, and for the race itself, of course. Should be plenty of room.
HEADLAMP or FLASHLIGHT are required on the course. Don't forget them! There are terraced trail stairs up and down at times, and a little light goes a long way to avoid trips and falls.
FINISH LINE:
We will have chip timing in your bib numbers, so your time will be recorded and available online fairly immediately. You'll even be able to see your time almost instantly by finding our race and its results on RunSignup.com! We don't have any age category awards. The Race Director usually hands the top finishers a Filippos Pizza gift certificate, which is pretty much like gold, but for the rest of us, we just have glow.
PLEASE NOTE: Race number and T-shirt pickup for the Saturday races is NOT available Friday. If you’re in the Trail-Glo AND a Saturday race, you’ll have to pick up your Saturday things on Saturday. But we’re fun to come visit, and fast!
ONE LAST THING: Don't be shy, thank your volunteers! None of this is possible without their time and effort!
THANK YOU for supporting this event and Allerton Park! We hope you have a great time Friday night!
-Your Allerton Races Team
FIRST, An appeal for volunteers! We could use a few more people to cheer on runners and walkers and just help ensure safety. If you know of anyone who would like to help, please have them email [email protected]! (We need some for Saturday, too, btw!)
5K RACE INFO:
The race starts at 8:30PM on the road right in front of the Visitor Center. We'll be running and walking that road down, circling the Sun Singer statue counter-clockwise, reversing back down the road for a bit, then taking a right turn at the Centaur trailhead, then continuing down a straight path through the Sunken Garden, Chinese Musicians, Rodin's Adam Statue, and finishing in the Walled Garden just past the greenhouse. Yes, that's not a lot of TRAIL in our Trail-Glo, but the course has been a hit since 2018 and we're sticking with it!
A map of the 5K can be found on our web site (scroll down the page)
FRIDAY NIGHT CHECK-IN:
Our check-in opens at 7:00PM Friday in the Visitor Center. It takes a bit to get parked and there's a line... so it's recommended to give yourself (and us) lots of time to assign you your number and get you set!
By the way, it's never too late to find more people to drag into this with you! Our online registration is actually going to stay open on into Friday evening until just before the race. Help us grow! It's going to be a blast for a great cause!
PARKING:
When you arrive at Allerton, use the main parking lot that’s near the mansion, or simply follow the directions of our fine parking volunteers. DO NOT PARALLEL PARK ON ROADWAYS/SHOULDERS. We must keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles, and for the race itself, of course. Should be plenty of room.
HEADLAMP or FLASHLIGHT are required on the course. Don't forget them! There are terraced trail stairs up and down at times, and a little light goes a long way to avoid trips and falls.
FINISH LINE:
We will have chip timing in your bib numbers, so your time will be recorded and available online fairly immediately. You'll even be able to see your time almost instantly by finding our race and its results on RunSignup.com! We don't have any age category awards. The Race Director usually hands the top finishers a Filippos Pizza gift certificate, which is pretty much like gold, but for the rest of us, we just have glow.
PLEASE NOTE: Race number and T-shirt pickup for the Saturday races is NOT available Friday. If you’re in the Trail-Glo AND a Saturday race, you’ll have to pick up your Saturday things on Saturday. But we’re fun to come visit, and fast!
ONE LAST THING: Don't be shy, thank your volunteers! None of this is possible without their time and effort!
THANK YOU for supporting this event and Allerton Park! We hope you have a great time Friday night!
-Your Allerton Races Team
Race Day Instructions for Saturday Races
Hello and THANK YOU for participating in the 2024 Allerton Races on Saturday, April 20, part of Allerton Races Weekend. You're running and walking to raise funds for Allerton Park and Retreat Center, with some extra proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Illinois!
FIRST, An appeal for volunteers! If you know of anyone who could help be a course marshal or similar fun task, please ask them to email [email protected] and help us out!
RACE INFO:
The race starts promptly at 9:00AM at the three-way stop sign next to the FuDog Garden. A COURSE MAP is available at https://runallerton.weebly.com/race-descriptions--virtual--triple-crown.html. We mark the course with several hundred blue pin flags. Keep them on your right and you'll be good on the trails.
We've got porta potties in key locations, and water stations at miles 1, 3.5, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
AND NOW THIS IMPORTANT NOTE:
The 10K and Half Marathon run together right until they reach the FuDog Garden. It's here where runners need to pay attention and not just follow the leader. Half Marathoners go to the right of the Buddha tower and circle it before heading out to the road. They will be back in the FuDog Garden again for their finish after 7 more miles of trails. BUT 10K runners angle to the left and go into the finish chute. Got it?
Basic guideline: If you're in the 10K look for that finish chute on the left. Don't follow that half marathoner out of the FuDog Garden!
SATURDAY MORNING CHECK-IN:
Our check-in opens at 7:45AM Saturday in the Visitor Center. Importantly, it takes a bit to get parked and there's a line... so it's recommended to give yourself (and us) lots of time to assign you your number and get you set! Then you head on back to the start area down at the 3-way stop by the FuDog Garden.
By the way, it's never too late to find more people to drag into this with you! Our online registration is actually going to stay open until race morning. Help us grow! It's going to be a blast for a great cause!
PARKING:
When you arrive at Allerton, simply head to the main parking lot, or follow the directions of our fine parking volunteers. We have to keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles, and for the race itself, of course. Should be plenty of room. But there is NO PARKING ON SHOULDERS ANYWHERE IN THE PARK. A few official vehicles are the exception.
FINISH LINE:
We will have chip timing in your bib numbers, and we'll have a chip mat start, which means your official time doesn't start until you cross the start line. Our finish team from Champaign Urbana's Second Wind Running Club compiles results into our age categories just as quickly as they can. We have awards for the overall male and female winners of both races, AND we have some awards for 1st-3rd places in several age categories.
Once you cross that finish line, head over to our refreshment table for a cookie from Monticello Subway (Thanks, Haresh!) and bananas and water from Monticello County Market (Thanks, Joe!).
While people are finishing, we'll keep the music going and cheer each other on! Also, we expect our race timing system to be so efficient this year that you will be able to go online on a phone or tablet in just-about real time to find out if you placed first through third in an age category. You won't have to wait around for a presentation... you'll be able to ask for your Allerton award for 1st through 3rd place in an age category! (Overall male and female winners are getting a nice prize plus free entry for 2024!)
ONE LAST THING: Don't be shy, thank your volunteers and Allerton staff on Saturday! None of this is possible without their time and effort!
THANK YOU for supporting this event and Allerton Park! We hope you have a great time Saturday!
(10K’ers, you may stop reading at this point. See you Saturday!)
(Half Marathoners, here goes…!)
HALF MARATHON COURSE DEETS:
Our course is clearly marked each year, but when people get fatigued, it becomes EASY to get confused on the course. Please go to https://runallerton.weebly.com/race-descriptions--virtual--triple-crown.html and scroll down for a map. Note especially that around Mile 9 and 11 you will run the “Death of the Last Centaur” trail two different times! First time you’re going to turn RIGHT at the Centaur and head down the trails further away from the finish. Two miles later, you’ll come back to that same trailhead off the road from the other direction and soon you’ll be running toward the Centaur again. This second time, you turn LEFT at the Centaur and head back in the direction of the finish! Rule for the Centaur is: First time RIGHT, second time LEFT. Say it out loud. We’ll have a water station there, and usually we get signs up to that effect, and the volunteers will do their best to remind you.
WANT OUT OF THE HALF MARATHON?
If you're signed up for the Half and decide that you want to change to the 10K, email Dean at [email protected] BEFORE FRIDAY NOON and ask him to swap you into the 10K. HOWEVER, we are running low on 10K medal lanyards. So if the 10K roster is full, Dean will put you into the 10K as “ineligible for 10K medal”, and on Saturday you MUST take the Half Marathon lanyard (medals are the same for both races, but lanyards – the ribbon around your neck – are specific to Half Marathon or 10K). Do NOT take the 10K ribbon/medal or someone else is going to be denied theirs! That was a lot of explanation, so just follow the guidance from Dean’s email if/when he swaps you into the 10K!
HALF MARATHONERS WHO DECIDE DURING THE RACE TO DROP OUT AT 10K:
If you’re entered in the Half Marathon and decide you want to just cut it short and do a 10K, no problem. Our Half Marathon course just happens to have you in the finish area at 10K!
BUT ALERT THE FINISH LINE CREW!!! You're wearing a Half Marathon bib and chip, and you will accidentally finish in front Half Marathoners who are running 7 more miles than you are. Nobody wants that. Instead, inform the timing crew IMMEDIATELY that you are a half marathoner who decided to switch into the 10K. Also, we won’t have a 10K medal for you, and you don’t want to take someone else’s! Go ahead and take a half marathon ribbon/medal. We MAY be able to get you the 10K ribbon if we have any left over. Also, you will NOT be eligible to win the overall first prize for the 10K if you started with a Half Marathon bib.
Once again, THANK YOU for supporting this event and Allerton Park! We hope you have a great time Saturday!
-Your Allerton Races Team
FIRST, An appeal for volunteers! If you know of anyone who could help be a course marshal or similar fun task, please ask them to email [email protected] and help us out!
RACE INFO:
The race starts promptly at 9:00AM at the three-way stop sign next to the FuDog Garden. A COURSE MAP is available at https://runallerton.weebly.com/race-descriptions--virtual--triple-crown.html. We mark the course with several hundred blue pin flags. Keep them on your right and you'll be good on the trails.
We've got porta potties in key locations, and water stations at miles 1, 3.5, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
AND NOW THIS IMPORTANT NOTE:
The 10K and Half Marathon run together right until they reach the FuDog Garden. It's here where runners need to pay attention and not just follow the leader. Half Marathoners go to the right of the Buddha tower and circle it before heading out to the road. They will be back in the FuDog Garden again for their finish after 7 more miles of trails. BUT 10K runners angle to the left and go into the finish chute. Got it?
Basic guideline: If you're in the 10K look for that finish chute on the left. Don't follow that half marathoner out of the FuDog Garden!
SATURDAY MORNING CHECK-IN:
Our check-in opens at 7:45AM Saturday in the Visitor Center. Importantly, it takes a bit to get parked and there's a line... so it's recommended to give yourself (and us) lots of time to assign you your number and get you set! Then you head on back to the start area down at the 3-way stop by the FuDog Garden.
By the way, it's never too late to find more people to drag into this with you! Our online registration is actually going to stay open until race morning. Help us grow! It's going to be a blast for a great cause!
PARKING:
When you arrive at Allerton, simply head to the main parking lot, or follow the directions of our fine parking volunteers. We have to keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles, and for the race itself, of course. Should be plenty of room. But there is NO PARKING ON SHOULDERS ANYWHERE IN THE PARK. A few official vehicles are the exception.
FINISH LINE:
We will have chip timing in your bib numbers, and we'll have a chip mat start, which means your official time doesn't start until you cross the start line. Our finish team from Champaign Urbana's Second Wind Running Club compiles results into our age categories just as quickly as they can. We have awards for the overall male and female winners of both races, AND we have some awards for 1st-3rd places in several age categories.
Once you cross that finish line, head over to our refreshment table for a cookie from Monticello Subway (Thanks, Haresh!) and bananas and water from Monticello County Market (Thanks, Joe!).
While people are finishing, we'll keep the music going and cheer each other on! Also, we expect our race timing system to be so efficient this year that you will be able to go online on a phone or tablet in just-about real time to find out if you placed first through third in an age category. You won't have to wait around for a presentation... you'll be able to ask for your Allerton award for 1st through 3rd place in an age category! (Overall male and female winners are getting a nice prize plus free entry for 2024!)
ONE LAST THING: Don't be shy, thank your volunteers and Allerton staff on Saturday! None of this is possible without their time and effort!
THANK YOU for supporting this event and Allerton Park! We hope you have a great time Saturday!
(10K’ers, you may stop reading at this point. See you Saturday!)
(Half Marathoners, here goes…!)
HALF MARATHON COURSE DEETS:
Our course is clearly marked each year, but when people get fatigued, it becomes EASY to get confused on the course. Please go to https://runallerton.weebly.com/race-descriptions--virtual--triple-crown.html and scroll down for a map. Note especially that around Mile 9 and 11 you will run the “Death of the Last Centaur” trail two different times! First time you’re going to turn RIGHT at the Centaur and head down the trails further away from the finish. Two miles later, you’ll come back to that same trailhead off the road from the other direction and soon you’ll be running toward the Centaur again. This second time, you turn LEFT at the Centaur and head back in the direction of the finish! Rule for the Centaur is: First time RIGHT, second time LEFT. Say it out loud. We’ll have a water station there, and usually we get signs up to that effect, and the volunteers will do their best to remind you.
WANT OUT OF THE HALF MARATHON?
If you're signed up for the Half and decide that you want to change to the 10K, email Dean at [email protected] BEFORE FRIDAY NOON and ask him to swap you into the 10K. HOWEVER, we are running low on 10K medal lanyards. So if the 10K roster is full, Dean will put you into the 10K as “ineligible for 10K medal”, and on Saturday you MUST take the Half Marathon lanyard (medals are the same for both races, but lanyards – the ribbon around your neck – are specific to Half Marathon or 10K). Do NOT take the 10K ribbon/medal or someone else is going to be denied theirs! That was a lot of explanation, so just follow the guidance from Dean’s email if/when he swaps you into the 10K!
HALF MARATHONERS WHO DECIDE DURING THE RACE TO DROP OUT AT 10K:
If you’re entered in the Half Marathon and decide you want to just cut it short and do a 10K, no problem. Our Half Marathon course just happens to have you in the finish area at 10K!
BUT ALERT THE FINISH LINE CREW!!! You're wearing a Half Marathon bib and chip, and you will accidentally finish in front Half Marathoners who are running 7 more miles than you are. Nobody wants that. Instead, inform the timing crew IMMEDIATELY that you are a half marathoner who decided to switch into the 10K. Also, we won’t have a 10K medal for you, and you don’t want to take someone else’s! Go ahead and take a half marathon ribbon/medal. We MAY be able to get you the 10K ribbon if we have any left over. Also, you will NOT be eligible to win the overall first prize for the 10K if you started with a Half Marathon bib.
Once again, THANK YOU for supporting this event and Allerton Park! We hope you have a great time Saturday!
-Your Allerton Races Team