The runners gathered at the starting line on Chicago’s lakefront Thursday evening.

The Humana Race to Taste 5K Run/2-Mile Walk was held along the Chicago lakefront on Thursday, July 12, as part of an effort to promote health and well-being at the Taste of Chicago, the nation’s largest food festival. Brent Alexander won the race with a time of 15:44. The first woman to cross the finish line was Heather Prekop with a time of 18:02. Apple Man, Humana’s Healthier Choices mascot, was at the finish line to greet the runners and walkers.

“Humana is proud to sponsor this race for the third year in a row because it ties in with our Healthier Choices program, which promotes having fun and being healthy at the same time while at the Taste of Chicago,” Deborah Gracey, President of Humana’s Great Lakes Medicare Region, said before the race began Thursday evening.

After the race, party was held to celebrate the runners’ and walkers’ dedication to staying fit and healthy. Participants received complimentary samples of Humana Healthier Choice items and commemorative T-shirts and other items.

To see the full results of the race, click here.

If you go to The Taste of Chicago, which will continue through July 15 in Grant Park, check out the following to help keep your focus on health and well-being while having fun and enjoying great food with family and friends:

• Humana Healthier Choices guide, which features 27 appetizers, main courses and desserts from 15 Chicago restaurants. The Healthier Choices are indicated by a green apple on the menu boards at participating restaurants. Taste-goers can also use the free guide available at www.humana.com/tasteofchicago or www.facebook.com/humana.tasteofchicago.
• Well-being Tour: The tour is traveling across the country to provide a fresh perspective on healthy living. It features an interactive Xbox Kinect station where guests can play the “Your Shape” game, four biometric screenings and an opportunity to receive a free pedometer. It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Congress Parkway each day of the Taste.
• Humana Dining Pavilion: Humana teams up with Shedd Aquarium for a healthful cooking demonstration at 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 13, at the main Cooking Corner stage. On Saturday, July 14, Taste-goers are invited to attend the Biondi Boomer Bash, which begins with a live broadcast from WLS-FM at 10 a.m. followed by a sock hop with the legendary Dick Biondi from 4-6:30 p.m. where people can dance to music from the 50’s and 60’s.

Chef Dave Samber and Humana’s Apple Man at the Taste of Chicago.

When Chicago, a city best known for serving up dishes such as hot dogs, deep-dish pizza and cheesecake, hosts the largest food festival in the nation, you might not expect to find a lot of healthful activities or food choices. But that is exactly what you will see at the 2012 Taste of Chicago, which is being held July 11-15 in Grant Park.

Humana is bringing several activities to the annual event that help Taste-goers keep the focus on their health and well-being while having fun and enjoying great food. Humana worked with physicians with expertise in nutrition and diet to compile the Humana Healthier Choices guide, which features 27 appetizers, main courses and desserts from 15 Chicago restaurants. The Healthier Choices are indicated by a green apple on the menu boards at participating restaurants. Taste-goers can also use the free guide available at www.humana.com/tasteofchicago or www.facebook.com/humana.tasteofchicago.

An example of the tasty, healthier options is the baked crab cake nuggets that chef Dave Samber created for Polo Café (video).

It’s not all about food though. If you go to the festival, look for these other Humana sponsored events that emphasize the great outdoors, fun and fitness:

• Well-being Tour: The tour is traveling across the country to provide a fresh perspective on healthy living. It features an interactive Xbox Kinect station where guests can play the “Your Shape” game, four biometric screenings and an opportunity to receive a free pedometer. It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Congress Parkway each day of the Taste.
• Humana Race to Taste Twilight Run: The 5K run/2-mile walk kicks off at 6:15 Thursday, July 12, at Queens Landing on the lakefront.
• Humana Dining Pavilion: Humana teams up with Shedd Aquarium for a healthful cooking demonstration at 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 13, at the main Cooking Corner stage. On Saturday, July 14, Taste-goers are invited to attend the Biondi Boomer Bash, which begins with a live broadcast from WLS-FM at 10 a.m. followed by a sock hop with the legendary Dick Biondi from 4-6:30 p.m. where people can dance to music from the 50’s and 60’s.