A Weekend of Victorious Celebrations!

Posted by Barrington Hills
On July 8, 2024

The vibe exploded with excitement at the 4th Annual The Land We Love Run 5K/10K + 2-Mile Walk on June 29, 2024.

Some 129 participants stretched, hydrated, prodded each other and shared stories of how they prepared for this year’s Run just before taking their place behind the Start Line, anxiously awaiting the 7:30 AM airhorn blast prompting them to hit the ground running–or walking–their chosen course.

This year, certified, chip-timed courses incorporated more hills surprising some and enticing others wanting to take on the feat.

“I recently got into running about six weeks ago and wanted to do a running event,” said newcomer Angelo Belen from Gurnee. “A friend told me about the Run and here I am.” Angelo proved to himself he could do it! He medaled, taking 2^nd place in his 10K category. Congratulations Angelo!

(Pictured left: Angelo Belen displaying his 2nd place medal and patriotic costume for the occasion.)

Bystanders cheered on families, friends, couples, those with pets, those with strollers, and new this year, runners who banded together to form a team, as they cannonballed over the starting line checking their time and running into the distance–their feet emulating the percussion section of an incredible orchestra.

We had some fun team names! We didn’t have a medal for Best Team Name, and thankfully so because they were all so fun!

Team GI
Backstreet Girls
Team Raff
RRT (Rapid Response Team)
Hillstriders
Lady Liberty
Pantry Pacers
Team Lodowsky

America won its independence 248 years ago, and The Land We Love Run— an Independence Day kickoff celebration– showed that everyone who participated and made this event possible, won, too!

Registrants
Spectators
Sponsors
Donors
Volunteers
Behind-the-Scenes Crews
Folds of Honor Chicago
Cuba Township Food Pantry
and hosts, Cuba Township and the Village of Barrington Hills.

Collectively, these winners achieved victory that early Saturday morning for Folds of Honor Chicago and Cuba Township’s Food Pantry! They raised $11,500 for Folds of Honor Chicago, an organization that has awarded over 52,000 scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members and first responders. #ShoutOut to Team GI for rounding up the donation!

Setting a new record, over 820 pounds of food was collected as donations to Cuba Township Food Pantry! Thank you to everyone who brought pantry items!

Huge #SHOUTOUT to Tom Diener and Kevin Taylor from the Rapid Response Team (RRT) for donating close to 800 pounds of food boxes to the Food Pantry!

Team RRT took home the Most Donations Medal! Congratulations!

(Pictured L-R: Kevin Taylor, Molly, Cuba Township Supervisor Chris Karam, Tom Diener)

Medals were awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishers in 25 categories PLUS there were medals for team achievements and most patriotic costume!

Congratulations Susan Colditz (pictured right) who was awarded this year’s Most Patriotic Costume medal and who also placed 3rd in her 5K category!

The 2024 Run Results can be viewed by following the link and event photos can be viewed below.