I hate running in Chicago

All of your live? LR is flying its colors this week!

Great. Get the hell out of here then.

The neighborhoods are great with the architecture in LP and Lakeview. Wonderful homes and small streets just north of Irving Park by the lake. Try going up by Hawthorne Woods and run up north. Hit the Prarie Path in the suburbs. Do some speedwork and run by the projects.

If you're a marathoner, it's a great place to train if you want to run 2:10 - or break it by just a little or by a lot.

I dont live in any of those nice areas.

what if you live around a prison?

this city is shit.

I think it's a great city for tourists, but I could never imagine living in that filthy, filthy hole.

Filthy hole?

Spend a few years in NYC or Philthy. Chicago will seem so grit-free you'll have a hard time taking it seriously as a real city.

I understand what you are saying. I don't disagree that Chicago may be better than Philly (never been there) and NYC (I have been there). But, it doesn't make sense to compare one filthy hole with another. Why would you settle for filth when you could choose something better?

Who said anything about settling? Some of us like filthy holes!

truth teller wrote:

I dont live in any of those nice areas.

what if you live around a prison?

this city is shit.

Move.

Amen! I also love me some filthy holes!

Have to agree. Running in the city is pretty poor. The lakefront is totally packed on the weekends so you are dodging fate people walking and on bikes all day. If you ride a bike, how can you think it is okay to fly through people going 20 MPG on the lakefront path. Don't even get me started on the roller bladers either.

Running on the side streets is the only alternative. Use the one ways. You will get killed by a car coming out of the alley if you are on the sidewalk.

Good advice to go up to the burbs for some running. The further you go North and West means you can actually get some rolling hills too.

Sadly, NYC and Philly have a much better running scene. I wish it were not so, but it is true.

I love Chicago, as I was born and raised here, but it is abysmal for running compared to about any other city. I would not mind moving either to be honest if that is your next point...

I spent later school years in a far north shore suburb. Running there was great. Lots of forest preserve trails and even the roads were quiet and enjoyable to run on - especially in the winter. My grandmother's home was right across from the Bears headquarters - can't think of a nicer residential area to run.

Born in the western suburbs - my grandparents had a house two blocks from York High School. When I started to run I ran with York guys - nice residential runs. The western suburbs have plenty of good places to run. It is on par with many other suburban areas.

Kettle Moraine in the northwest is worth the drive (one of the better places I have ever run) and the lifestyle with a far north suburban job is pleasant in that neck of the woods.

The best place I have ever run is Moses Cone State Park near Boone, NC. You will find many on this board agreeing with me.

My father lives in a place on the Gold Coast in Chicago and the city generally speaking has few good places to run. I don't enjoy running in Lincoln Park when I visit. I work in both DC and New York and find Central Park much better than anything in Chicago. DC is better all around - both in the city and suburbs.

A cyclist was getting 20 MPG on his/her bike? Wow!!!!

I will say without a moment of hesitation

There is just one place

That can light your face.

Gary, Indiana,

Gary Indiana,

Not Louisiana, Paris, France, New York, or Rome, but--

Gary, Indiana,

Gary, Indiana,

Gary Indiana,

Your new home sweet home.

Sounds like it's time for some new scenery. Why waste your life in a place where you're not happy? I spent a long weekend in Chicago and found it very mediocre for running. There are cities with great interconnected park systems. Twin Cities is great if you like the midwest lifestyle, but there are lots of others.

easy does it wrote:

I spent a long weekend in Chicago and found it very mediocre for running.

WOW! A whole long weekend?

Do tell us more Mr Wizard! What other cities have you used you super human powers to absorb all that is available?

New York? Paris? Crete? Moscow?

How DO you manage to cover every area in such a short time?

You must be really talented and stuff!!

You know Chicago sucks - it is full of degenerates.

If I can't find someplace decent to run besides the lakeshore trail in four days of looking it qualifies as a lame place for running in my book. Feel free to waste your own time looking for non-existent gems, ahole.

I'm an ex-Chicagoan.

The lakefront parks are great. But other than that, the Chicago park system is 2nd rate. Maybe 3rd rate.

If you happen to live at Irving and Milwaukee, your options for running from home are *very* limited. Plenty of other neighborhoods also suck. Shouldn't be this way...