Run From the Cops 5K

Don’t worry. Yes, you do run from the cops, but there aren’t any repercussions if they pass you. They don’t handcuff you or whack you with their billy clubs. They don’t kick you off the course and throw you off to the side of the road either. In fact, it was hard for me to distinguish the police force, which probably was because they started at the very back hence the name of the race.
The race is run along Lakeview Parkway, which is also the site for Vernon Hills’ annual Summer Celebration. You then run to Gregg’s Landing where there are some large and gorgeous houses and into this little subdivision on Lake Charles Drive, which has even bigger and more gorgeous homes and is not even complete yet.
There are no start corrals since the race is relatively small. It can be hard to establish your pace depending on where you start. If you are a speedy runner, I suggest lining up near the front. The race is chip-​timed so you will receive an accurate finishing time no matter where you start. There is also only one aid station on the course, which is fine for a 5K. However, if you need more hydration along the way, you may want to carry your own hydration.
Post race, there were goodies including banana halves, muffins, bagels and coffee from Corner Bakery. The muffins were the best post-​run snack I have ever eaten. All the other runners must have loved the muffins too since they were all gone at the end of the race.
The awards ceremony was nice and the medals look great and are not dinky like at other races. The race tee-​shirt is made of a dry wick material so you can work out in it again if you would like. My only gripe would be that the orange lettering did not really stand out well on the gray shirt. The results were posted in a timely manner and you can also download your race photos for free on the Running Guru website. The total cost for the race was $ 30 with the proceeds benefiting wounded warriors.
Overall, this is an excellent and well-​run race. I definitely would consider running it again if it fits into my training schedule. The race is run in mid-​July so it can get hot so just be aware of that.

You read the name of this 5K and perhaps you think to yourself, «I’ve been training my whole life for this run. I have *plenty* of experience running from the cops.» This event is hosted by the Vernon Hills Police Department, but you’re actually running WITH the cops more than FROM the cops. We were a little disappointed that officers weren’t chasing us with handcuffs and billy clubs. However, I was excited to see that the festival and race have expanded since 2009.
Registration fees and donations went to benefit wounded veterans, so you can’t go wrong with that. There were service men of all backgrounds there in uniform and repping their units with shirts. It was great to see the community come together to support people who are out there helping keep us safe. And everyone was super nice and helpful. These men and women really do a service for us and their respective titles.
The race happens in mid-​July, which probably isn’t ideal racing weather. It was in the 80s and the humidity was ridiculous. I saw a ton of people on their hands and knees to the side. But the organizers were prepared and there were plenty of paramedics and volunteers on hand to help people out. The course is super easy and flat, but you’d swear this 5K is hardcore when every couple minutes you see someone puking from the heat. I even ended up taking my shirt off the last mile, and this is coming from a firm believer that nobody needs to see that.
Post-​race area was pretty basic. None of the vendors for the fair were open yet. I think the festival doesn’t start until noon, so I wasn’t able to get my nachos or my funnel cake on, but I was able to grab a ton of free water, Gatorade and something similar to Muscle Milk and shove it in my nifty, complimentary Sports Authority bag (which was the best bag design ever but quickly fell apart). Corner Bakery was also there with plenty of bagels and cream cheese, pumpkin bites, coffee and bananas.