Chicago Running Guide is the ultimate guide to the area’s top running routes. Local running experts share their insights and favorite trails to give you the 31 best training routes and 9 most popular races in and around the city.
Written by running experts and longtime Chicago residents Brenda Barrera and Eliot Wineberg, Chicago Running Guide offers runners of all abilities an insiders’ guide to a variety of runs throughout the Windy City area. Here are some highlights:
Chicago’s lakefront—a longtime favorite with uninterrupted paths, shimmering water, and an impressive skyline
The northern suburbs—a wealth of running options, including lakefront jaunts, runs through Northwestern University, a course that leads to the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the wooded paths and open prairies of the Old School Forest Preserve
The western routes—filled with historical landmarks, popular long-distance runs, and the scenic Blackwell Forest Preserve
The south side routes—some of the most exciting and challenging courses with Waterfall Glen’s winding, rolling path, and the trails of the Indiana Dunes
Detailed descriptions and maps showing distance, scenery, terrain, hill ratings, and available facilities and tips on how to best enjoy each run are included. You’ll also find places to eat, historical snippets, and advice from local expert runners.
Chicago Running Guide not only provides a wealth of colorful, inspiring paths for you to run; you’ll get a taste of Chicago along the way.
Chapter 1. The City
Chicago Lakefront North (Hollywood Beach to Diversey Harbor)
Chicago Lakefront Central (Diversey Harbor to Grant Park)
Chicago Lakefront South (Grant Park to South Shore Cultural Center)
Hyde Park
Indian Boundary Trail North
Magnificent Mile
North Side Landmarks Run
Chapter 2. The North
Evanston
Green Bay
Home “Eco” Economist
Lake Forest
North Branch Trail North
North Branch Trail South (Caldwell Woods)
North Shore Channel
Old School Forest Preserve
Chapter 3. The West
Blackwell Forest Preserve
Busse Woods
Fox River Trail Middle Section (St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia)
Great Western Trail (Western Branch)
Great Western Trail (Eastern Branch)
Illinois Prairie Path Main Stem (Wheaton to Elmhurst)
Illinois Prairie Path Northwest Branch (Wheaton to Elgin)
Illinois Prairie Path Southwest Branch (Wheaton to Aurora)
Oak Park
Chapter 4. The South
I & M Canal State Trail (Eastern Section)
Indiana Dunes
Old Plank Road
Palos Hills Forest Preserve
Sag Valley Forest Preserve
Salt Creek Trail (Brookfield Zoo)
Waterfall Glen
Chapter 5. Chicago Area Road Races
Alden 5K
Arthur Andersen Bastille Day 5K
Chicago Distance Classic 5K, 20K
Heart and Sole 10K
LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon
LaSalle Banks Shamrock Shuffle 8K
Park Forest Scenic 10-Miler
Ridge Run 5K, 10K
Vertel’s Turkey Trot 8K
Brenda Barrera is a freelance writer and a regular contributor to Chicago's Amateur Athlete magazine. She has also been published in Windy City Sports. An avid runner, Barrera has been a Chicago lakefront resident since 1985. She is a member of the Chicago Area Runners Association and has received numerous age-group awards in running and triathlon. She currently competes on the Universal Sole racing team. Barrera regularly reviews sports and recreation books for Booklist magazine and is a program assistant for the American Library Association.
Eliot Wineberg is the founder and publisher of Chicago's Amateur Athlete magazine, Chicago's local running and multisport magazine. He is also codirector of The Running Network, a distributor of major regional and specialized running magazines throughout the United States. Actively involved in Chicago's running community since 1987, he is an avid runner and triathlete. His favorite running spot is the lakefront path near the Museum Campus, where you can catch him running or cycling early mornings.
Barrera and Wineberg live in Chicago.
“If you are a veteran runner of the Chicago area, or recently moved here, here is a book that will help you find all the great running spots. Barrera and Wineberg asked Chicago's runners, both elite and novice, where they liked to train. Everything is here: directions to the location, course routes to run, even water stops and mile markers. Chicago Running Guide is easy to use and will see many dashboards!”
Jim Spivey
Head coach
Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
University of Chicago
United States Olympic Track & Field Team
1500 meters 1984 and 1992
5000 meters 1996
1500 meters bronze medalist
1987 World Championship
“A welcome addition to every Chicago runner's library.”
Hal Higdon
Senior writer
Runner's World
“About time! This complete, handy guide to great places to run is long overdue.”
Eric Zorn
Chicago Tribune columnist and competitive runner
“Extremely informative and detailed reference guide to running in the Chicagoland area. The sidebars are interesting and provide additional fun facts about the different courses. Through this reference guide, I have discovered many new places to run. A must for both Chicagoland residents and visitors.”
Jenny A. Spangler
1996 Women's U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Champion
“This is a unique and indispensable resource for runners seeking a detailed description of the many beautiful paths and trails in the Chicago area.”
David M. Patt, CAE
CEO
Chicago Area Runners Association
Subscribe to feed
