Happy Friday! The weather finally shaped up this week with temperatures above 80. Just like that, it’s summer in Chicago. Typical Midwest since it was 45 degrees just two weekends ago. Now that the temps are heating up, I have summer workouts on my mind. There are so many fantastic summer fitness events in the city – this is a short list of four that are at the top of my list. Links are provided below for more information / to sign up.
1 ~ Free 1 Mile and 5k Races in City Parks
The Chicago Park District and the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) debuted a new community initiative this year, to inspire people to get outdoors and run in local city parks. The event series is called Go Run. From May 21 to July 9, free 1 mile and 5k races are available in one of three city parks at 9:00 am on Saturdays: Humboldt Park, Washington Park, and Warren Park. Participants can run, walk, or volunteer. The running course is located entirely within each park.
Click here to sign up and see the schedule. Participants can also sign up the morning of a run, between 8:15 and 8:45 am {before the 9:00 am start time}.
2 ~ Sweatworking Week
My friend Jeana is the founder of a Sweat Life in Chicago, and Sweatworking is her company’s monthly fitness event series. Jeana is taking this event up a notch this summer with a full week of Sweatworking classes, running from June 6 to June 12. There will be three classes offered per day during Sweatworking week, ranging from barre, volleyball, yoga, to conditioning classes. Something for everyone!
The regular cost per ticket is $60, which gives you unlimited access to the Sweatworking classes offered that week {attendees will need to sign up for each class}. Find more information on the amazing class options here.
a Sweat Life kindly offered a $10 discount to readers – click here to sign up for the $50 reduced rate.
3 ~ Millennium Park Summer Workouts
The City of Chicago offers free outdoor summer workouts downtown in Millennium Park on Wednesday mornings {7:30 am} and Saturday mornings {four sessions from 7 to 11 am}. Classes begin on June 1, and run through September 3. There are a variety of options led by different fitness instructors, including Zumba, yoga, pilates, and more.
Click here to review the summer schedule. Classes are located on the Great Lawn at Millennium Park: 201 E. Randolph Street.
4 ~ Bastille Day 5k and 8k Race
My favorite summer race in Chicago is the Bastille Day run, held each year in July. I have finished the 8k race twice over the past few years, and it’s on my list to make it a third this summer. The 2016 Bastille Day race will be held on Thursday, July 14 in the early evening {7:15 pm for the 5k and 7:30 pm for the 8k}. This annual race commemorates the French Revolution which began with the storming of the Bastille, the Paris medieval fortress and prison, in 1789. This year’s race is the 35th annual event, and participants are encouraged to dress up in a French theme and/or channeling the colors of the French flag – blue, white, and red.
Click here for registration and more information about the race. The Bastille Day race is located in Lincoln Park {Cannon Drive & Fullerton Avenue}.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
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I’m Celia. I live in the Chicago area. I'm a mama of two, runner, business owner and former Iowan. My blog includes recipes, fitness and travel posts, and stories about Chicago.
