Trail Runs Inspired by Chicago Transit Hikes
Grounded in the idea that nature should be accessible, all of Read & Run Chicago’s trail runs inspired by Lindsay Welbers’s Chicago Transit Hikes were accessible by public transportation.
Chicago Transit Hikes by Lindsay Welbers
Here’s where we’ve run.
The Bloomingdale Trail
On May 19, 2022, we ran 6 miles on the 606 at 6pm (nothing creepy about that “6”!). Co-hosted with Arc’Teryx Bucktown and author Lindsay Welbers, this route spanned the entire length of the Bloomingdale Trail. We focused on spotting serviceberry trees, one of the two tree species that the citizen-led phenology research project Environmental Sentinel uses to collect data based on the hypothesis that the Lake Effect impacts the biological cycle of plants along the trail. We finished the run with a live reading by author Lindsay Welbers at Arc’Teryx and Goose Island beer. Special thanks to The Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail and Bonnie Tawse for their time, planning, and dedication to community spaces.
Northerly Island
On Wednesday, April 20, 2022 we hosted a 5K run from the Museum Campus/11th Street Metra stop through Northerly Island and back, with a short stop for a live reading about the area’s political history and ecology from author Lindsay Welbers. We ended the event at Burger Bar Chicago with beers, burgers, and a Q&A with Welbers.
Illinois Beach State Park
During this trail run event in collaboration with Patagonia Chicago on October 22, 2022, runners explored Illinois Beach State Park’s North Unit, home to Illinois’s only remaining beach ridge shoreline. With options for guided runs of either 3-mile or 6-miles, runners passed through marshes, savannahs, and dunes and spot lots of native flora and fauna. After the run, we enjoyed snacks and a chance to win Patagonia swag with a donation to Alliance for the Great Lakes!
Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve
On this 3-mile guided trail run in partnership with Patagonia Chicago on November 13, 2022, we crossed marshes and oak forest landscapes in Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve. Runners glimpsed a unique dry-hill prairie, saw the progress of native species restoration and replanting of over 80,000 trees, and traveled over a picturesque boardwalk. After the run, runners heard Chicagoland grocery store history relevant to the park and enjoyed snacks and a won Patagonia swag with a donation to The Wetlands Initiative.
Thatcher Woods
On Thursday, May 25, 2023 Read & Run Chicago partnered with Arc’Teryx Oak Park to host a 3-mile trail run in Thatcher Woods, followed by a post-run afterparty at Arc'Teryx Oak Brook with light refreshments and shopping. In the spirit of Chicago Transit Hikes, we encouraged all runners to arrive via the Metra or another form of public transportation.