Race the USA - Virtual 10k Running Challenge - Illinois

Illinois is so much more than Chicago. If you are looking for a 5K fun run Illinois, there are plenty of places to go in the Chicagoland area and far, far away from the big city. Of course, one of the most popular places to run in Illinois is along Lakeshore Drive on the Chicago Lakefront Trail. This iconic paved path is 18 miles long and has traffic at all hours of the day and night. This is a perfect option for your Race the USA Virtual 5k Run Series.

Outside of the city, there are plenty of choices for your 5K run Illinois. In the Western Suburbs, the Prairie Path covers over 60 miles. This was the very first rails-to-trails path in the United States and the tree-lined trails are paved with crushed limestone. There are also several trails that run along rivers in the Chicago suburbs, like the Des Plaines River Trail, Fox River Trail, and the DuPage River Trail. All of them are long enough for several 5K fun run Illinois adventures.

Outside of the Chicagoland area, there are plenty of state and national parks with beautiful trails. The Land of Lincoln has a trail named for the favorite president. The Lincoln Prairie Trail measures over 15 miles and runs from Pana to Taylorville over beautiful, rich prairie land south of Decatur and Springfield. Another trail named for a famous Illinois resident is the Jane Addams Recreational Trail. This trail is 17 miles long and is part of the Grand Illinois Trail that stretches between the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan. This beautiful trail has several bridges and travels through the areas around Orangeville near the Illinois-Wisconsin border.

Near the border of Illinois and Missouri rests the unusual Horseshoe Lake in Olive Branch near Cairo. Along this lake is the Horseshoe Lake Hiking and Biking Trail that is 5.5 miles. A beautiful inland lake is a great choice for a 5K run Illinois. You can enjoy more of Illinois’s unexpected geography in Shawnee National Forest in the Little Grand Canyon Trail, that just happens to be about perfect for a 5K run Illinois - it’s a 3.5-mile loop.

From prairies to cityscapes, running in Illinois is full of variety. The Land of Lincoln is a perfect place for your Race the USA Virtual 5K Run Series to benefit Feed the Children. Enjoy your training and thank you for helping feed children around the world.