The Mile 9 stop on the Hidden Gem Half Marathon offered Gatorade, water, bananas, and show tunes that blared from the speaker at the watering stop in the Braeburn/Brassie neighborhood.
And, plenty of encouragement from the volunteers who cheered, clapped and rang cow bells as the more than 1,200 runners came through the stop on Brassie Avenue.
“You’re two-thirds of the way there!” one volunteer shouted.
Volunteer Abby Clausing offered cold wet rags to help cool runners. Dipping her hands repeatedly in the bucket full of ice left her hands numb, but she said she was having fun. She moved into the neighborhood last year. This was her first time volunteering.
Ron Kirchler, chair of the Mile 9 stop the past six races, said he had about 20 volunteers. When people learn he’s part of the Hidden Gem they agree to come out and help him.
A reminder that beer was available at the end of the Hidden Gem Half Marathon race. (Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)
This year neighbors were joined by volunteers from the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District’s Racquet Club and Olympia Fields Country Club.
Kirchler’s prediction that the elite runners at the front of the race wouldn’t be stopping proved to be true, but he knew that plenty of others would either grab a cup of Gatorade or water from a volunteer as they went by and others, closer to the end of the race, would pause for a piece of banana, a liquid pouch food or a drink.
As the runners ran through the neighborhood where the theme was Hollywood and Broadway, they spotted Glenda and Elphaba, stars of the musical “Wicked” portrayed by Monica Zackary and her daughter, Alainna Zachary.
On the next block they ran into Alexander Hamilton from the musical “Hamilton,” portrayed by Jim O’Keefe.
One house on Braeburn Avenue used “The Sound of Music” lyrics for its message: “Far! A long, long way to run!” Lawns were decorated with movie posters. Stars were strung across one front lawn with messages “You’re A Star!” and “Keep Going!”
And, an inflatable beer stein on Braeburn Avenue was accompanied by a sign reading: “It’s Okay. The end is beer.” The message was true. Runners enjoyed eggs and beer at the end of the race at the Village of Flossmoor’s Kegs & Eggs festival.
“It’s just such an exciting day and really the race can’t come together unless a ton of people help,” said Jennifer O’Keefe, who has volunteered the past four years.
“I feel like it brings a lot of people to our community who would normally not get to see our amazing village, and I also think it gives people in the community an opportunity to come together, whether it’s a neighborhood decorating for the race or volunteering or gathering at the end in downtown,” said Amy Simmons who served as a course marshal for the Braeburn/Brassie neighborhood.
