Magellan Development Group hosted and sponsored a charity lakefront race benefiting the Chicago Youth Program (CYP) on Sunday, May 17. This was the first of what will be an annual event at the firm’s 28-acre village near the confluence of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.

The Magellan Development Chicago Spring Half-Marathon and 10K started and finished in the park at Magellan’s Lakeshore East development. Participants in the half-marathon race and 10K followed a course along Chicago’s downtown lakefront. 

The morning of activities, which kicked off at 7 a.m., also included a Junior Dash for youngsters ages two through 12. The race itself started off with a bang with a full U.S. Marine Corps band launching the race, looping the course and then returning to a tent at the Lakeshore East Park where they became part of post-race festivities. 

A post-race picnic at Lakeshore East included music, food, a presentation of medals to half-marathon participants and a tour of the newly opened rental residences at Aqua. 

The event attracted more than 2,500 participants and an equal number of guests who each made a $3 contribution to the CYP. In addition to monetary donations, participants in the new race event were encouraged to donate school supplies to the program. Participants produced “a carload of supplies,” according to David Carlins, president of Magellan.

More than 1,400 runners finished the half-marathon, which involved running two loops between Lakeshore East and the Museum Park. Another 500 participants completed the 10K race consisting of a single loop.

The half-marathon men’s winner was David Grice, 28, of Texas. Gretchen Demong, 20, of Glen Ellyn was the first woman to cross the line. Top honors in the 10K event went to Todd Placek, 24, of Erie, Pa., and Bridget Montgomery, 29, of Chicago.

For race results and photos visit magellandevelopment.com.