What would have been the second annual Hidden Gem Half Marathon in Flossmoor on Sept. 12 has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers posted the announcement Sunday on the race’s Facebook page.
That might come as no surprise to most people as many big summer events in the region have been canceled. Case numbers and fatality rates in Illinois continue to fall, but state health officials warn that the virus is still a threat and social distancing measures and limits to the size of gatherings remain necessary to keep the spread of the infection at bay.
The Hidden Gem is not alone. Even the venerable Boston Marathon has been canceled this year.
The cancellation of the race is a disappointment to runners and especially to the organizers, who had hoped to build momentum from the success of the first race in September 2019, according to Tom Dobrez, founder of Flossmoor’s Future, the organization responsible for creating the event.
“We considered a lot of alternatives,” he said.
There was some consideration given for hosting the event with safety measures in place, but the logistics of ensuring a safe event for hundreds of runners, volunteers and spectators proved too daunting for the small organization, he said. Even if the safety concerns could be addressed, the possibility that a new outbreak of the disease could occur at any time made the venture too risky.
Organizers considered whether to try a virtual race, which has been done in some cases by providing runners with an app for their mobile devices and inviting them to run the race in on their own rather than gathering with other runners.
Dobrez said the route through Flossmoor which follows and crosses major thoroughfares, made that option risky, too.
“We hung on as long as we could. We already had people registered for the race, and we didn’t want to disappoint them,” he said. “But it had the potential to do more harm than good.”
Runners who have already registered will automatically be registered for the race next year, scheduled for Sept. 11, 2021. Those who would prefer to receive a refund can send email to [email protected].
The race might be canceled, but Dobrez said organizers have not given up on its purpose, which was provide an opportunity to residents to come together and promote the village. Several smaller events are in development that will be easier to manage safely.
“We thought, ‘If we can’t do the marathon, what can we do?'” he said.
One of those events will be held July 11, which would have been the date of Bike the Gem, an informal ride along the race route. Instead, Flossmoor’s Future and Flossmoor Station and Brewery will host “Run and Buy.”
“The good news is they’re still going to make the beer,” Dobrez said. For the first race last year, Flossmoor Station brewed a special beer that was provided to runners as they finished the race.
At “Run and Buy,” people will be able to stop by the brewery in downtown Flossmoor to pick up a four-pack of the special brew and purchase a Hidden Gem T-shirt.
He said proceeds from T-shirt sales would be donated to a local nonprofit organization that focuses on racial diversity and inclusion.