The 7th annual Necktie 5K took place on the beautiful June Saturday morning before Father’s Day. The race is famous for it’s runners who all wear neckties and are awarded neckties as trophies.
Over 400 hundred participants came out for the Necktie 5K, and even if most of them were from the region, people from 13 different states also made their way to the event. Runners and walkers spanned from ages of 3 to well over 80.
The festivities started with a kids sprint. Different age divisions of children under ten years old took turns to make their way towards the tie covered finish line. The start line for the actual race was decorated with different colored boxers over their heads, and from the get-go the participants gave a strong start to the hilly course.
Local sponsors handed out donuts, fruit, water, gatorade and sandwiches during the race to keep the runners energized. Sponsors including Midwest Neuromonitoring, Inc., Nordstrom Psychological Services, Anytime Fitness, Porter Regional Hospital, Hospice of Calumet, Rittenhouse Senior Living, Extra Mile Fitness Company and many more all helped support the 5K.
The celebration of fathers and family was at the heart of the event. There couldn’t be a better example of what family means to this race than through the family of the race director, Curt Kendall.
“I’ve always wanted to organize a 5K because I’ve ran a lot of them in the past and June seemed like the perfect month to hold one.” Kendall said, “Then we realized that Fathers Day was the perfect day to hold one, and then the necktie idea came along. It’s taken off ever since.”
Both Kendall’s brother-in-law, who came all the way from St. Louis and ran in a suit, and his father ran the race this year. They have been some of Kendall’s biggest supporters since the beginning.
“I’m extremely proud of Curt. If you had any idea of how much time and work he puts into this, you just can’t help and be proud.” Curt’s father, Fred Kendall said, “It’s a lot of work to be done, but he loves all of it. He’s my son, I’ll do anything for him.”
Fred has been running the race since the second year, making the 5K a tradition, and proudly wears the number 1 bib. Kendall’s partner Jason Kasal, who has been helping out with the race since the start, said the tradition with Necktie 5K is a very big part of the race.
“People really love this race. Last year we had a couple run in their wedding attire because they had just gotten married that same day. That couple even inspired another one to get engaged right here at the finish line. Both of them are back this year and it’s great,” explained Jason.
Tradition didn’t stop with those couples and the Kendall family. Steve Depalma children made this year their second for the race and plan on coming back years in the future. “Last year we decided to run because it was such a well organized run and it’s great fun. We’re definitely going to run this again. It’s Father’s Day weekend, it’s fun with the kids, and we all love running,” said Depalma.
After most of the participants crossed the finish line, awards were given out through the top three finishers in different male and female age divisions. Those awards were in the form of different colored silk neckties with the a commemorative pin. Overall top three winners were handed out specialty glasses, covered in a design of neckties - of course - and those were also given to the winners of the father-son or father-daughter division. There were also awards for the best necktie design. When the awards ceremony was finished, families were invited to take a yoga class on the beach.
In all, the Necktie 5K is a perfect way to celebrate a well-loved holiday. After 7 years of the race it seems like it’s not stopping any time soon, as long as there are loving families and their fathers out to spend a perfect morning at Beverly Shores Beach.