Cross Country and Track & Field Facilities and Training Sites

North Park Cross Country and Track & Field

Facilities and Training Sites

The cross country and track & field teams have access to some of the best training sites in the entire Chicago area. With outstanding facilities and a fortunate location, North Park's cross country and track & field teams have access to numerous trails, forest preserves, and parks—some of which are just a short run from campus.

	Helwig Recreation Center The Helwig Recreation Center boasts some of the most dynamic practice, strength and conditioning, athletic training and rehabilitation, and recreation spaces in the nation. Just some of the amenities of the facility include a two-lane 200 meter Mondo-surface track, vertical and horizontal jump pits, throwing cage and curtain, 35-piece cardio area, and two weight rooms.
	River Park Track River Park is home to the Viking men’s and women’s track and field teams. In the spring of 2008, the facility played host to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Track and Field Championships. Set on the banks of the North Branch of the Chicago River and just two blocks from campus, the park seems miles away from the urban environment that surrounds it. River Park features an NCAA-standard, rubberized eight-lane, 400 meter track, and setup for all NCAA track and field events including the steeplechase.
	River/Legion Park A 1.5 mile-long park system that runs adjacent to campus and alongisde the Chicago River. The parks provide a great training location for workouts and connects with the North Shore Channel Trail that extends north to Evanston (pictured: eight miles in length).
	LaBagh Woods One of the best off-road running sites in Chicago, the 10+ miles of dirt trails in LaBagh Woods lie alongside the Chicago River, providing Viking distance runners with an ideal training area. Just a 10 minute warm-up run from campus through Eugene Field and Gompers Park, North Park runners have easy access to this incredible training venue.
	Horner Park Located one mile south of campus through the stately Ravenswood Manor neighborhood, this beautiful Chicago park has a perimeter of 1.25 miles making it an ideal place for tempo runs, fartleks, interval workouts, and hill circuits. This popular Chicago park is also home to many local high school cross country meets.
	Skokie Line Trail Another favorite of the North Park distance runners, the two spurs of the Skokie Line Trail provide eight miles of soft surface and paved trail running. The trail is located 1.5 miles west of campus extending to the north from LaBagh Woods.
	Chicago Lakefront Trail The Chicago Lakefront is only three miles to the east of campus and can be easily accessed through quiet, residential neighborhoods. The 18-mile mixed-use trail has a soft running shoulder and provides runners with an amazing view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.
	Montrose Harbor Montrose Harbor is the home course for the Viking cross country teams and the site of the 2011 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Cross Country Championships. The challenging course offers runners incredible views of the Chicago skyline in a beautiful, urban park setting. Cricket Hill also provides the North Park distance runners with a great training locale for hill workouts.
	North Branch Trail 3.5 miles northwest of campus, the North Branch Trail provides over 20 miles of paved trail running with a soft shoulder. The trail winds through quiet and scenic forests, making the sights and sounds of the city quickly fade away.
	Des Plaines River Trail A 15-minute van ride to the west allows the Viking runners to access 33 miles of soft surface trail running, perfect for distance runs in a quiet, natural setting.