8 running events in Normal, Illinois

The Lake Run Club is hosting our annual meeting at Fiala Brothers Brewery in Uptown Normal. Your entry fees includes a 5K run, along with a lunch meal from Fiala Brothers and one drink ticket from 11:30-3:00 PM. There will be some giveaways and door prizes too.

11:15 5k Walk Up registration and the previous years award pickup, including 6 pack awards, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.

Annual Meeting will start at 11:45 AM for the swearing in of Lake Run Club Officers, and approving our current bylaws for the current year.

12:00 5K run will start, including the pit stop (optional) at Keg Grove, for those over 21 can get a 4 oz sample of what is on tap.

1:15-3:00 PM Lunch and Socializing

THE 2026 LAKE RUN PERFORMANCE BUILD

May 2. 4.37 Mile & 12K.

This is a race build for runners who want to compete.

8 weeks of structured, performance-based training:

• Threshold development

• VO₂ max sessions

• Race-pace workouts

• Long-run progression

• Taper & race execution guidance

Designed for intermediate runners targeting a PR.

Investment:

$55 – Lake Run Club Members

$65 – Non-Members

Limited roster.

Starts March 4th, 2026

Transform yourself into being "Race Ready" for May 2nd Lake Run!

Our training programs are designed to have you prepared and ready to run the Lake Run, in either the 3 mile walk, the 4.37 mile or 12K 7.44 mile. The Lake Run is the first Saturday in May. Our spring training program, will focus on High Intensity Interval Training, including stretching, race strategies and Nutrition.

This 8 week training program is for both first time runners and any runner who is looking to improve race performance. Lake Run group leaders have decades of running experience, frequent top age group competitors. Participants can expect high short burst intensity sessions each week.

We have many repeat participants who come back year after year. Lake Run Club training programs have been decades in the making. Enjoy the weekly group runs and all of the perks and program flexibility including a T-Shirt, entry into the May Lake Run and refreshments each week.

Some runners will "make it their own" running at a steady pace and just use the training to maintain a current level of fitness. As the weeks go by, there will be a steady progression in intensity at your comfort level. Runners with a good running base, will start with a higher intensity level.

While multiple leaders will be present at each session. Leaders' roles will include: check in/out, guiding group warm-up/cool-down stretches, lead course runner and follow-up runner(s). Leaders will be able to guide you in your running questions or concerns during warm-up or after the run. We will send out electronic education regarding a variety of running topics throughout the program.

2026 DATES

Program Dates & Times: March 4th 5:30 PM

Runs will meet weekly on Wednesdays at 5:30pm and on designated Saturdays at 8:30am. (Depending on our volunteer and group leader availability)

Where: Meeting at 305 S Linden Normal (same building as Vogue Dental). Our weekly run locations may change based on availability of local running tracks, where speed workouts will be conducted. Those runners who are performance oriented will have more of their workouts at running tracks, where 400-1200 meter workouts will be conducted.

If you are not a member, please consider joining first!

https://runsignup.com/joinlakerunclub

Fees:

LRC Member $50 early, $60 on Feb 15 (discount applied at checkout) - includes free Lake Run entry

LRC non member $65 early, $80 on Feb 15 includes free Lake Run entry No T-shirt options are available at registration as well.

Register online at: https://runsignup.com/lrchiit

Never ran the Lake Run before? Read more about the Lake Run

Support the Unit 5 Educational Foundation by participating in the 5th Annual Unit 5k presented by Commerce Bank. Choose to participate in the 5k or one mile walk/run. Race will take place on cross country grass course. Sign up today and show your pride for Unit 5 schools!

Bib Pickup

Race packet pick-up:

Friday, TBD

Sunday (Race Day) from 1-2 pm, Maxwell Park

Registration

Please save yourself some time on race day and complete your registration prior to arriving on site.

Please register and pay prior to arriving at bib pickup. Bib Pickup will take place Friday at White Oak Brewery from 4PM-6PM or on race day in the Community Commons Building on Heartland's Campus. Parking is adjacent to the building and throughout Heartland's campus.

Rivian is excited to host our fourth annual 5k at Heartland Community College to benefit the Ecology Action Center and Friends of the Constitution Trail. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​At Rivian, Forever Starts Now. And while the products are designed to promote adventure forever, Rivian is dedicated to making a difference in the communities where they live and work. The Rivian Manufacturing team supports volunteerism as a way for teams to give back, get inspired, stay involved and make a positive impact today—both in the work done and the causes supported. Normal Pride extends beyond the walls of our facilities and into the communities where Rivian employees live and work It’s a partnership and Rivian is excited to see the communities grow, thrive and be part of the adventure.

Receive a Rivian Commemorative Pin along with a plant from Reinhart Landscaping. Be surprised and delighted with our gifts as well. After the race; enjoy exploring some Rivian vehicles and light refreshments! The Reising Flower Truck will be on site for flower purchases.

Pick up your bib Friday, May 8th from 4-6pm at White Oak Brewery and enjoy food for purchase from Pizza Payaa.

We hope you will join us as we treat the community to a timed fun run. Thank you to Fleet Feet and White Oak Brewery for helping sponsor our race.

This event is taking place to support the Ecology Action Center and Friends of the Constitution Trail.

Ecology Action Center - The mission of the Ecology Action Center is to inspire and assist our community in creating, strengthening, and preserving a healthy environment. The EAC acts as a central resource for environmental education, information, outreach, and technical assistance in McLean County, Illinois as the nonprofit environmental sustainability agency. Primary areas of focus include waste reduction and recycling, clean water protection, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and air quality improvement/greenhouse gas emissions reduction. https://ecologyactioncenter.org/

Friends of the Constitution Trail - The Friends of the Constitution Trail is a non-profit advocacy group which works for expansion and beautification of the trail. Through membership support and donations, they sponsor trail amenities like drinking fountains, signs, benches, landscaping, and shelters. One of the major goals is for the trail system to stretch throughout Bloomington-Normal, reaching as many neighborhoods as possible using short connector paths, bike lanes, and other multi-use pathways. https://www.constitutiontrail.org/

Lake Run Club is hosting a National doughnut day run on Friday June 6th, with various start times and distances.

Early Bird Doughnut 4 mile: 6:30 AM. 4 Mile run starting from Connie Link Amphitheatre to Grove Street Bakery. Run to Grove Street for a doughnut and back for a cup of coffee after you finish your run.

Gotta get to work 2 mile: 6:45 AM 2 mile run from Keg Grove Parking to Grove Street Bakery and back. Grab a doughnut at Keg Grove and head back for a quick out and back run.

Stale Doughnut: 5:30 PM start from Keg Grove. 5K or 10K run, self timed on the trail. Yes, we'll have a doughnut or two waiting for you when you finish. Along with a beverage on tap at Keg Grove.

Children ages 1-12 are invited to run on Friday evenings during the summer at NCHS (Normal Community High School). This family program by the Lake Run Club, is non-competitive and intended to help teach kids that exercising and running can be fun. Children will be grouped according to age with the younger ones (2 and under) running first (parents may run with young kids). Age groups with many children will run in several "heats" to avoid congestion and accidents. This is our 30th year of the Kids Run for Fun!

Venue location will be the same as last year NCHS High School.

Walkup Registration will start at 5:30 PM at NCHS High School. ADDRESS: 3900 East Raab Road, Normal, IL 61761

• $5.00 Registration for single Friday Session. Walk Up Registration on Friday from 5:30-6:00PM.

• $18.00 Registration for all sessions, no T-Shirt.

• $25.00 Entry will cover all sessions, and T-Shirt. (Please use the runsignup link so we can pre-order T-Shirts)

2 Year olds will start promptly at 6:00 PM, followed by 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-11, 12+ open mile run. Timing clocks will be onsite to view finish times.

The race starts at 7AM sharp. Course closes at 8:30AM (18:00/mile)

The race originated in 1985 as the Intercity 10K. After two years the race was changed to a 5 mile run. For years, the 5 mile run was a little longer than 5 miles. In 1993, the Lake Run club began organizing the event and made the 5 mile course accurate. The race has grown to approximately 500 runners.

Discounts: LRC members receive a $3 discount. Springfield Road Runners and Starved Rock members receive a $1 discount.

T-Shirt: Register by 6/18 at 12:00 noon to guarantee you get a Park 2 Park race shirt!

Bib/Shirt Pickup: Before coming to pickup, please complete your online registration (no paper registration available). Early pickup TBD, or at Fairview Park on race morning 6:00AM-6:45AM.

Parking: NO PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT FAIRVIEW PARK. There is parking available in the Illinois State University lot on Main Street just south of Fairview Park.

Aid Stations: There will be 3 water stations on course.

Awards: Award Categories: Overall Male/Female, Top 3 Male/Female in each age group - 14&Und, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+. There will not be an awards ceremony. Awards will be available at the near the finish line beginning at 8:00AM.

Race Results: Results for this year are available on the results page: https://runsignup.com/Race/Park2Park/Page/RaceResults