25th Annual Brimfield Old Settlers Race...

• 5K Run:- Run 3.1 Miles
• 1 Mile Run:- Run 1 Mile

This year the Brimfield Old Settlers Race celebrates its 25thanniversary.

The Brimfield Old Settlers’ race began in 1992 to raise money to help pay the medical costs for Rod McKown, an avid runner and participant in area races and marathons. A lifetime resident of Brimfield, Rod fell from a tree while hunting and became paralyzed, and confined to a wheelchair.

A race committee was formed to raise funds for Rod McKown and his family.  The committee wanted to have a fundraising Race on Saturday morning of the Brimfield Old Settlers Days to benefit Rod McKown. The Brimfield Area Men’s Club sponsors the Brimfield Old Settlers Days, a 3-day festival in Brimfield, which is held the second full weekend in August.

The Men’s club thought it would be a great event to have at the festival. The race committee solicited sponsors from the community of Brimfield and the surrounding area of central Illinois. The support was tremendous from area businesses and members of the community. Sponsorship dollars were donated to the race to help support the race.

On August 8, 1992 at 8am the first Brimfield Old Settlers Race began. The morning was full of fog. When I started at 4am to help prepare for the race I had to open my vehicle’s door to see the center line of the road. As we got closer to the start of the race the weather got better. The turnout for the race was fantastic. Everything went well. With generous support from area businesses, runners, walkers and volunteers the race was able to raise $8,000.00. The race was a great success, with over 830 runners and walkers participating. In a wonderful post-race ceremony Rod and his family were presented the proceeds from the race.

The success of the race, told the committee we should continue the race the next year.

In the first 2 years of the race 1400 runners and walkers participated to help raise a total of $12,000 to help pay the medical expenses of Rod McKown.

The race soon became an event to put down on your calendar to participate in at the Brimfield Old Settlers Days in August. Many participants came from the surrounding local communities and some from further distances. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Louisville, Kentucky, Clarksville, Tennessee; Fairway, Kansas; Atlanta, Georgia; Gainesville, Virginia, Sedona, Arizona, Lithonia, Georgia, Palmerton, Pennsylvania.

The contribution from the race committee and other volunteers are tremendous and remain to this day. Jubilee patriots help with a waterstop. The Rod McKown family help with another water station, and many family members participate in the race. Since the race started Rod McKown’s family has played a vital role for the success of the race. Clint McKown, the nephew of Rod McKown does a great job helping with the race. Clint Makes an updated large poster of all record holders in their individual age class for all the 24 years of the race. He also keeps the pictures of the shirts for each year’s race. Clint helps with the “Brimfield ,IL. Old Settler’s Days 5k Walk/Run” Facebook page.

Help and support by the Brimfield Fire Department, BYE Ambulance Service, Illinois Valley Striders, Peoria County Auxiliary, Brimfield Area Men’s Club have played a big part in the success of the race. The volunteers who show up every year to work behind the scenes are so appreciated and the reason the race continues to happen each year.

The runners, walkers, sponsors and all the many volunteers who show up every year, helps make the Brimfield Old Settlers Race a wonderful success.

The race committee became aware of wheelchair athletes who compete in races throughout the United States. In 1993 the race created a division for the wheelchair athletes. The race was able to attract world class paraplegic and quadriplegic wheelchair participants. In the 1993 race we had the female winner of the Boston Marathon in our race field. Many of these wheelchair athletes had participated in the World Games in Berlin, Germany, and the International Games in England. Many of these athletes had many outstanding awards and honors in the wheelchair divisions. An example of their achievements was Shawn Meredith, from Urbana, Illinois. He was selected to represent USA in IX Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He was named outstanding Male Athlete, Ohio Regional Wheelchair Games Columbus, Ohio. He won gold medals and established records at WAUSA Natl. Championships, Leesburg, Va. Ann Walters, from Bloomfield, Connecticut had many outstanding records. She was a member of the United States World Champion Team in Berlin, Germany. The participation of these wheelchair athletes at the Brimfield Old Settlers race, highlighted you can still be very active, with physical challenges. Wheelchair participants competed in the race from 1993 through 1997. Since the first race in 1992, race proceeds have helped individuals pay for handi-cap accessible vans, wheelchairs, and a wheelchair lift. Race proceeds were donated to the Brimfield Public Library, the village of Brimfield, and the Brimfield School District to help pay for sidewalk accessibility for wheelchairs.

Race proceeds have also helped buy auditory equipment for the hearing impaired, visual aids for the sight-challenged. The race has donated to benefits, helped buy a prosthesis for a young lady in the area, helped assist with medical needs, and provided financial assistance to the Brimfield Area Food Pantry.

On August 13, 2016 in downtown Brimfield, we celebrate the 25^thanniversary of the Brimfield Old Settlers Race. The entry fee for the race has remained one of most affordable of all races in Illinois. The philosophy of the race has been to make it affordable to the running and walking community and still be able to donate proceeds to help the people of need.

On August 15, 2015 the 24th annual Brimfield Old Settlers Race had 2 special ladies win trophies. The Number One Overall female finisher was Jacki McKown from Brimfield. She is the daughter of Rod and Barb McKown. Jacki was born in 1992 the year the race started. The other lady was Barb McKown who won her age group. Barb is the wife of Rod McKown. I am sure these 2 ladies and many great runners and walkers will help celebrate this year’s 25thAnniversary of the Brimfield Old Settlers Race by participating in the race Saturday August 13, 2016 in downtown Brimfield. We welcome all to participate this year to celebrate a very special race.

We thank all who have helped with the race since 1992. The sponsors, volunteers, runners, walkers and all who believe in the idea of why the race was started, to help the people of need in the Brimfield Area. Race forms can be found at http://brimfieldoldsettlersdays.webs.com/

Facebook: “Brimfield,IL Old Settler’s Days 5k Walk/Run

Illinois Valley Striders Website: www.ivs.org race calendar

Thanks!

Race Director

Tim Tucker

Event details and schedule

Thank you for registering for the 25^th Annual Brimfield Old Settlers Race!

CHECK-IN: 6:30-7:45 IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN LEGION HALL

PACKET PICK UP: THURSDAY & FRIDAY 6:30PM – 8:00PM, SATURDAY 6:30-7:45 IN FRONT OF AMERICAN LEGION HALL

RACE CONTACT: TIM TUCKER 309.446.9308

RACE PROCEEDS: GO TO THE PEOPLE OF NEED IN THE BRIMFIELD AREA

AWARDS: 5k RUN – 1^ST AND 2^ND OVERALL MALE & FEMALE. TOP 3 IN EACH AGE GROUP:

10 & UNDER, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & OVER.

KIDS RUN: ¼ MILE FUN RUN AFTER THE MAIN RACE. FINISHES IN FRONT OF THE GRANDSTAND. PARTICIPATION RIBBONS TO ALL.

COURSE: PAVED FLAT ACCURATE COURSE. STARTS AND FINISHES ON U.S. ROUTE 150 IN DOWNTOWN BRIMFIELD.

REFRESHEMENTS: COMPLEMENTARY FRESH BAKED GOODS, FRUIT & BEVERAGES.