Jeanne Wilder cheered runners in the Ballantrae neighborhood, where youngster Roman Ford handed out cups of water at the Flossmoor Montessori School water station. Steve and Donna Ramsey raised glasses of mimosas in toasts as runners passed their Heather Hill Crescent home.
They represent the range of generations and approaches as the Flossmoor community again came together to celebrate the athletes participating in the third Hidden Gem Half Marathon in Flossmoor on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Race organizer Sam Cutrara said the event was more successful than the last two “and they were big hits.”
He noted the increase in runners. Nearly 1,000 registered, and 826 finished. He also said the neighborhoods seemed even more engaged than in 2021.
“Our neighborhoods were way into it this year. I think the year of COVID last year kind of kept people in a little bit more. They came out in abundance this time.”
Roman Ford, left, and Erin Graves hand cups of water to runners as they pass the water station in Flossmoor's Ballantrae neighborhood. The two are students at Flossmoor Montessori school, which sponsored a water station for the third year. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Race organizer Tom Dobrez of Flossmoor’s Future said it was impossible to say exactly how many people contributed to the success of the race. There were 275 volunteers with specific job assignments. There were 17 entertainment acts along the route, but most of those had multiple members.
And there were the neighborhood cheer teams.
Dobrez could not estimate how many people took part. Some were organized and dressed according to themes. Some residents simply set up lawn chairs and cheered from their driveways.
In the Ballantrae neighborhood, the theme was “gem stones,” and colorful diamond shapes were painted on the street along the race route.
Lauren Waters-Jones was in her driveway cheering with her family, husband Kal-El, and children Isabella and Kal-El Jr. She said the family had recently moved back to the area from Maryland and were happy to have a chance to play a part in the Gem.
Lauren said she’s a runner with five half marathons under her belt and might participate in the Gem next year.
At the water station in Ballantrae, students and their parents from Flossmoor Montessori School on Western Avenue offered cups of cool water to runners.
Christine Scully, whose daughter, Erin Graves, was handing out water cups alongside Roman Ford, said the school community has worked a water station all three years the race has run.
“It’s a nice way to start the school year, meet new parents. The kids have fun doing it,” she said.
In the Flossmoor Park neighborhood, where the theme was rainbows, Chuck Campbell held a garden hose putting forth a fine spray to help runners cool off a bit while Jody Scariano beside him used a noisemaker and shouted encouragement.
Audrey and Dan Weidman were posted beside a table laden with food. She confessed her only nod to the neighborhood theme was her multicolored top.
“Our theme is ‘More cowbells,'” Dan Weidman quipped. Not that he had anything against rainbows, but he had a cowbell and seemed to be having a good time ringing it.
Audrey said the couple cheers every year.
“Our daughter is running. It’s a fun way to get together and cheer people on,” she said. “I think it lives up to its name, the Hidden Gem, because Flossmoor is awesome.”
Dan added that the event helps remind locals of that.
“It’s a great opportunity for everybody to get out and interact,” he said.
In addition to Ballantrae and Flossmoor Park, other neighborhood themes included Flossmoor Hills, Super Heroes; Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Viking Spirit; Heather Hill, The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz; Braeburn/Brassie Estates, Holiday Spirit in September; and Old Flossmoor/Leavitt Park, Mardi Gras.
Dobrez said the community’s enthusiasm was infectious. Runners in past years have commented on how much they appreciate the cheer teams. This year was no different.
“The whole community’s all revved up. You go through these neighborhoods today, you will be blown away by the excitement,” he said. “I just met Oscar Medina, our winner, at the finish line. I said ‘How was the crowd support?’ He said it matches the Chicago Marathon.”
Dobrez also had praise for the village, which completed several repaving and other road maintenance projects in the weeks leading up to the race, including installing a new surface on the last stretch of the race.
“Big shout out to the village. The paving they did before the race has been unbelievable. The runners have already been commenting,” he said. “The last mile, I would put up against any run in America. Brand new pavement, all in the shade, beautiful homes. It’s a beautiful, beautiful scene.”
He said the race also is having what organizers call the “Gem effect,” serving as a catalyst for increased neighborhood engagement year round due in part to the connections people make during the race.
“The neighborhoods are starting to build themselves up,” he said. “They’re doing other things together. The block parties have more people attending now.”