10 things to know on the Chilly Cheeks races

​Four years ago, Karen Lopez Lechtenberg needed to combine some of her true loves: running road races, raising kids and helping others.
 
And because she can get more done in a day than most of us can do in a week, her solution was to organize a stack of races to raise money for her son’s baseball team.
 
That’s how the Chilly Cheeks road races began. Now in their fourth year, the races – a 5K, 5-mile and 10-mile – draw hundreds of runners. This year, they are on April 8 at Riverdale Park.
 
Here’s what you need to know.

1. Karen used to organize races in Nebraska and wanted to do a spring race here. Plus she needed to raise money for her son’s baseball team. Put those together, and you have an event.
2. The three races help support the team, but they also have given money to other organizations, including Project S.O.S., which provides school supplies for students.
3. Each of the three races is a loop, and all of them are chip-timed.
4. The 10-mile course isn’t finalized – but be warned that it’s gone up the switchbacks in the past. With the city mandate that all races must be run on the bike path, it can limit routes, but Karen still strives for variety on the courses.
5. The race has grown every year. Last year was the biggest, with 350 runners. “I’d like to see it get over 400 this year,” Karen said.
6. You aren’t just helping the baseball team – they’re helping you. Team members paint all the awards (coffee cups for age group winners, and penguin piggy banks), work the turnarounds and make all the food.
7. The food. Oh, the food. There are baked goods and other treats at the finish, but there’s also chili – including paleo and vegetarian options.
8. Wondering what to do with your kids? Don’t worry, there’s childcare. Only a mom of four kids would think of this – baseball team members and their parents watch kids at the playground near the start. So if you want to run but need help with childcare, this is the race for you.
9. The 10-mile route is only in its second year. “It’s good for spring half and marathon training,” Karen said.
10.  Runners receive a short-sleeved grey technical shirt with a penguin illustration on the front. Every year, it’s been a penguin.

 
There you go. I don’t know about you, but I’ll do about anything for free childcare. “We try to make it a family friendly and fun event,” Karen said.
 
Here’s a link to the race, and here is more on registration. Hope to see you there!
Happy running. 

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​About the race director
Name: Karen Lopez Lechtenberg
Age: 42
Family: Husband Nate, sons Jackson, 13, Keeton, 11 and twins Miles and Owen, 9
From: Raised in St. Louis, Mo., but has lived in Sioux Falls for six years
Occupation: Teacher at Cleveland Elementary School

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Jacqueline Palfy is a longtime runner, reader and writer, marathoner, mom and board member of the nonprofit Sioux Falls Area Running Club. Her contributions to the 605 Running Co. blog will appear each Tuesday. You can follow her on Twitter @runnerJPK or reach her at [email protected]. Story ideas are encouraged.
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