The sky was clear; the wind was brisk; and Flossmoor Estates was alive with the sound of music as volunteers and residents set up Broadway-themed decorations on Brassie and Braeburn avenues in preparation for Flossmoor’s 5th annual Hidden Gem Half Marathon.
A runner zips past John Flanagan at Flossmoor’s highest spot on Braeburn Avenue. Flanagan enthusiastically rang his cow bell for every single GEM runner as they cleared this tough stretch of the route. (Karen Torme Olson/H-F Chronicle)
Colin Mickow, the eventual winner, is the first runner to turn the corner onto Braeburn Avenue, surprising bystanders who said he was at least five minutes ahead of the other runners at this point. (Karen Torme Olson)
About an hour before the runners were scheduled to step off the starting line near St. Veronica’s Church, residents on both streets could be observed getting ready for the big race while carrying their morning coffee and folding chairs curbside for a ringside seat to the race.
Others were stabilizing their decorations and signs in the gusty wind to make sure they were visible to passing runners. At the same time, small groups of runners sped by nonchalantly, presumably “warming up” before starting the 13.2-mile-long race.
Gigi Gummerson’s “Singing in the Rain” tribute was enhanced with audio, Broadway show tunes, of course. (Karen Torme Olson/H-F Chronicle)
Ron Kirchler (left), Karl Maass (center), and Jim Harper have been friends and neighbors for years. They led the team handing out Energy Gel packets and cups of Gatorade to runners as they moved through Flossmoor Estates leg of the GEM. “We were here since its [GEM] inception,” Kirchler said. Harper is a former runner and Maas said his daughter, who lives in the Wrigleyville neighborhood, is running in the race. His son, who lives in Indianapolis, is in town to cheer her on. Both are HFHS grads. (Karen Torme Olson/H-F Chronicle)
This year, the Gem attracted more than 1,100 runners from all over the Chicago area and beyond. The mood was energized by residents cheering encouragement to runners.
Some, like neighbors Byron and Tanya Walker and Linda and Steve Ojode, stood at an intersection cheering and waving their arms for every runner who passed in front of them. Others displayed banners and activated noisemakers.
But there was nothing that spoke to Flossmoor’s community spirit as much as the personal interactions that popped up along the way.
Runners pass through the underpass as they enter the homestretch of the 2024 GEM. (Randall Weissman/H-F Chronicle)
Eleanor O’Shea, a Homewood-Flossmoor sophomore, entertains the spectators as runners round the corner from Sterling Avenue onto Flossmoor Road. She was one of about 20 members of the H-F Choir who volunteered to perform for the Gem. (Randall Weissman/H-F Chronicle)
As the runners ran through the neighborhoods, residents shouted hellos from the sidelines to people whom they recognized and runners did the same in turn.
When the words “Hi John Beele” floated out from a pack of runners on the Braeburn Avenue pavement to the door of Beele’s house, he waved back and responded “Hi, Michelle” to Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson, who ran the Gem.
It was like a big block party in motion.
Elaine and Lad Martin chose a “Caddyshack” theme for their GEM landscape with a likeness of the ornery groundhog that dug endless holes on Bill Murray’s golf turf in the movie. (Karen Torme Olson/H-F Chronicle)Jessica Greene brought “Wicked’s” Scarecrow character to life just for the GEM. The display included a yellow “brick” road in front of her home on Brassie Avenue. Greene, who is a 3rd grade teacher at the University of Chicago’s Charter School-Donoghue in Chicago, said she has seen the play “at least five times.” (Karen Torme Olson/H-F Chronicle)
Jim O’Keefe, aka “Beetlejuice” sets up chairs for spectators in front of his Brassie Avenue home. O’Keefe said his home is in the middle of a self-proclaimed “theater district” in Flossmoor Estates. He said his house is one of six on the block that support local theater and that are home to actors, singers, drama teachers, and theater arts students. (Karen Torme Olson/H-F Chronicle)
![Ron Kirchler (left), Karl Maass (center), and Jim Harper have been friends and neighbors for years. They led the team handing out Energy Gel packets and cups of Gatorade to runners as they moved through Flossmoor Estates leg of the GEM. “We were here since its [GEM] inception,” Kirchler said. Harper is a former runner and Maas said his daughter, who lives in the Wrigleyville neighborhood, is running in the race. His son, who lives in Indianapolis, is in town to cheer her on. Both are HFHS grads. (Karen Torme Olson/H-F Chronicle)](https://www.hfchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/656758681-gem-2024-bb-1_web.jpg)
