Chicago runners-- running route question

AltoCinco wrote:

is it safe for a woman to be running alone there early on a Sunday morning (think 6-9am or so)? Or would it be better to head south to Chicago and take that over the lake?

Thanks--

No. Don't do either, it's not worth the chance. Hop in a cab and you'll be at the lakefront for 5 bucks. The area is much improved but I wouldn't recommend any out of towner's, especially women trying either route. Once you get east of Wells, everything is cool.

Cabrini Green is mostly shut down at this point. There's a lot of new housing going up. Most of the residents/bums don't wake up till the afternoon anyway. You're a lot safer running by in early morning than late at night. Just keep it to daylight. I lived in Chicago for a couple of years and heard the same crap about Cabrini Green. It wasn't till I was in that neighborhood that it didn't seem so bad. Just use common sense. I had pepper spray but never used it. AND as for the lake path, the safest areas are between Harrison (near the Field Museum) and north to Irving Park (around block 4000). You can go further in each direction, but again, keep it to daylight. I ran that path every morning at 6 or 7am and felt OK. There are some bums that sleep on it though. They never bothered but just keep a heads up. I never saw a lot of runners till I was closer to downtown either. Have fun in Chicago!

If you're staying in Wicker Park you could also take North Ave straight to the Lake Front Path, you go through Uptown which is much nicer than running down Division and once you are at the beach you can go either north or south and have a pretty good run. Also I have run to the far end of north the path and have never noticed anything too bad, of course I'm also a guy so bear that in mind.

Chicagoan 2004-2006 wrote:

the safest areas are between Harrison (near the Field Museum) and north to Irving Park (around block 4000). You can go further in each direction, but again, keep it to daylight.

Quit talking out of your ass. There are so many people out there this time of year you'll spend a lot of time weaving to miss them. The South tip of the path is awesome. The path is less congested and the Jackson Park/ Museum of Science and Industry area is beautiful.

Quit talking out of your ass.

Ya, don't worry about the bums. It's the typical Chicagoan behavior that you'll have to deal with. Fat, barbaric, corn-fed animals out there.

I run on the path in that area on weekends all the time and if you go early enough, you will be fine. The question is on how to get over to the path. Again, if you go early enough, and stick to major streets, you should be okay.

I do question staying at a hotel in Wicker Park, though. I don't know of any neighborhood hotels that would be anything near decent, especially in that neighborhood. Sounds shady to me.

I'd have to agree on hotel quality. Can't you find a chain hotel closer to downtown/gold coast/streeterville? Once you get into the little neighborhoods it's more residential than touristy. It's not that expensive to stay in Chicago compared to NYC, LA, Boston... Then all your problems are solved!

hmmmmm wrote:

I'd have to agree on hotel quality. Can't you find a chain hotel closer to downtown/gold coast/streeterville? Once you get into the little neighborhoods it's more residential than touristy. It's not that expensive to stay in Chicago compared to NYC, LA, Boston... Then all your problems are solved!

While I would love it if I were staying closer to downtown, it's a "family" vacation with the inlaws, and they booked the B&B in Wicker Park/Bucktown. So that's not changing at this point. A little inconvenient, yes. But they're buying, so it's sort of their choice!

Thanks for the info. I will look into the North Ave route. Most likely, my husband will be running with me on the way out to the lake, but he's not running as long as I am, so he'll be finished long before me. Maybe I'll run out there with him, but take a cab back when I'm done.

I've lived in a major east-coast city before so I'm not completely green, but there's rough [old Kenmore Square in Boston before the Rat was demolished, Grand Central before the homeless got kicked out] and there's ROUGH [ most of Detroit], and I was wondering which one of those two most approximated what I'd be running through!

Thanks again to all who responded. Shockingly, responses were all pretty helpful!

I'd also like to comment that early on Saturday and Sunday there are volunteers handing out water and gatorade along the path.

sleeper wrote:

I'd also like to comment that early on Saturday and Sunday there are volunteers handing out water and gatorade along the path.

Those aren't volunteers, those are wineos and they are drinking Mad Dog 20/20.