Kat’s rules to the Lakefront Path
There are few urban running paths as beautiful, useful and well-maintained as the 18.5 mile paved path along the Chicago lakefront. Starting at Hollywood on the north and running down to 79th street, the path curves past beaches, harbors, Lincoln, Grand and Jackson Parks, and offers breathtaking views every step along the way. Best of all, bathrooms and waterfountains are plentiful and cars actually yield at cross-streets. Less congenial are the paths users to each other: bikers, runners, beach-bums and the odd rollerblader battle it out on a daily basis. A few helpful tips to avoid a duel at Montrose harbor:
Flickr/Max Wolfe
1. Bikers>Bladers>Runners>Walkers>those just wandering along, 4 across. That is the order of speed, and therefore also a reminder of who will hurt you the most if you step in front of their path.
2. Don't walk 4 across, don't run 3 across, don't bike in a pack of 20 and expect not to get yelled at.
3. Bikers get the middle, runners take the side, rollerbladers need to pick a real sport, those walking should be on the gravel at the side.
4. Bikers- this isn't a Tour de Anything. You're not in a race, and if you fly through crowded areas like North Ave beach you deserve to get clothes-lined. Apply the breaks or get on a real road.
5. Also, Bikers, don't swoop close to the runners and walkers on the side. Getting within 6 inches of people moving slower than you is startling to them and generally not nice. Do you like getting grazed by cars?
6. Runners should pay attention to bikes or bladers when crossing the road. Look before you run into a roadway, or the path.
7. Just a general tip for everyone- let the fountains run for a moment before taking a sip. The water at first is warm and nasty.
8. Don't spit your gum in the fountain. Seriously. Imagine each piece you spit in there is a piece you will have to chew for all eternity in hell. Yeah, it's that nast.
9. Running/Biking north from Fullerton and South from Grant Park is a lot more pleasant than the stretch in between. Unless you like dodging Wisconsin-wide tourists or bikini'd Trixies and the Chad's who buy them Bud Lite's at Castaways, stick to the north or south.
10. If you are one of the people, who for whatever reason, rollerblades with ski poles, please, Please, watch where you are swinging your poles. Or just leave the poles for the ski slope, champ.