Last year, a new kind of 5k race was inaugurated at O'Hare International Airport. The idea was to provide benefits and monies towards the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity that assists disabled veterans with getting rehabilitated as well as returning themselves to civilian life with new handicaps and challenges. The first year was a success, and so it was held once again in 2013. And this time, I heard about it beforehand, so I actually participated in the race.
The morning of the race, all of us runners got to the race site, assembled, and then we were led out onto the course. At that point, the starting signal went off, and we started off. The race was held this year on a newly completed runway that won't officially open up until October 17th, so we were some of the first people who were able to set foot on it. Once we got out onto the airstrip, the run pretty much went as expected-well, except for that one part where we ran right next to a Boeing 777. After I crossed the finish line, there was a whole post-race set up and gathering that featured many different booths, a live band on stage, and prizes for the top male and female finishers. After checking the results at the registration table, I got a chance to do something even more interesting-go out and take pictures with that same United plane that I had run past earlier. After that was over with, I got a random chance to go up in a fire department cherry-picker truck, and then I headed home. All around, it was a very unique and enjoyable experience.
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