Cusacks Leprechaun Dash

• Cusacks Leprechaun Dash:- Run 3.1 Miles
• Cusacks Leprechaun Dash:- Run 1 Mile

There is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! With Irish music and decorations, participates will feel like they are running in the emerald green fields of Ireland! Every participant will receive a leprechaun shirt and a goody bag. This race is open to all ages! Baby strollers are allowed on the course but leave your furry creatures at home. They may scary the leprechauns away! 

This year the Michael Cusack Hurling Club will be donating a portion of the race registration fees to a local charity, My Mary Cate. 

Mary Cather­ine Lynch was born on Decem­ber 8, 2011 and was quickly diag­nosed with Apert Syn­drome. Apert Syn­drome is a cran­io­fa­cial con­di­tion that affects the head, feet, and hands.  It is a spon­ta­neous genetic muta­tion that occurred at con­cep­tion.  Apert Syn­drome is extremely rare and occurs in only 1 in 160,000 200,000 births each year in the US.  It is totally unknown at this point as to what this will mean for Mary Cates devel­op­ment.  She could have both phys­i­cal and cog­ni­tive devel­op­ment issues, but the extent of such issues varies case to case and depend on the sever­ity of the syn­drome.  There will cer­tainly be near term surgery for her skull, hands and feet. Mary Cate and her par­ents reside on the South Side of Chicago. For more on Mary Cate and Apert syn­drome, visit mymarycate.org.

This year, the Leprechaun Dash will consist of a 5K run/walk and a 1 mile kid's dash! The course is predominately cross country style where the participates will run a 3.1 mile stretch in a double loop around the grounds of Chicago Gaelic Park. In the final stretch, the racers will run down the beautiful field where the Gaelic Games having been playing in Chicago for the last 29 years!

The kid's dash will start at 10:00 am and the 5K run/walk will start at 10:30 am. 

After the race, participant can enjoy their pot of gold at the pub! Every participate will receive (1) drink ticket. Both the Kid's Dash and the Leprechaun Dash awards presentation will start after the last runner crosses the finish line. Awards will be given to the top overall male & female running and walking finisher. The top overall male & female runner will be excluded from the age group categories medals. Running medals will be given to the top three finishers in each age group. Age groups: under 12, 13 - 19, 20 - 29, 30 - 39, 40 - 49, 50 - 59, 60 - 69, 70+. Also there will a prize given out for the best dressed leprechaun!

If you know someone who would like to help as a volunteer, please let us know. Email us at [email protected] Volunteer duties include course marshalls, registration and packet pick up, and water stations.