Lincoln Memorial – Oldest Run in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD RUNS FOR THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
by Michael Zielinski

February 12, 2009 is the date for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Although he was born in Kentucky and lived a quarter of his life in Indiana, the foundation of his professional success was the twenty-five years he lived in Springfield, IL before becoming the 16th President. On this note, from the Springfield Road Runners Club web site, www.sprrc.net, there is a quote from Abraham Lincoln, “…to afford all an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life.”

The oldest run in Springfield is the Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon which is scheduled to have its 45th running on Saturday, April 4, 2009. From the race web site at www.RunAbe.com, the course in simple terms is “Run where Lincoln walked.” Beginning in 2007 in preparation for the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, the half marathon course was moved to the streets of Springfield from its prior location south of the city along the rural roads of Chatham, IL. This change was successful when in 2008, the Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon was named an officially “endorsed” event by the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (www.lincoln200.net). By obtaining “endorsed” status, the Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon will be included among the premier events celebrating the life of Abraham Lincoln as the Lincoln Bicentennial approaches in 2009 (www.lincoln200.gov).

On April 4th at 7:30 a.m., the tag-timed Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon begins on 6th Street in front the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum that has the following Lincoln quotation about Springfield on its web site, www.alplm.org, “To this place…I owe everything.” As the
race begins, the runners cross Jefferson Street and head south through historic downtown Springfield and in two blocks they go past the Old State Capitol State Historic Site on the northwest corner of 6th and Adams Street. Although this building was rebuilt in 1966, it was first built between 1837 to 1853 when Springfield became the capital of the State of Illinois while Abraham Lincoln gave speeches at the State Legislature and argued cases before the Illinois Supreme Court. The half marathon route also goes by the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site on the southwest corner of 6th and Adams Streets across from the Old State Capitol.

The run continues south on 6th Street for another two blocks before heading east on Capitol Avenue. After just one block, to the north on 7th Street, is the First Presbyterian Church where Abraham Lincoln worshiped with his family. The half marathon continues with one more block east on Capitol Avenue and a block south on 8th Street before reaching the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned and where he lived with his family from 1844 to 1861 prior to it becoming the only National Park Service site in Illinois.

The run continues south on 8th Street past the one mile mark and then goes several more blocks before heading west on Vine Street for a block and then returning north toward downtown on 7th Street reaching the two mile mark near the Lincoln Home Visitor Center. The half marathon course then turns to the west on Capitol Avenue with the Illinois Executive Mansion one block to the south on 5th Street before arriving at Capitol Avenue and 2nd Street, the location of the current Illinois State Capitol that was built between 1868 and 1888. The route then continues along the south side of the Capitol complex past the Illinois State Museum on the way toward Washington Park several miles to the southwest.

After a stretch of several blocks on scenic brick streets, the half marathon course enters Washington Park, Springfield’s premier park in an area near some of the city’s finest homes. After the runners loop through the park, they exit north onto Lincoln Avenue and stay on this street for approximately two miles as the half way point is passed before heading east and entering Springfield’s historic North End where the participants will pass Camp Lincoln, home of the Illinois National Guard. A mile later, runners will enter Oak Ridge Cemetery and pass Lincoln’s Tomb State Historic Site, the final resting place for Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, and three of their four children.

After the runners pass the Lincoln Tomb and exit the cemetery, the ten mile mark is passed prior to reaching the over 100-year-old Lincoln Park.
Around the eleven mile mark while looping through the park, the Illinois State Fairgrounds can be seen in the distance. This is familar terrain for Abe’s Amble, Springfield’s premier 10K road race held on the final day of the Illinois State Fair. This year will be the 32nd anniversary of Abe’s Amble with the 10K to take place on August 23, 2009 on a course starting in the Illinois State Fairgrounds adjacent to Grandstand and then continuing out of the fairgrounds near Main Gate, west on Sangamon Avenue, into Lincoln Park to Oak Ridge Cemetery and its to War Memorials area before returning back to start. There are spectators throughout the course and at the finishing stretch with the Grandstand as the backdrop, the runners go through a wall of people cheering.

Returning the Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon, when the runners exit Lincoln Park, they pass some classic, older homes with only 1.5 miles to the finish line on the campus of St. John’s Hospital two blocks to the north of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Several blocks to the southeast of the finish is the Lincoln Depot Museum at the corner of 10th and Monroe Streets where Abraham Lincoln gave his farewell address to the people of Springfield on February 11, 1861 (one day before his birthday) prior to leaving for his final calling in Washington, D.C.