CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — There was a sea of orange and blue Sunday morning in Urbana.

Homecoming Week has officially started at the University of Illinois, beginning with a record-breaking Homecoming 5K at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center, where 400 runners took part in the event.

The U of I Alumni Association President said that it’s not just the fun events and the big game making U of I’s Homecoming so special, though.

“The tradition or belief is that Illinois boasts the longest, continuous Homecoming in the nation. Our Alumni Association has been around for nearly 150 years. Homecoming may not date back quite that far, but we do have the longest, uninterrupted Homecoming in the country. We take immense pride in this, and I know it’s a significant point of pride for many of our alumni, students, and faculty here at Illinois,” stated Dave Bambrey.

The 5K is just the start of a week filled with events. Bambrey mentioned his excitement for the Alumni Awards Gala on Thursday, Friday night’s parade, and the community-wide post-parade party.

And of course, Homecoming Week culminates on Saturday when the Illini play in a sold-out stadium against USC at 11 a.m.