Ho, ho, hold on to your stocking caps. The Forest Preserve District's annual virtual 5K has moved to the magical month of December.  

The December Dash started Dec. 1 and participants have until Tuesday, Dec. 31, to hoof it on one of 11 designated trails to complete a 3.1-mile route. The first 100 participants to complete their 5Ks will receive a December Dash long-sleeve shirt to commemorate their participation.

“These virtual 5Ks are great opportunities for exercise and recreation,” said Em Wilcher, the Forest Preserve’s recreation coordinator. “They allow preserve users to run, jog or walk the race that works for them on their own time, at the preserve of their choice, when weather conditions work for their comfort and fitness level.”

To track your December Dash, download a running application of your choice to your smartphone and run the 5K on one of the designated trails. Take a screenshot of your completed route and submit it online by Jan. 1. Race finishers will receive an email confirmation after their submission is verified. Those awarded a shirt will be provided information to pick it up from a Forest Preserve visitor center in January.

Here are the trails you can choose from to complete your 5K:

• DuPage River Trail
• Hickory Creek Bikeway
• I&M Canal Trail
• Lake Renwick Bikeway
• Messenger Woods Nature Preserve Trail
• Old Plank Road Trail
• Plum Creek Greenway Trail
• Prairie Bluff Trail
• Rock Run Greenway Trail
• Spring Creek Greenway Trail
• Wauponsee Glacial Trail

Beauty of the season

Wilcher said the December Dash will help push people outside when the tendency might be to start hibernating.

“Midwest winters can be such a drag when there are strings of gray days, and it can be tougher to motivate ourselves to get outside in the dreary weather,” she said. “Offering the 5K on participants’ own time with a cheery promotional shirt can help sweeten the reward for time spent outside.”

But there are other rewards, too, she added. 

“We hope, too, that taking intentional time to experience the preserves as winter arrives will award participants with an appreciation for the beauty of the season,” Wilcher said. “A trail run with snowy scenery can be really invigorating. And taking advantage of a day in the 50s in December can be really restorative.”

Wilcher said she’s looking forward to seeing who completes the December Dash and hearing tales of challenges and accomplishments as the month winds down. 

“It’s always great to hear stories about participants’ experiences for these kinds of programs, and I’m wishing everyone a great time out in the preserves this winter!”