By Guide Chelsey Grassfield
I met up with guide Lauren Hooks on Chicago’s famous Lakefront Trail for a brisk 4 miles at 7:20s pace. As we headed out together from our meeting spot at Belmont Harbor, Lauren established that we had more in common than a love of both running and City Fit Tours. “By the way, we have the same hair. My hair is naturally VERY curly, I just straightened it.”
Lauren and I ended our run at the AIDS Garden Chicago for a shot with the 30-foot sculpture by late artist and activist Keith Haring.
Running for the love of it
My hair doppelganger was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in a small-town community in central Illinois. She didn’t get into running until her sophomore year of high school, running the 800 and 1600 meters for track. “I wasn’t that good at these events and then one meet my coach entered me in the 3200, and I did better than expected.” This sparked her love for longer runs.” Considering she went to state a few times and then qualified for the NCAA championships her freshman year at North Central College in Naperville, she certainly seems to have done well. Unfortunately, injuries plagued her after freshman year but Lauren continued running after college. “Now I run for the love of running.. because I can.”
Running with strangers
And she especially loves to run with visitors to Chicago. Her first tour was with someone staying downtown who wanted a customized tour from his hotel. They ran through Old Town, into Lincoln Park, in and around the Lincoln Park Zoo (free admission!), and–because it was a Saturday–along the popular Green City Farmers Market. “It was more a casual run, running with a stranger. It was great! That’s the great thing about running, it brings people together.”
Running as part of a healthy lifestyle
In college, Lauren got her degree in biology, ran cross country and track, and studied abroad in Scotland. After she graduated, she went on to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. She’s now a physical therapist, working in the Loop for a physical therapy and weight loss clinic. This career seems like a great fit, given Hook’s interest in fitness and healthy eating. A vegetarian, Hooks likes to cook veggie forward meals. We swapped recipes from our favorite Shalane Flannigan and Elyse Kopecky cookbooks.
Running you through her neighborhood
When we met up at the end of May, Lauren was moving from the Lincoln Park area to Streeterville. Now the Burnham Plan tour route is right through her own neighborhood. Maybe you’ll get to run with Lauren on your next Chicago running tour!
