Reagan Run sponsors summary

Updated July 11, 2016 at 7:30PM CT:

2016 Reagan Run Awards
2016 Reagan Run Age Group Awards
2016 Reagan Run Overall Results
2016 Reagan Run Team Scores

The not-for-profit volunteer Reagan Run Committee gives back to the community thanks to participant entry fees and sponsorships. Read more about Reagan Run benefits.

2016 Reagan Run 5K Race Brochure
2016 Reagan Run 5K Race Course Map

The Reagan Run committee has announced scholarship awards (two male and two female) for student athletes who are continuing their post-secondary education at a two-year, four-year college/university or trade school.

The announcement is here.

2015 RR5K Videos and 2015 RR5K Photos have been updated! Choose the Media menu option.

2015 RR5K Race Results have been updated! Choose the Race Results menu option.

Greetings and hello fellow readers!  I have been asked to write an article for the upcoming Reagan Run 5K race regarding technology tools that one may use to help train and prepare for a 5K race.  I must preface this article by stating my love for running and being in the great outdoors.  With this being said, I am relatively new to running.  My previous experience encompassed running one or two miles here and there.   Running in a race was not something I had ever dreamed of doing, nor did I ever have the desire to do until three years ago.

I had recently began a change in my diet and wanted to loose weight.  Therefore, I began running again for both health and relaxation purposes.  My wife knew my interest in technology.  Truth be told, she knew if a gadget had a battery and a power button, I would probably have an interest.  So that Christmas, my wife bought me a Nike FuelBand.  I was immediately hooked by the thought of a device to help me track my activity.  The actual band would track steps, activity, and calories burned throughout the day.  I would then synchronize the FuelBand with an app on my iPhone and track my workouts, runs, and daily activity.  The unrealized benefit of the FuelBand was to not only to see the day’s activities, but also a tracking system to see the highs and lows in my physical activity, not just my runs.  Seeing the daily challenges and goals that I would set on the Nike Fuel app for my phone kept me motivated.  I would try and out-do myself each and every day.

Shortly after I began using the Nike FuelBand, I found the Nike Run app and was able to use the mapping, coaching, and social media features of the app to share my excitement of running.  It was awesome!  I would begin a run and my followers were able to see that I was out on a run and would “cheer” me on!  This was beneficial as sometimes I would loose motivation at mile 4 or 5 and then I would hear a cheer from the app.  These cheers from friends helped to keep me going.

The other benefit of the Nike Fuel and Run apps is that you can network with a group of your friends.  May it be Twitter, Facebook, or just your contacts on your phone, you can see progress and effectively try to out-do your friends in challenges and in earning Fuel Points (a value that Nike puts on all physical activity).    The best thing about the Nike Fuel app is that it is now available on any iPhone that is a 5 or later.  The phone will do the tracking of your activity.  You no longer need to buy a FuelBand in order to use the features.  This is a plus as I use my iPhone for music to motivate me on my runs as well.

There is a great deal of options for the beginning runner to help train, track progress, and to share results.  I of course can only speak to the Nike apps and equipment, but I do know there are a great deal of followers of the Fitbit Surge smart-watch, the Watch, and many other devices out there.  These are great tools to help motivate and keep you on target with your 5K goals.  My only suggestion is do the research on what you personally need for an app or tracking method for your fitness goals, as well as what is easiest for you to utilize.  So get out and enjoy the great weather and get in shape at the same time!

Andy McFarlane is the CEO at the Y in Dixon, IL, runner, kayaker and lover of the great outdoors.  You can follow Andy at his Twitter account @AndyMcFarlane74.

During this year’s Reagan Run, there will be a pool and deck set up for a dog diving contest right in front of PLN Insurance. We are asking that when runners come off the Galena Avenue Bridge, to please stay on the brick walkway until they you are guided back onto the road in front of PLN on Lincoln Statue Drive. There will be volunteers available to direct the flow.

The Reagan Run 5K Committee recently offered two $500 Scholarships, one male and one female, for student athletes who were continuing their post-secondary education at a 2-year college, 4-year college/university or trade school.  The scholarships were available to any high school students who had participated in any or all of the following activities: 1) high school cross country, 2) high school track or 3) have participated in one or more road races including a Reagan Run 5K.

The Reagan Run Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the two 2015 Reagan Run Scholarships were Maggie Bushman, a senior at Dixon High School who plans to attend the University of Wisconson-Madison, and Quincy Coomes, a senior at Newman Central Catholic High School who plans on attending Sauk Valley College.  Both students will receive $500 to go toward their educational costs.

The Reagan Run 5K Committee was able to make these scholarships available primarily due to the enormous support of its sponsors as well as the tremendous buy-in by the community and the multitude of participants who have enjoyed the event over the previous 15 races.  The committee looks forward to presenting one of the finest road races in the area for the 16^th time on Saturday, July 4, 2015.  For more information on the 16^th Annual Reagan Run go to http://reaganrun.com.

For additional information contact Nancy Varga at 815-288-2655 or nvarga61@gmail.com