It’s A 5K Flourish At The Morton Arboretum

Fall Color 5K Run/Walk Features Challenging, Hilly Course, Beautiful Trees

LISLE, IL (September 11, 2007) – It’s time for one of the best area races of the year: The Morton Arboretum annual Fall Color 5K Run and Walk on Sunday, September 30.

Relish the beautiful Arboretum trees in fall, while running over hilly terrain that challenges even the most experienced runners on this USA Track and Field-certified course. The 5K Run kicks off at 8 a.m., with 5K Walk participants setting off after the last runner clears the starting line. Runners age 12 and younger have fun in a special Kids Dash, starting at 9:30 a.m.

“The Arboretum provides a truly unique backdrop for the race,” said Erin Cave-Rutili, Special Events Coordinator.  “From the winding course, to the tree-lined roads, to the sweeping views of the grounds – you can’t beat the scenery.  If there is one 5K you’re going to do this fall, we encourage all levels of runners and walkers to make the Fall Color 5K their race of the season!”

New this year is the Fitness Fair, from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Dick Pond Athletics will offer race-day discount pricing on running gear, while Whole Foods will provide recovery food for runners and walkers. REI will give away items and AthletiCo will provide free post-race massages for race participants. The Fitness Fair also includes music from WXRT-FM.

Arboretum personnel will hand out awards to the overall male and female 5K Run winners, plus the top three finishers in each age group; and a few lucky runners will win prizes in a raffle.

The Fall Color 5K Run and Walk pre-registration fee is $25 ($23 for Arboretum members); race-day registration is $30.  Registrants receive a goody bag and a “performance” T-shirt that’s specially designed to pull perspiration away from the body. Also, registrants receive a timing chip, to record electronically the exact second that a runner crosses the start and finish lines. This chip is particularly beneficial to runners starting at the back of the pack whose true start time may be seconds after the starting gun sounds.

The event is limited to the first 2,000 runners and walkers who sign up. The Kids Dash is free but all participants must register in advance or on race day with an entry form that a parent or guardian signs.

Runners and walkers can register online with a credit card until noon, September 27, at www.mortonarb.org. Interested participants can also download a race registration form, which must be post-marked by September 22. The Visitor Center Information Desk takes registrations through September 22.

Three special race registration and packet pick-up events will be held at Dick Pond Athletics in Lisle, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on September 22, from 4 – 9 p.m. on September 28, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 29.

Race day registration, and pre-registration packet pick-up, will be from 6:30 – 7:45 a.m. on September 30 in the main parking lot at the Visitor Center. In an effort to expedite race results, race day registrants will not be “chip timed.”

Contributing sponsors for the Fall Color 5K Run are AthletiCo, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, and Dick Pond Athletics. Supporting Sponsors are Children’s Memorial of Central DuPage Hospital, Chipotle, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, REI, Whole Foods, and WXRT-FM Radio.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,057 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier, Central Time. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.

Media Contacts:    Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marty Cusack, 630-719-5768 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it