By Will Payne
After a virtual competition during the summer of 2020, the Mahomet Area Youth Club is back this year hosting the 26th annual Run Mahomet. There will be an in-person 5k Run on August 6th and a Half Marathon on August 7th.
The 5k Run (approximately 3.1 mile race) on the 6th will start at 6:30 p.m. at Mahomet-Seymour High School and will go through the Mahomet village streets.
Registration for the 5k will cost $35 between May 1-July 15, and then increase to $40 from July 16-August 4th.
The Half-Marathon will commence at 7:00 a.m. on August 7th at Mahomet-Seymour High School, as the 13.2 miles will go through the Village of Mahomet and country roads.
Registration for the Half-Marathon will be $55 from May 2-July 15, and then increase to $60 from July 16-August 4.
The sign-up time for both races will close on August 4th at 5:00 p.m., and there will be no on-site registration.
Both races will feature several age groups for individuals to compete from. The age groups are 10 and under, 11-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, and 70 and over.
Upon completion of either race, the first place male or female of each age group will receive a winner’s medal. Every registered participant regardless of where they finish will be awarded a 26th Run Mahomet Finisher Medal.
Sara Balgoyen, the Executive Director of the Mahomet Area Youth Club, made a decision to separate the two races instead of having both competitions in one day.
“We began planning several months ago and have been planning with the mindset of health and safety for everybody,” said Balgoyen. “So we split the two events into two different days in order to keep the crowds down.”
Two years ago, there was a 10k and a four-person marathon relay. However in order to limit the competitors, MAYC cut it down to only two events.
Marla Dewhirst has worked with Run Mahomet for six years now, and she is excited about having the competition back. One of the biggest additions for the runners that she organized is chip-timing.
“I had a race company out of Bloomington, Race Time, help us with chip timing,” said Dewhirst. “It doesn’t really matter where you are in the pack. As soon as you begin, your time starts, and as soon as you cross the finish line, your time stops.”
Dewhirst has competed in several running events throughout the country. She has won the 10k at the Champaign Christie Clinic Marathon and competed at both the Chicago and Boston Marathons. With the Run Mahomet races back this summer, Dewhirst is thrilled for runners coming from Mahomet and all around the state for the competition.
“It is going to be an exciting time,” said Dewhirst. “People are anxious to be back together and I think we are all hoping for a big turnout come August.”
To sign up for either race, visit the Run Mahomet website.
