If you’re new to my blog, then I guess I should let you know that running in a new city is one of my favorite things to do when I travel, whether with Bo, friends, or work. It’s a great way to appreciate the city from a different vantage point and feel like a local.
This week’s work trip was no exception and therefore I was looking forward to my five miler in Chicago as soon as I landed! The weather was supposed to be pretty perfect for August, a cool 70 degrees at daybreak, and super sunny.
Tuesday night, upon checking in at our hotel, I chatted with the front desk to verify my planned route that I’d put together on Map My Run. I highly having locals review your route if you’re in a new city to ensure that it is safe.
Due to this planning, I was able to wakeup and head out quickly Wednesday morning for five miles along Lake Michigan before my breakfast work meeting. The sight that greeted me as I exited the hotel was breathtaking.
I took the pedestrian tunnel under the highway over to the Chicago Lakefront Trail along the lake and Navy Pier area. This path is a runner’s paradise as it is 18 miles long (hear that NYC?!) , paved, and includes amenities such as bathrooms, frequent water fountains, storage lockers, and restaurants.
As soon as I exited on the other side I was greeted with the beachfront and a scene of swimmers heading into the lake for their morning run along with throngs of runners and bikers. It was inspiring to see so many other people out this early, enjoying the wonderful weather.
I put in my headphones and just started running along the water, enjoying the scenery and my legs’ unexpected freshness and energy.
I even saw a runner carrying a large American flag around mile 2.
I turned around when I saw 2.5 miles pop up on my Garmin, right along a beach area where there were people doing boot camps, taking yoga, enjoying sand personal training sessions, and swimming in the water. While I love running in Central Park, this area of Chicago is pretty amazing and offers so many different fitness options.
How great would Sun & Moon Beach Yoga be for a Thursday happy hour option after a long day of work?
A kind woman offered to snap a picture of me as she noticed me taking pictures at my turnaround point. A NYC runner enjoying a great Chicago run!
My views running back towards the hotel were even better as I had the sand and lake to my left and the skyline in front of me.
Five miles done bright and early before a long day of meetings! I especially loved the negatives splits during this progression run including my last mile at 9:36! Have I mentioned how ready I am for cooler, Fall weather in New York City? My marathon training will be forever thankful if it comes earlier versus later.
What is your favorite running city?
You got some amazing views of the city! I can’t wait to run the marathon there in October! I love running around new cities when I visit – I think my favorite to date is Vancouver. Stanley Park there is sooo beautiful! Love it!
I love that you were representin with the NYC shirt! 😉 I cannot wait to see Chicago!
Gorgeous pics!!!
I have to be partial to me city of Baltimore! it gets a bad rap and there are certainly some not so nice areas, as with any city, but for the past 8 years I have lived just half a mile from the water where I could then run all along the water through the inner harbor and even over to Ft. McHenry if I wanted to. Gorgeous water views, boats, etc. We recently moved to the suburbs and the #1 thing I miss is those waterfront morning runs.
I’m a Chicago runner and live near the lake–it is pretty awesome to marathon train with such great views and the energy of all my fellow athletes. Glad you enjoyed your run today!
I love running that path in Chicago! I did 10 miles along it when I was in town for Lollapalooza this year (oh gosh, it was so hot), and my very-first-ever six miler last summer when I was visiting. Great memories! Also, so lovely and flat 🙂
That’s so great Liz! I wish I’d planned my running better this week and I could have done my long run this morning on the path. But, I have to admit that I loved sleeping 8 hours last night instead adn enjoying Pinot Noir at dinner.
Looks gorgeous! I’ve always wanted to visit Chicago and now I have another compelling reason!
Yes Shauna it’s amazing! Great restaurants and pretty running paths.
How often do you stop to take pictures? Doesn’t that slow you down? When I work out the last thing I am thinking about is taking photos.
I stop to take pictures normally 1x on a run this distance if I know I want to blog about it. I don’t take pictures on every run.
I don’t really care to slow myself down a bit to take a few pictures if I’m enjoying the scenery. Life is too short to worry about what’s going to slow you down.
Love the pic of the NYC runner in Chi-Town! I always say Chicago is a city I think I would like if I were to leave DC!
Thanks Gwen! I thought it was fun!
I also love to run a new city as a mean of exploring it but never thought to get the hotel staff’s review for safety first – I will absolutely do that every time now!
Oh man, I love that path! I used to rollerblade there in college before I was a runner, and I finally ran on it for the first time this summer — right around where you were, I think. I love that view coming back toward downtown!
I LOVE running when I’m travelling! Although I don’t get to travel nearly as often as you do 🙂
I’m actually headed to the beach on Sunday for a week, can’t wait to get some good miles in in an unfamiliar city!
Loved this! You literally ran right past my apartment 🙂 Chicago in the summer is the BEST (not that I’m biased or anything!). I always enjoy seeing tons of people out taking advantage of the lakefront path no matter what hour of the day it is. Next time you’re in town I’d love to meet up and perhaps show you my favorite yoga studio (CorePower) and their Yoga Sculpt class. Hopefully I don’t sound too creepy!
Kate I’d love to have a reader meetup next time in in the city! Unfortunately this trip was too short!
The Chicago lake path is hard to beat!!! I lived in Chicago for four years and now I live in the suburbs. I miss the lake path, but now I have tons of forest preserves so I make due.
So glad you enjoyed your run around my city! 🙂
Yes it was so much fun to enjoy the sights and weather!
I love running around new cities. It is such a great way to see the sites. I have never run in Chicago, but it is on my running bucket list for sure.
You found one of my favorite spots 🙂 my family lives in Chicago, and I’m in central Wisconsin, so I always pack lots of running gear for my visits. Each of the neighborhoods have a really investing vibe, too- they’re great fun to run through. Once, I had so much fun on the lakefront that my five miler turned into a twelve miler. Whoops 🙂 One of the best things about running as a guest on the lakefront is that you get a sense of the immense running community Chicago has to offer. I’m always running alone, but feel among friends. 🙂