Runners In Will County Wanted For ‘Run Across America’

WILL COUNTY, IL — Run Across America, an annual national run set for this Saturday, is looking for runners and walkers in Will County to help a national hunger initiative while getting in a good exercise.

Niantic, a San Francisco-based software development company, is partnering with Run Across America this year to match contributions to Feeding America that are made during race sign-ups.

As of late May, people who signed up for Run Across America have helped provide more than 4.7 million meals, according to Feeding America.

The run is virtual, as participants can run at any time and on any route on Saturday. People in Will County and elsewhere will need to pick a distance — 5K, 10K or half-marathon (13.1 miles) — and log it on the Run Across America app to be included.

Leaderboards will be posted throughout the day Saturday for runners, walkers, cyclists, people in wheelchairs and kayakers, according to Run Across America.

Trained runners aren’t the only ones who can participate. In the virtual format, people can “sprint, jog, walk, or roll,” Run Across America said in its race description.

Run Across America registration is $35 a person, with a running T-shirt included. Participants have the option of forgoing the shirt and “paying it forward” to help front-line workers sign up.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, about 42 million Americans may not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.