NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

The relatively new tradition of hearing songs performed by members of the NIU School of Music as you run the course of the annual Corn Classic continues this year, even as the race has gone virtual.

The Corn Classic, now in its 40th year, allows runners to choose between a 10K or 5K race. In recent years the course route has included the NIU campus. This year, runners can participate virtually and run or walk the race anywhere, any time between September 19 and 27. Though 5K and 10K routes are marked if you want to run the actual course on your own.

You can sign up for the race online, and you don’t even have to miss the thrill of hearing the NIU Steelband, Huskie Marching Band or music from the NIU Jazz Studio. A one-hour race podcast which features music, messages from NIU President Lisa Freeman and DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith, and a little history is available for download.

You can even listen to the podcast without downloading it.