2023 Illinois Homecoming 5k Race
Date
Sun, October 15 – Sat, October 21
Place
1401 W Green St
Anniversary Plaza
Urbana, IL US 61801
Description
Hit the street to kick off U of I Homecoming Week in the Annual Illinois Homecoming 5k Race! Join us on October 15th at 10:00am, rain or shine, to run, jog, walk, or roll from the east end of Anniversary Plaza to the Alice Campbell Alumni Center. After finishing, we invite you to celebrate at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center with food, drinks, the Marching Illini, and other special guests to kick off Homecoming week! Students, staff, faculty, alumni, community members, Illini fans, and families are all welcomed!
We also have a Virtual Homecoming 5k for those who can’t make it to Champaign-Urbana for the in-person race! This race will be open for the entire duration of Homecoming Week, October 15th through October 21st. It should be noted that shirts are not available for the virtual event.
Registration for the in-person race will be open from August 28th to 9:30 am October 15th. To be guaranteed a race t-shirt for the in-person 5k, please register before 11:59pm on September 19th.
For further information, please go to the “Event Info” tab.
A big thank you to the Student Alumni Ambassadors, Second Wind Running Club, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association for making this race happen! I-L-L!
Where Does the Money Go?
Your registration fees cover the cost of the shirt (if you register by September 19th at 11:59pm) and race bib. The rest of the funds will be donated to three local organizations/programs: the Food Assistance & Well-Being Program, the Chez Veterans Center, and Illinithon. Below is a little information about each, but if you wish to learn more please click this link.
The Food Assistance & Well-Being Program is an on-campus pantry for students with food insecurities. Located at the ARC, they offer a shopping style experience where individuals get to handle and choose their items. Volunteers help to answer any questions and offer a variety of resources such as nutrition and wellness education, recipes, community groups, and other options for assistance.
The Chez Veterans Center is another on-campus resource for all student veterans and military-connected communities. Their services include but are not limited to academic and career support, transitional support, counseling, access to VA services, and outreach. They also facilitate and participate in research, covering a variety of topics all aimed to help the veterans.
IlliniThon is a year-long fundraising organization at Illinois that benefits St. John’s Children’s Hospital of Springfield. The student-run organization raises money throughout the year and holds a Dance Marathon, which is their largest fundraising event, every spring. They also form relationships with the kids receiving treatment and their families, creating a support network and personal connections.
We thank you for not only joining us to kick off Homecoming Week but for helping and supporting our Illini Family through different means.
Packet Pickup
You are only guaranteed to receive a race shirt if you registered by September 19th at 11:59 pm for the in-person 5K. All registered participants will receive a race bib. Bibs will be picked up on race day and shirts will be available both before and on race day. A friend or family member can also pick up your items for you if you cannot. Further details are below.
Shirts: Shirts will not be shipped. Shirts will be available to pick up at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center on October 12th and 13th from 2:00-5:00pm, then on October 14th from 9:00am-12:00pm. If these dates and times do not work for you, you can pick up your shirt on race day. Details for same-day pickup are below under ‘Race Bibs’. We encourage you to pick up your shirt before race day to reduce congestion at check-in. The Alice Campbell Alumni Center is located at 601 S Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61801. There is a parking lot located south of the building. We ask that you enter through the doors off Lincoln Ave (east end of the building). Volunteers will direct you to the ballroom to pick up your shirt. You will receive the size shirt you requested when you registered and there will be extremely limited options to change shirt sizes.
Race Bibs: You will receive your race bib at check-in on race day. Check-in will begin at 8:30am and end at 9:45am. It will be on the patio attached to the south side of the Illini Union, overlooking Anniversary Plaza and the Quad. Our bib provider, Second Wind Running Club, will have a table to check in at. There, you will give them your name and they will confirm your information then you will be assigned a race bib and number. Results will be posted on the registration website under ‘Results’. There will be a separate table to pick up your race shirt if you could not pick it up before. Please give the volunteers your name and you will receive the size shirt you requested when you registered.
Parking
Free parking near the route is available at the Krannert Center for Performing Arts (500 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801) and at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center (601 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801). The Krannert Center is located relatively close to both the start and finish lines. The Alice Campbell Alumni Center is located at the finish line. Please arrive accordingly to get a spot in either of these lots.
Race Route
Click this link to locate this year’s Homecoming 5K route! This is the same route as the 2022 race, starting on Anniversary Plaza and finishing at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center. To clarify, Anniversary Plaza is on the south side of the Illini Union and overlooks the Quad.