It will be Chicago's duel in the sun -- sort of! The Chicago 10K and Chicago Chinatown 5K both are set for 8 a.m. on Sunday on Chicago's South Side. The two races will offer Chicago and Midwest runners quite a choice, but one thing is for sure. Both races won't have repeat champions. Because the events were two weeks apart last year, the same two runners won both events - Julius Mwangi for the men and Stacia Beste for the women.

While both events are paying prize money, the Chicago 10K will have the largest and most diversified field. Formerly the Kemper Chicago 10K, it will be run in the Washington Park-Hyde Park area, while the Chinatown 5K will be run about 30 blocks north - in Chinatown. Both races expect top attract some top Midwest runners, male and female, as well as a large sampling of local age-groupers. Only on Sunday will race organizers know which elites they got and which elites went to the other race!

The Chicago 10K

Good scenery and a well-managed race make this event a must-do. With prize money ($7,250 total) to the top five in each major race category, a regional cast shows up - even if it's hot.

This race has an even playing field with open, wheelchair, ambulatory disabled, visually impaired, quad and Clydesdale divisions. Last year, the open champions were Mwangi of Lebanon, IN, in 30:10 and Beste or Normal in 35:53. There were 827 finishers on a sizzler of a day.

"The Chicago 10K, formerly known as the Kemper Chicago 10K is unique because it pairs disabled and non-disabled runners in a competitive race with all proceeds going to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago," race director Barb Aronowski said. "It is also one of the few 10Ks held in Chicago, and while many of these events are held along the lakefront, this one is near the Museum of Science and Industry in Washington Park on a beautiful scenic course."

Start and finish are at the intersection of Best and Payne, about a mile west of the museum. Packet pickup continues at Vertel's on Clybourn, 2001 N. Clybourn, on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Race-day pickup will be from 6 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at Washington Park. Shuttle bus service to the race also is available from both Vertel's stores.

This race is two weeks earlier than last year, thus creating the head-to-head conflict with the Chinatown race. Contact Aronowski at 312-908-9070 or baronowski@rehabchicago.org, or visit www.chicago10K.com

Chicago Chinatown 5K

The Chicago Chinatown 5K offers a total of $1,400 in prize money, with all of it going to the top three men and women ($400-$200-$100). But this race is for the entire family. There also are youth races. Last year, Mwangi won the overall title in 14:49, while Beste bested the women in 17:41.

The start is at Wentworth and Archer and the finish is on Honorary George Cheung Way, Chinatown Square Mall. Runners are invited to stay after the race to attend the 24th annual Summer Fair along Wentworth/Cermak. It features local vendors, arts and crafts, a farmers market and a children's area, complete with pony rides.

For more information, call James Luk at 312-326-5363, or go to www.chinatown5K.com

There are many other events on Saturday and Sunday for runners, triathletes, swimmers and cyclsits. Please visit our searchable calendar of events at: www.chicagoaa.com/calendar/smu.html