I was in the newsroom the other day when one of my running friends at the station asked about the mile markers on the lakefront path. She thought they had been changed and were off a bit, and wondered whether I knew what the story was. I didn't know, but it gave me an opportunity to call the people who would have all the answers.
The Chicago Area Runners Association is the foremost advocate for runners in the city and suburbs. In particular, they are guardians of the lakefront path, the jewel many of us are grateful for. Anyway, I called Ann Marie Houlihan, the executive director of CARA, for answers about the path.
I should mention sheepishly, that I am not a CARA member. I run on weekends with the same guys I've been running with for years, and during the week, I run by myself. I've thought about joining, but have never done it. So, I was not really aware of what they do other than their fabulously popular marathon training program.
It turns out they do a number of things. They have a whole list of standards (108) that race directors have to follow of qualify either as a CARA registered race, or the more stringent 'circuit race'. Ann Marie says their primary objective regarding the running path is to help maintain the accuracy and comfort. So she is the one who is out there with the wheel measuring the distances to make sure they are accurate. They then consult with the Chicago Park District, who is in charge of it. She says the people at the park district have been very receptive, and helpful. Anyway, the update is that they remeasureed the northside running path this year for the first time in several years because of renovations to the path the Park District has made. So they moved the mile markers a bit, and that process should now be finished, and more accurate. They did the South loop last summer, and that should also be accurate.
I like to put pictures on this, because I think it adds a bit of color. The only picture I have of the path, however is from a run last summer with our baby jogger. We now have a double jogger, but I'm not a big fan. Anyway, that's for another entry some other time.
Til then, see you on the path.
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