Shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, about a hundred runners lined up at the starting line in Urbana’s Crystal Lake Park for the 3rd annual Ambulance Chase 5k Run/Walk.

Several minutes later, the runners were chasing an ambulance down a tree-lined path. The ambulance left shortly after the start of the run, but the runners and walkers continued twice around the approximately 1.5 mile trail encircling the park.

The Myra Bradwell Association for Women Law students, a Registered Student Organization, sponsored the event to benefit a local women’s shelter.

“It’s really clever,” said Jessica Panza, one of the event co-chairs and a University graduate student, of the event name. “It’s one of the unique things about our race.”

More than a half-hour before the event began, participants, who were mostly comprised of law students, were at the site stretching and getting their assigned numbers.

Yusuke Kuwayama, a University graduate student, was there for his second year and was running in the event.

“It was a lot of fun,” Kuwayama said while stretching, adding that the weather was similar to last year. “I really enjoyed it.”

Vance Martin, a graduate student at Loyola University in Chicago, said that “a cooler temperature” enticed him to get up early Sunday morning in order to be at the 9 a.m. event.

Two event co-chairs, Nicki Shoemaker and Panza, along with the Women’s Law Society Vice President Kathleen Holthaus, all of whom are University graduate students, remained at the finish line to list the order of finish for the participants.

“We’re going to have some raffles … and awards and snacks at the end,” Shoemaker said.

Prizes were given to male and female contestants in four age groups, as well as to the overall male and female winners. Over $200 in gift certificates were raffled off to contestants.

The entry fee for the race was $15 to those who registered early and $17 to those who registered on the day of the race. All participants received a free T-shirt.

After completing the race, participants were invited to have refreshments that included donuts, cookies, fruit, water and Gatorade.

“Most of this area’s got a little topography,” Kuwayama said, adding that he thought he could have ran better. “It was a little slower than I expected.”

The event also drew the support of those not up for an early morning run. Some participants walked, and others simply volunteered.

Helen Kim, a member of the Women’s Law Society and a University graduate student, helped with the event.

“I’m pretty much cheering and making sure people don’t run over the runners with cars,” Kim said as she directed traffic flow into the park.