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The point-to-point route is one that we chose intentionally. Running into the city and seeing the skyline get closer and closer was a clear vision for us when we originally planned this, and we continue to double down on this.Â
We start in Wheaton, a nice suburban town with plenty of parking in the morning and access to the Metra UP-W line. We run on the Illinois Prairie Path for the first half of the route, which takes us through the towns of Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Elmhurst, Bellwood, Melrose Park, Maywood, Forest Park, Oak Park, then finishing the final 8 miles in Chicago. After, we'll continue on sidewalks and streets, depending on what is clear, what traffic is like, and how big our group is.
The Illinois Prairie Path is crushed limestone, which is a pleasant, soft surface. There are a couple of street crossings going through each of the towns, however there is very minimal traffic given how early it is in the morning. After this first section, we transition off of the limestone path and continue on sidewalks and streets, spending the final 10 miles of the route on Jackson Avenue, which is a straight shot into downtown.
Depending on the conditions and weather, the prairie path could be slippery and icy, which may require us to pivot and run portions on the parallel side streets.
We plan to complete the run, no matter the conditions!
With the route heading west to east, we run along the UP-W Metra Line for the first half, then we will be running in between the Blue and Green CTA L lines for the second half. This makes it easy to join us at various portions along the route and then later take public transportation back to your starting point from downtown Chicago.
Due to the point-to-point nature of the route, it can make planning for your participation logistically difficult, in terms of finding a convenient start point and/or getting back to your start point after the run. Please note the FAQs page for some common inquiries.
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