Read & Run Chicago

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Read & Run Chicago

Read & Run Chicago is a community organization managed under Read & Run Tours.

Founded in 2021, the mission is simple: to use movement and stories to explore Chicago.

10/14/2026

Download our Libro.fm Audiobooks audiobook playlist! 🎧

This Saturday, everyone who joins our audiobook walk/run with Pilsen Community Books and Libro.fm Audiobooks gets free audiobook credits!

So, what Chicago-based books should you listen to while you move?

Read & Run Chicago volunteer Sarita curated this list of stories that will immerse you into a Chicago story while you’re moving—and inspire you to learn more about our city’s people and places.

Tap the ‘Events’ link in bio to join the audiobook walk/run and download the playlist!

10/12/2026

Happy Medal Monday to all the Chicago Marathon finishers, and especially to these incredible first-time marathoners who represented Read & Run Chicago throughout the entire Bank of America Chicago Distance Series! 🥇

After training for months, they got to finally channel their inner main characters: Spider-Man, Edward Cullen, Sunja from Pachinko.

Huge thanks to all of our partners who supported them:

⭐️ Training: CARA | Chicago Area Runners Association
⭐️ Shoes: New Balance
⭐️ Fuel: SaltStick Electrolytes
⭐️ Bib kit: Pen and Paces
⭐️ Mental skills and pep talks: cindykuzma and Deena Kastor
⭐️ Books: Sourcebooks

And thanks to our photographer Kyle Nowaczyk for so beautifully capturing their strength in our team photoshoot.

We couldn’t be more proud to have them represent our mission at Read & Run Chicago—all thanks to the Entries for Equity program. In this program, organizations that support the running, sport and movement community and have values around diversity, equity and inclusion, were awarded entries to races in the Chicago Distance Series create a more inclusive, representative and equitable start line.

👀 Interested in the 2027 Chicago Distance Series? 👉 We will apply for Entries for Equity again for 2027, so stay tuned for updates if we are selected again!

10/10/2026

We’re ready for Chicago Marathon! 🥳

Thank you everyone for coming out to the 26.2 shakeout run/walk this morning with Chicago Public Library, Read & Run Chicago, sweaty ponytales, BEAM Run Club ☀️ Chicago, IL, and Family Style RC 🏃🏻‍♀️ | Serving The Community - Family Style!!

We previewed the course in Chinatown, got so many goodies (s/o UGREEN_official, HydraPak, Propel Fitness Water, Chargel, and sweaty ponytales), got a tour with branch manager Stuart, browsed books about Chicago and running, and got to sign up for library cards.

S/o to our pacers + volunteers Huy Nguyen, vi, Huu, Cynthia Chen, 🪅 with a Y 🥑, Fiona Ian 鄢朗婷, Francisco!

Thank you so much for joining, and no matter if you’re cheering or running, remember that each moment we’re writing out stories—and getting to be ALIVE! ☀️

👉 See you tomorrow at Mile 19 in Pilsen (15th & Loomis) at our cheer station with Family Style RC 🏃🏻‍♀️ | Serving The Community - Family Style!!

10/09/2026

📢 Marathon weekend is HERE!

We’re so honored and excited to cheer all 55,000+ runners this weekend—AND celebrate the city we love.

👇Join us, Family Style RC, and other partners at these events across the city featuring tons of goodies, giveaways, and more!

📆 Friday, October 9: Carb loading night at SEOUL TACO | 🌮 Korean-Mexican Street Food feat. Barbí

📆 Saturday, October 10:

👟 Shakeout run or walk in Chinatown with the Chicago Public Library feat. BEAM Run Club ☀️ Chicago, IL and sweaty ponytales
🗣️ Group outing to the expo for anyone who wants freebies—no need to be running the marathon (No RSVP required)

📆 Sunday, October 11: Cheer zone in Pilsen (15th & Loomis)

📆 Monday, October 12:

🗑️ Plogging with activist Tina Muir 💚🌎🏃‍♀️
🥇Medal Monday celebration at 🌟HAIBAYÔ🌟

Tap the ‘Events’ link in bio for info + RSVP!

Can’t wait to cheer you on, Chicago!

10/08/2026

Calling all Chicago Marathon enthusiasts!

You don’t have to be running the marathon this weekend to celebrate. Join Chicago Public Library, Read & Run Chicago, Family Style RC, and Beam Run Club this Saturday for a 3-mile shakeout run or 1.2-mile walk.

You’ll preview the marathon course in Chinatown, snag giveaways and goodies, meet special guests, and move with fellow book lovers.

All are welcome at this family-friendly event where you’ll get to:
🗣️ Listen brief talk on the branch’s history with branch manager Stuart
📚 Browse books about running and Chicago
🪪 Sign up for your library card
💌 Meet founder of sweaty ponytales Julie
⭐️ Get complimentary products courtesy of Propel, UGreen, Hydrapak, and Chargel

…And more!

Tap the ‘Events’ link in our bio to RSVP.

Saturday, October 10
9:30 a.m.
Chinatown Branch

09/28/2026

📣 Tickets for our October signature event release next Monday!

Next up in our Fall 2026 signature events season 👉 We’re in Little Italy and Pilsen on Sunday, October 25 for a Running/Biking Tour of Brown in the Windy City with Dr. Lilia Fernández.

Join us and ICIRR at Pilsen Community Books on for a 4-mile running tour or biking tour (s/o BFF Bikes!) exploring Mexican and Puerto Rican migration, history, and contributions in these neighborhoods.

After the route, hang with us Pilsen Community Books for snacks and book sales.

A portion of all ticket sales will be donated back to ICIRR.

🚫📚 No pre-reading required before this tour—you’ll learn as you move and have the opportunity to purchase the book from Pilsen Community Books after the tour.

🚲 Not running? Bike with BFF Bikes. Choose “biking tour” option at checkout.

⏰ Tickets release in the newsletter next Monday, October 5 and any remaining tickets will be available to the general public on Wednesday October 7.

Tap the link in bio to subscribe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND GUIDE:

Lilia Fernández is a historian of Latinos in the mid-to-late 20th century United States with a focus on Chicago. Her first book, Brown in the Windy City: Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in Postwar Chicago, documented the migration and settlement of these two populations in the city’s central neighborhoods and the communities they formed. She has published various essays, articles, and book chapters that span urban history, labor and working-class dynamics, and educational activism. Currently, she is working on a book manuscript that continues examining Latino Chicagohistory, especially its class dynamics, industrial workers, and cross-ethnic activism and expressions of solidarity.

This Fall 2026 signature events season—signature events are hosted using original Read & Run Tours™️ format—we’re exploring the theme “Chicago Between the Lines,” the histories and communities that made an impact, but aren’t always acknowledged in our city’s mainstream narrative.

09/25/2026

📣 Join Read & Run Chicago at Pilsen Community Books on Sunday, October 18 at 10:30 AM for an audiobook walk or run and receive a FREE Libro.fm audiobook credit!

🎧 Here’s how it works: Download your audiobook of choice (we’ll have a playlist of Chicago-based books if you need inspiration!), put on your headphones, and get ready to move!

Movement options:

👟 Walk with volunteer Sarita Muley (~20:00 minute per mile pace) around Pilsen for about 45 minutes

👟 Run a 5K with volunteer Cynthia Chen (12:00 minute per mile pace) around Pilsen

After, you’ll have the opportunity to stick around Pilsen for snacks and social time with volunteers Sarita, Cynthia, Sarah, and Amy.

All are welcome, whether or not you’ve attended a Read & Run Chicago event before. We’d love to meet you!

Tap the ‘Events’ link in bio for full details and to RSVP.

PS. Are you completing the Read & Run Chicago Fall Challenge? This event is as one of the “books” you can check off! 🙌

Libro.fm Audiobooks
Pilsen Community Books

Address

Chicago, IL

Website

http://readandrunchicago.com/

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