Requiem for a race?
Races may be discontinued for a variety of reasons – too few runners, too little profit (or no profit), lack of community support, loss of a major sponsor, logistical barriers, or retirement of event organizers, to name a few.
Unfortunately for runners, many poorly organized events plod along year after year, apparently oblivious to their condition.
Discontinued races, on the other hand, are frequently those viable enough to know when they no longer have the resources to produce a quality event.
The Park Forest Scenic 10 (10-miler and 5k) in
The latest pre-obituary appears in Silent Sports, recounting the success and popularity of the event, while quoting organizers who are uncertain about its future. An earlier report appeared here.
The Scenic 10 is a fixture on the national and local running scene. Last year's winning time of 46:29 was typical of the race, which attracts a strong field of world-class athletes. (The top nine finishers in 2006 were Kenyans). It is included on the Circuits of the Chicago Area Runners Association and the Calumet Region Striders, and receives coverage every year in Runners World and Running Times. It is one of those rare events that attracts scads of local spectators.
If you want to participate in, or observe, a top-notch event, visit