Brittney Lemon Shares the Top 4 Places to Run in Downtown Chicago

 

As a Chicago resident, Brittney Lemon, knows that Chicago is a great place for occasional joggers, experienced runners, and dedicated marathoners. Chicago is known for many things, but lost in the shadows of the magnificent mile, sprawling skyline, the iconic bean, and of course the famous Chicago dog, are the cities unparalleled parks and trail systems. What makes them so unique is the diversity in landscape within such a close proximity. In a matter of only a mile or two, you could find yourself running along the beautifully renovated Riverwalk, through the Financial district of downtown, or along a sandy beach that lines the shores of Lake Michigan.

For running, the amount of trail options to choose from can be overwhelming. In order to help narrow it down, I assembled a comprehensive guide to some of my favorite running options for downtown Chicago.

1)  Riverwalk — The Riverwalk has it all: Restaurants, wineries, public art, and great views of some of several iconic Chicago buildings. From east to west, the path is 1.25 miles long, but can be extended by going either south down the river toward Jackson Blvd or via the Lakefront path (north or south). Brittney Lemon recommends starting at the Riverpoint building at 444 West Lake Street and run to the lake and back (2.5 mile run). Word of advice, if it is nice out and past 6:00 PM during the summer months, it is not ideal for fast-paced running as the path can get very congested. Also, the path feels very safe and is well-lit at night. 

2)  Lakefront Path (North) — Heading out on the Lakefront Path (North), Brittney likes to start at Ohio Street, just past Navy Pier, and head north. The path is 18 miles in total but from Ohio Street to Belmont Harbor is approximately 3.6 miles. Not only are there impressive skyline views of the city, the path hugs beautiful lake Michigan with unparalleled views of the lake and several beaches that rival any coastal city. Among the beaches (Ohio Street, Oak Street and North Avenue Beaches) you pass, there are plenty of spots for water, food, restrooms, or even people watching if you need to stop and catch your breath. This run is always full of excitement in the summer months!

3)  Lakefront Path (South) — Brittney Lemon recommends for those days when you just want to unwind, choose the tranquil surroundings of the Lakefront Path (South) starting off from the River Walk heading south to Shedd Aquarium. This run is approximately 1.7 miles each way. On weekdays, the path is usually empty with great views of Lake Michigan and the impressive Chicago skyline. The harbors along the way are also filled with stunning boats that will catch the attention of any boating enthusiast. You also pass the iconic Buckingham Fountain on the way, a great place to stop for some stair exercises. As you reach Museum Campus, you can always continue your run through the beautifully landscaped paths around the museums or as far as Soldier Field stadium.

4)  Millennium Park & Grant Park —The park is located just off Michigan Avenue and spans to Museum Campus. There are multiple paths throughout the park with an array of sculptures and gardens. If you are lucky, you may hit a concert night with live music ongoing at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion as you run through. With all of these running paths in such close vicinity, it is easy to hit more than one on your long run days. Training for a marathon can be both time-consuming and grueling, but downtown Chicago provides a very unique and unparalleled experience.