Heatwave Half Marathon - Greater Chicago

Ho Ho Ho,

Oh What Fun it is to Run in the Sun (and Shade)

and Earn Some Chillin' Summer Xmas Swag!

Christmas In July Highly Recommended Early Packet Pickup

• Friday July 17, 2026 - 2:00-4:00pm Early Packet Pickup. We'll do it near the Start/Finish line at Busse Forest (Busse Forest - Busse Lake Boating Center Picnic Grove #25

Elk Grove Village, IL US 60007) Look for the White Fun-Races Trailer.

Jingle Jolly Saturday Schedule July 18, 2026

• 6:00am - 6:45am Packet Pickup/Check-In Opens - Half Marathon

• 7:00am Half Marathon Starts

• 7:00am - 7:45am Packet Pickup/Check-In Opens - 5K

• 8:00am 5K Starts

• 8:20am Post Race Christmas Party Begins!!!

A Sundae In July

Sunday, July 26, 2026

5K Start: 8:00 AM

Youth Fun Run: 9:00 AM

Registration Opens: 7:00 AM

Race site:

The Scottish Rite Valley

383 E. Lake Street

Bloomingdale, IL

Proceeds benefit the Children's Dyslexia Center of Metropolitan Chicago

Our Mission

It is the mission of the Children’s Dyslexia Center to provide the highest quality, state-of-the-art, multisensory tutorial reading and written language instruction to children with dyslexia. The Children’s Dyslexia Center also seeks to train tutors in the art, science, and practice of tutoring children using the Orton-Gillingham approach to multisensory teaching of reading, spelling, and writing.

Join the D54 Education Foundation in supporting literacy and promoting health and fitness for the young and old by participating in the 21st annual Run to Read. We are currently planning the Run to Read 2025 to be held in person on September 28, starting and ending at Dirksen School in Schaumburg. This event will include a 5K run/walk, a 1-mile walk and children’s races. This year the event will be hosted by the District 54 Education Foundation on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at Dirksen School. The District 54 Education Foundation is committed to supporting students today and preparing students for tomorrow. It does that primarily by providing support to children from financially struggling families.

With this change in host, there is also a change in how the funds will be spent. All funds raised this year will be used to support programs for these families. By meeting the basic needs of students, they are preparing students to be successful at school, thus the name Run to Read still applies.

Not a runner? With a $10 donation, you can sponsor a D54 student whose family cannot afford to participate in this race. For $20, you can sponsor 2 children. For $100 you can sponsor 10. You get the idea.

Click on DONATE to Sponsor a Child or make an online donation. You can also mail a donation to Run to Read, 524 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194. don't forget all donations are tax-deductible.

Click on SPONSOR for more information about the various sponsorship opportunities available.

Don't forget to take a photo and tag us on social, or use the hashtag #54Run2Read.

Join us for a family-friendly 5K race and fun run/walk!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 8 a.m. at Busse Woods (Grove #32) for a great cause!

The Christus Victor Lutheran Church Food Pantry supports over 60 families each week who come in to “shop” for free. In addition to offering nonperishable and perishable food items, we also offer personal care products and hats and gloves in the winter. This funds raised from this event will support our food pantry!

This event is open to the community and will be a family-friendly event. There will be a DJ and a cookout with delicious food to follow! In addition to a chip-timed 5K run or walk, there will be activities for the children and an untimed (free) children’s race. There will also be a box to collect food donations! A raffle to support the food pantry will also be held throughout the month of September at Christus Victor Lutheran Church if you are interested in winning fun prizes! There will be NO raffle event at the 5K this year due to Busse Woods' rules and regulations. Thank you for your understanding!

• Registration for 5K participants includes a t-shirt.

• Nonparticipants may purchase a t-shirt for an additional $8, added to their $17 registration.

• Family discount - $100 for family of four! Click "Sign Up" and scroll down to Multi-Person Pricing and select "Family of 4."

• Early Bird Pricing of $30 per person (instead of $35) is available through August 1.

Packet pick-up: Packet pick-up will be offered:

• Xtra Mile Running in Schaumburg on Sep. 25 from 4-6 p.m. (31 W. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60194)

• Morning of race day at Busse Woods (Grove #32), starting at 7 a.m.

Join us for the annual Hometown Half Marathon & 5k/10k! A run local-themed event that is perfect for the whole family.

The fun includes -

• Great Swag - designer shirt & custom medal

• Chip-timing with live results and awards

• Pacers for the half marathon

• Free photos

• Delicious Treats waiting at the finish line

• Plenty of fun!

*Youth-based pricing for the 5k/10k, 12 & Under are only $17!

• Half Marathon Registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

• 10k registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

• 5k registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

• 1 Mile registration is untimed and includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and an awesome finisher medal!

• The kid's dash is a fun, untimed dash for our kiddos ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specifically crafted medal for our kids' dash event! (If your child wants to run the kid's dash, and doesn't want the SWAG, they are welcome to run with us on race day for free!)

*Register by midnight on Thursday, two Thursdays before race day, to guarantee your shirt!