RUNNING THROUGH CHICAGO WITH THE CITY’S RUN CLUBS

BY CINDY KUZMA

Chicago’s neighborhoods are more than just places on a map. Each area has a unique character that draws from its history, businesses and people. Local run clubs add to the fabric of the community, exploring the area on foot and giving residents a way to connect with each other. After a year of virtual and distanced meetups, these groups are eager to cheer on their members and all participants in the 2021 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

ROGERS PARK

Rogers Park is on the far north side; it’s one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city, rich with food and culture from a wide range of backgrounds and countries.

BEST PLACES TO RUN: Along the lakefront north; keep going a few miles, and you’ll reach Northwestern University in Evanston and the Bahai Temple in suburban Wilmette. Or, head to Warren Park (6601 N. Western Ave.). One lap around the park’s path is 1.55 miles, so two laps is a 5K, and there’s a sledding hill perfect for repeats in the middle.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS: Mile of Murals is a public art display along the CTA Red Line track at Glenwood Avenue, from Estes Avenue to Pratt Boulevard. The paintings depict parts of the neighborhood’s past as well as inspirational messages to guide the future.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Smack Dab Chicago, 6730 N. Clark St.: This “urban bakery with a wandering soul,” as the owners put it, is famous for cheesy biscuit sandwiches and vegan donuts. They pay a living wage and offer benefits to employees; hosted a free community dinner during COVID; and offer a safe, affirming space for queer, trans and non-binary customers.

ROGERS PARK RUNNING CLUB

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY THE ROGERS PARK RUNNING CLUB

“Thirteen years ago, I started running in the neighborhood at 5:30 in the morning. I put a post on a neighborhood message board looking for an accountability partner. At first, it was just me and my friend Bernadette running together. Eventually, we opened the Facebook group, and now there’s more than 600 people in it.

“Through COVID, when we couldn’t run together, we did phone call runs—we would all run separately, but we had a conference line going. A lot of people are in service industry jobs; they were hit hard, as were local businesses. So we started doing a weekly raffle.

“For example, we would say, ‘On your run, see if you can find a bunny and take a picture of it and post it.’ At the end of the week, we would draw a name for a gift card to a Rogers Park restaurant. It was a way to give back to restaurants, and then if somebody needs a meal, they’ve got it. Plus, it encouraged people to post daily on the Facebook page, adding encouraging notes on each others’ runs. It fulfilled that community need, without us actually seeing each other.

“Now that group running has started back up again, we have Tuesday morning and Thursday evening runs, as well as Saturday and Sunday long runs. We’re definitely looking forward to in-person races and the social aspect of long runs— hanging out at the coffee shop afterward.”

CHRISTY CHIAPPONE FOUNDER, ROGERS PARK RUNNING CLUB

STREETERVILLE/ THE LOOP

The city’s central business district, and many of its iconic tourist attractions, are all located within walking, running, or biking distance of the marathon’s start and finish in Grant Park.

BEST PLACES TO RUN: This is the midpoint of the Chicago Lakefront Trail; you can head either north for more crowds and beaches, or south in search of solitude and natural landscapes. If you start near Grant Park and follow the path in a circle around the Shedd Aquarium, you can log a mile-and-a-half loop that includes one of the most breathtaking views of the skyline—a favorite of November Project’s Kaitlyn Kooyers.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS: Chicago Riverwalk: Recently renovated, this path serves as the city’s other great waterfront. You can run there in the early morning, before crowds gather, all the way east to the Lakefront Trail; sip a glass of wine midday; or hop aboard the luxury boat Chicago’s First Lady for the Chicago Architecture Center’s acclaimed River Cruise tour.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Tiny Tapp & Café, 55 W. Riverwalk South, and City Winery, 11 W. Riverwalk South: Both serve tasty bites and beverages with scenic views.

NOVEMBER PROJECT

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY THE NOVEMBER PROJECT

“The Chicago Marathon is so exciting. For many people, it’s their first race or their first time visiting. We want to show them all the amazing things about Chicago in 36 hours. We used to work out at the Bean [formally known as the Cloud Gate sculpture, 201 E. Randolph St.]; hopefully that reopens by the time October rolls around, because it’s such an iconic location. We always do a social event, like an architecture tour or a pizza mile. Then, our cheer station is epic.

I’m really looking forward to showing off the November Project energy again.”

KAITLYN KOOYERS, CO-LEADER, NOVEMBER PROJECT CHICAGO

“During the pandemic, we pivoted to Zoom for virtual workouts and coffee chats, where you could stay on the line until you had to go to work. A lot of people working from home could have slept in and didn’t necessarily need to work out at 6 a.m. But we kept that structure and time to maintain a little bit of normalcy and consistency.

“Another thing we promoted, from the leaders of November Project global, was a 1-60-1. So one-minute video chat; go out and do your own workout for 60 minutes; then log back in at the end for another minute to share that experience and hold each other accountable.

“I am beyond excited for the Chicago Marathon. We have a cheer station right around mile 22. We have a huge group, usually wearing onesies. November Project is a free fitness movement that’s 53 cities deep around the world. We have our local group, but it is also a global community.”

MIKE “NEZ” IBANEZ, CO-LEADER, NOVEMBER PROJECT CHICAGO

AVONDALE/ NORTH CENTER

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY THE MIKKELLER RUN CLUB CHICAGO

These largely residential northwest side communities blend Chicago’s European immigrant and industrial past with new urban destinations, such as breweries and Michelin-starred restaurants.

WHERE TO RUN: The Mikkeller Running Club often hits the North Branch Riverwalk—a short pathway near Chicago’s other body of water—and then circles Horner Park (2741 W Montrose Ave), where you can run an approximately 1-mile loop around the playgrounds, baseball and softball fields, and grassy picnic groves.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS: St. Hyacinth Basilica, 3635 W. George St..: You can see this Polish cathedral’s towering steeple from miles away. Come for Sunday mass— in Polish or English—or merely to gaze upon the bronze doors, 100-year-old stained glass windows and saucer-like dome, with its 3,000-square-foot mural.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Beer Temple, 3173 N. Elston Ave.: If it’s good enough for the Mikkeller Running Club—the local chapter of a worldwide running club linked to a Danish brewery—we’ll bet you’ll find a brew for you at this craft beer taproom and bottle shop.

MIKKELLER RUN CLUB CHICAGO

“We invited other MRC chapters to join us, so we interacted with members from Russia, Denmark, Liverpool, and Los Angeles. It was really cool to hear how they were doing. We’d introduce ourselves and talk about the beers we were drinking.

“Once we knew outside was a bit safer, in the summer, we started hosting smaller runs wearing masks. Sometimes we would end at a place with a patio or meet in a park and someone would bring beverages. We were able to do stuff together, but alone. Just being able to see people—whether it be on Zoom, or the very small runs that we did—was nice for mental health.

“We finally just started meeting again in person. It was so great to hug people, to say ‘cheers’ without staring into a screen.

“We’re very much looking forward to Marathon weekend. We always host a shakeout run and a post-marathon party. It’s so fun to meet people from all over the world who enjoy running and craft beer; with those two things in common, we’re instant friends. We’re very committed to keeping people hydrated during their marathon endeavors, so we’ll be hosting an unofficial aid station with local beer at mile 24 again this year.”

LOGAN SQUARE/ HUMBOLDT PARK

PHOTO CREDIT: MICAELA BERNAL

Besides hosting 3RUN2’s large Thursday night runs, Logan Square hosts a thriving arts and dining scene, and Humboldt Park is the center of the city’s large Puerto Rican community.

WHERE TO RUN: In Logan Square, the boulevard system features large, grassy medians that separate major streets from inner, residential drives; sticking to the inner drives means less traffic. And in Humboldt Park, choose between the 2-mile path around the lagoons in Humboldt Park itself or the 606, a raised 2.7-mile path along the abandoned Bloomingdale train line that’s lined with murals, public sculptures, and an observatory perfect for stargazing.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS:

Paseo Boricua, Division Street between Western and California Avenues: This Puerto Rican promenade features two large metal sculptures of the Puerto Rican flag; countless powerful murals and painted doorways; tons of restaurants and other businesses; and the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (3015 W. Division St.).

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.: This vintage cinema—first opened in 1915—now features a full bar and modern screen and sound system.

3RUN2

“Many of our runners kept running, though. Seeing everyone’s activity on Strava added a bit of a sense of normalcy. So did crossing paths with a regular, with someone you know. You felt so grateful for the flybys; they meant that much more.

“We put things completely on pause to exercise the utmost care. Our runs attract a lot of folks —and we just didn’t feel comfortable getting 60, 70, 80 people together.

“The pandemic gave me and my sister—co-founder Micaela— time to reflect. We offered four runs a week for eight years without fail. Moving forward, we want to keep things manageable and ensure a great experience for everyone who shows up. It’s important that new runners have a chance to introduce themselves and make connections, and the friendship, community and camaraderie is there for people who have been with us for quite some time.

“It wasn’t until March or April of this year that we started meeting again, doing our Tuesday and Thursday runs every other week and our long runs weekly. We’re asking new runners to sign up for our email list and using Strava to communicate with our existing runners.

“Now that we have the ability to get together, everyone cherishes it more. Training for the Chicago Marathon is such a breath of fresh air. I’ve done it every year since 2010, and this will be my 20th marathon—I’m stoked for that and everything that comes with it, including cheering everyone on and hosting activations for people coming into town.”

NICOLAS BERNAL, CO-FOUNDER, 3RUN2

CHICAGO AREA RUNNERS ASSOCIATION

“I joined the CARA staff in September of 2020, with a focus of starting run crews throughout the city. You can always meet up with somebody and run, but these crews encourage you to be active in your community as well—for instance, cleaning up the neighborhood along the running routes.

“During the pandemic, many other groups stopped—but CARA continued to run and walk, as public health guidelines allowed. We started three groups during this time, in Austin, Marquette Park and the West Loop. I tell my leaders, this is your neighborhood, you know what you need, you know what you want. I’m here to help support you and to get it going.

AUSTIN

PHOTO CREDIT: MICAELA BERNAL

“When I was trying to get people to show up, I stressed to them that this is the time to be active. You don’t let something like this close you in. Your body can better fight off diseases if you take care of it. Plus, when you’re physically active, it improves your mental health. People don’t always talk about that, but as a runner who’s dealt with depression, running saved my life in so many ways.

“My vision for the future is to start even more crews throughout the city—including further on the South Side—and to have everyone be a part of this even bigger community, to break out of our niches.”

DOMINIQUE SABBS, MANAGER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CHICAGO AREA RUNNERS ASSOCIATION

This far West Side community is home to the “Soul City Corridor”—a stretch of Chicago Avenue being highlighted as an emerging business district. WHERE TO RUN: CARA’s Austin Running Crew starts at La Follette Park, 1333 N. Laramie Ave., and runs for 3 miles. One route goes south on Laramie, west on Chicago Avenue, north on Central Avenue, then back to the park via Division Street; the other goes north on Laramie to Grand Avenue, then west to Central Avenue, which allows for a few more hills, says run club leader DeMarra Brantley.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS: Pop Courts, Chicago Avenue & Lockwood Avenue: This brand-new community plaza transformed a former vacant lot with seating, a basketball court, shady spots, and a turf lawn. On the wall nearby, a mural by local artist collective Paint the City depicts Black leaders like Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman and Mahalia Jackson.

AUSTIN RUNNING CREW

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Three-Ds Jerk Chicken, 5317 W. North Ave.: Flavorful spices and generous portions characterize this Jamaican spot.

VIENTO LITTLE VILLAGE RUNNERS CLUB

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY THE VIENTO LITTLE VILLAGE RUNNERS CLUB

BEST PLACES TO RUN:Viento’s neighborhood route— west on 26th street from Central Park Ave., then over the 31st Street bridge—offers an art-filled tour. Or you can head northeast to the 161-acre Douglass Park, in adjacent North Lawndale, for a bit more mileage and beautiful natural areas.

LITTLE VILLAGE

La Villita, as those who live there call it, is filled with MexicanAmerican culture—bright murals, bakeries and street vendors, whose numbers have only

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS:Manuel Perez Jr. Memorial Plaza, 4345 W. 26th St., has become a lively community gathering spot with a market, frequent food distributions and a Little Free Library; head west on 26th street to get a true feel for the shops, vendors and murals that make the neighborhood buzz.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Jacaranda, 3608 W. 26th St.: Viento starts and ends its runs at this bar, which offers micheladas—think a Bloody Mary, but with beer.

VIENTO-LITTLE VILLAGE RUNNERS CLUB

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY THE VENADOS RUNNING CLUB

“I’m one of four founders of the group, and currently still a captain. When the stay-athome order came down, we did a lot of research on what other teams were doing. We saw many stopped meeting for the time being and decided that was best for us too.

“Little Village was really hit by the pandemic. A lot of runners had people close to them who were infected and getting sick, and even losing family members. Our team is very close-knit and checking in on each other. A lot of our runners don’t have social media, so we didn’t do it all publicly, but we did a lot of back-end resource sharing.

“We did take to social media too, trying to get people motivated. We set up challenges on the Nike Training App to do different types of workouts or to hit a certain number of miles in a month—say, 60 miles in July.

“Through it all, we also kept taking the temperature, asking, have you been running? How’s it going for you? Many people said it wasn’t a priority. Others really avoided going to certain parts of Little Village because it’s always packed.

“Once we were able to meet as a group again, it felt like reclaiming our neighborhood. A lot of people have noticed we’re back and they’re cheering us on.

I’m supporting them; I’ll be at mile 23 cheering them on.”

JESS VERGARA, CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CAPTAIN, VIENTOLITTLE VILLAGE

VENADOS RUNNING CLUB

“Our group is a little smaller, more family-based. We actually meet out of our house most of the time. Having a small space and a 6-year-old who’s not vaccinated has made it difficult. Returning to ‘normal’ looks a lot different for us, but we stay connected.

“We had a lot of people reaching out to our website and email looking for running groups in the pandemic. We had to let them know we’re taking it slow. For our existing group, there’s a sense of family. We have a big group chat in Facebook Messenger where we share birthday and holiday greetings.

“One of our members, Carlos Jaramillo, is the race director for the Carrera de los Muertos 5k. Last year, his race went virtual, so we all signed up for it. We also did the Shamrock

Shuffle virtually, posting photos afterward on social media. running the Chicago Marathon; this is one of the few years I’m sitting it out, and I think there are a lot of people like us, with older relatives and young children to think about. But we’re planning to cheer at our normal spot on 18th Street in Pilsen, where there’s lots of energy and music and dancing.”

MARGARET RIVERA, COLEADER, VENADOS RUNNING CLUB

MARQUETTE PARK

Next to West Lawn on the southwest side, diverse families reside in bungalows nestled on tree-lined streets near the park that gives the neighborhood its name.

BEST PLACES TO RUN: In Marquette Park itself, says Andres Herrera, leader of the Marquette Park Run Crew. The trail is approximately three miles.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS: The crown jewel of this area is Marquette Park—a sprawling 323-acre green space that includes an outdoor track, lagoons, a nine-hole golf course, and memorials to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Darius and Girenas, LithuanianAmerican pilots who served in World War I.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: El Indio, 3930 W. 63rd St.:Crave authentic Mexican, but eating plant-based? This familyowned spot offers vegan soy-based chorizo, chicken and steak alongside traditional carne asada and al pastor tacos, tortas and burritos.

WEST LAWN

West Lawn is a close-knit, family-oriented community with a small-town feel on the southwest side of the city.

BEST PLACES TO RUN: The West Lawn Runners Club has a 5K route that begins at the West Lawn Park field house—65th Street and Tripp Avenue— and travels the streets of the neighborhood. For long runs, they head to the four-mile loop around Midway Airport, where they can look up at jets flying overhead and passengers headed to and from their flights on the pedestrian bridge.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS: The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski Rd.: Chicago is home to the largest Lithuanian population outside of Lithuania, and this spot features artifacts and exhibits from the past and present.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Zacatacos, 5925 S. Pulaski Rd.: This family-owned spot has been serving up steak and al pastor tacos since 1996, when it became one of the first taquerias in a neighborhood previously home mainly to European immigrants.

PILSEN

Though it was originally named after a Czech city, this southwest side neighborhood has long been home to many Mexican-Americans and bursts with elaborate street art, music and nightlife.

WHERE TO RUN: Head down 16th and 18th streets for the best views of the colorful murals the neighborhood is known for, including works by local artists JC Rivera and Hebru Brantley.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS: National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St.: In addition to a permanent collection of more than 11,000 objects, this museum hosts visiting exhibits that offer a broad interpretation of Mexican history and culture— and admission is free.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Kristoffer’s Cafe and Bakery, 1733 S. Halsted St.: In addition to authentic Mexican food, this spot boasts legendary Tres Leches cakes, which come in flavors like coconut, chocolate, caramel and Kahlua.

VENADOS

Photo provided by Venados Run Club

WEST LAWN RUNNERS CLUB

“I’ve been running since 2013, which is when I moved to West Lawn from Berwyn. In the past four years, I’ve gotten really consistent. On Oct. 25, 2020, I put a post in the West Lawn Neighbors group about starting a running group. A lot of people were supportive, so I built the Facebook group after that, and now there are about 400 members.

“Our group runs are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 in the evening; we meet in front of the fieldhouse at West Lawn Park. In between, we post our runs in the group—and then we see that inspiring and motivating others, so that people will then do their own walks, runs or bike rides and post them.

“I’d like the group to continue to grow, and then to participate as a group in races.”

MARIO HERNANDEZ, FOUNDER, WEST LAWN RUNNERS CLUB

HYDE PARK

A historically Black neighborhood where block parties abound and President Obama once resided, Hyde Park is also home to the University of Chicago campus.

BEST PLACES TO RUN: Travel the south end of the Chicago Lakefront Trail and check out the unique pedestrian bridges; stop by Promontory Point, where GumboFit starts its Saturday long runs, for a picturesque southern view of the skyline. Or take a detour on the Burnham Wildlife Corridor, an urban wilderness refuge that runs alongside the trail.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS:Stroll 53rd Street to get a feel for the local vibe; you’ll pass everything from the upscale Sophy Hotel (1411 E. 53rd St.) to the down-home Soul Shack (1368 E. 53rd St.). Don’t miss Jackson Park, a 500plus acre lakefront park that once served as the site of the World’s Columbian Exposition and now features the Osaka Japanese Garden, golf course, and the famous Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S. Lake Shore Dr.).

LOCAL BUSINESSES: B’Gabs, 1450 E. 57th St.: Chef Gabrielle Darvassy believes healthy foods should be beautiful, delicious and accessible—and her dishes, from breakfast sandwiches made with chickpea eggs to vegan BBQ burgers, deliver.

GUMBOFIT

“When everything first happened in March 2020, I made the executive decision to shut our running groups down. Once we realized running outside with a mask on and also with distance was OK, in late summer and early fall, we started to bring back our programming.

“We also partnered with EDGE Athlete Lounge to put on a series of races called the Road Less Traveled series. It started in August with a 5K, and then there was a half marathon and marathon the day those bigger races would have been—primary events in Chicago running culture.

“We ended up doing six races in nine months. They filled a big gap, giving runners a reason to lace up, show up, and train for something. And, they were also a huge opportunity to spotlight Black and Brown runners in Chicago. We raised $10,000 in grant money and distributed it to local Black and Brown run clubs.

“The series will continue; we won’t do as many, but we still see space to hold races that align with marathon training and also continue to raise funds and bring the community together.

“We also have 25 people training for the marathon with us—a great group of diverse runners who can inform and support one another. They do our weekly long runs and Track Tuesdays, which are open to everyone, and then they also have a private strengthtraining session on Wednesdays. I want to continue to cultivate safe space, especially for Black and Brown runners, to reach their goals and to try new things.”

COURTNEY PHILLIPS, CO-FOUNDER, GUMBOFIT

BRONZEVILLE

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY 7ONSUNDAYS

The city’s “Black Metropolis” was once home to many well-known artists and athletes, including Ida B. Wells and Olympian Jesse Owens. Now, Black entrepreneurs are working to preserve history while moving the neighborhood forward.

Best places to run: Follow the 7onSundays’ route: Start at the Victory Monument—which commemorates Black soldiers in World War I—at 3500 S. Martin Luther King Dr.; head east on 35th street to the Chicago Lakefront Trail; go north to the 31st Street bridge, then take 31st Street west to State Street; take State Street north to Cermak and turn left; go west through Chinatown, then take a left on Halsted, which will take you all the way back south to 35th Street.

LANDMARKS/ATTRACTIONS: to the Great Migration, 2600 S. Martin Luther King Dr.: This bronze figure of a traveler surrounded by suitcases, by sculptor Alison Saar, honors African Americans who moved northward away from oppression and in search of greater opportunity in the early 20th century.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: Last Lap Cornerstore, 330 E. 51st St.: Ian Gonzalez, the co-founder of 7onSundays, opened this running store during the pandemic to finally cater to South Side runners’ needs for nutrition, shoes, gear and community. It’s part of Boxville, a shippingcontainer marketplace full of innovative small businesses.

7ONSUNDAYS

“From day one, we’ve made an intentional point to run in the neighborhoods. Everybody who’s on the lakefront is already active. We want to inspire other people by seeing us out there for seven miles every Sunday. We’ve stayed true to that commitment for the last three years.

“During the pandemic, we took it upon ourselves as leaders to communicate. We engaged on social media. We starting telling everybody, running’s not canceled, sharing that hashtag. We’d show images of everybody running solo, shouting them out and encouraging people. February is notoriously the coldest month in Chicago; we gathered about 125 runners to commit to running virtually that month. In March, since there wasn’t a Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, we got together for a South Side Shuffle. We ran and bought everyone pizzas.

“We also have a Whatsapp group for people who want that connection. As we started running together again we made sure everybody was comfortable and told them, even though we are outside, stay masked up and keep some social distancing about yourself. Many of our runners told me the group was amazing for their mental health during the pandemic.

In addition to our Sunday mornings, we have Blue Bridge Tuesdays, where we meet at Williams-Davis Park with some members of the November Project for a strength and conditioning run. Now that more in-person races are coming, we’re just exploring the city a little bit more, running with some other groups and adding those little things to our programming. We’re aiming to hype everyone up about running and race day.”

IAN GONZALEZ AND AARON INGRAM, CO-FOUNDERS (WITH CRAIG TAYLOR), 7ONSUNDAYS