Running on Eddie: McHenry County

Welcome to Illinois

Introduction

With a lull in the racing action and a bit of time on my hands, I decided to write an article about running. As evidenced a few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to go back to McHenry County Illinois to race a 5K I hadn't done in a very long time.

For those that don't know, I lived in Illinois (the McHenry area) from 1997 to 2012. It was there that I took up the sport of running and got a little more serious about it.

It was also there that I got my first taste of racing.

With me visiting family, I had a few days to rerun some of my favorite routes. There were still plenty more I'd love to have run, but with limited time as well energy, I made the most of my time.

Me, in front of the Follett Software Building

Saturday 5/3/2025

Once I arrived in Illinois and got settled into my hotel, I couldn't wait to get my shoes on and go for a run. I had a race the next day, but I still wanted to shake the legs out and just get a few miles in.

I was at the Hampton Inn, in McHenry and coincidentally it was located practically across the street from a place I worked at from 1997 - 2012. It is a business complex, without a lot of traffic.

I grabbed my phone and began a 3 mile plod around the offices. I used to walk around the complex during my lunch breaks and it brought back a lot of memories. There wasn't much new and it seemed so desolate on a late Saturday afternoon. The office building that I used to work at had closed their offices and the building appeared to be unused and for sale.

Did a few strides along here

It was also a reminder just how much "greener" everything is compared to Utah.

Flight for life chopper at the hospital

I did a lap around the complex, ducked into the hospital area and took a well traveled path back to my hotel. It was good to be back in Illinois.

Sunday 5/5/2025

See my post on the Raue Center Run for the Arts 5K.

Monday 5/6/2025

On Monday morning, I managed to eat and get everyone settled with where they needed to go. I was still pretty full from the all-you-can eat breakfast buffet, but I swung by my old house on Misty Pine Lane in Crystal Lake IL.

Some of the Farm Roads in Bull Valley

This house is where I got really serious about racing and I lived and died by my runs. I couldn't wait to re-run some of my routes.

The house still looked pretty much the same -- there were a few changes I noticed right away. But seeing it brought back all kinds of memories: mowing the lawn, shoveling it, the people who were my neighbors, etc. I had lived there from 2001 to 2012. One of the things I loved the most about it, was that I really enjoyed the running in the area.

Terwilliger House

Spring flowers

You can follow my route here.

In the immediate neighborhood I had about a 3 mile loop, which I often did in the winters. Other times, I frequented the farm roads of Bull Valley. Running in Bull Valley was always a dicey proposition. The roads don't have much as far as a shoulder. The law stated you had to give at least 3-feet of room to a cyclist or pedestrian. I was lucky to get that.

Stickney House

But the farm roads were a place I cut my chops on. It was where I did mile repeats, where I logged endless miles in preparation for my marathons. I didn't keep good track of my running back then but I figure I safely was averaging about 1500 miles a year.

Stickney Woods Subdivision

The mile markers on my Garmin came up like I had never left. I started along Mason Hill, passed by the golf course and continued my way westward. I took in all the historical houses and even ducked into some neighborhoods that I wouldn't normally have gone through. I was snapping photos like crazy -- it was spring time and the flowers were out and the memories were alive.

Boger Bog

I was a lot slower (and older). I used to run my 5K route in 24 minutes on an easy day. Now -- I'd have to really work at it to get back there.

Historic Holcombville and old schoolhouse

The whole experience was both surreal and beautiful. I didn't want it to stop, but after 8.5 miles and a 5K already in the banks from the day before, I was pretty tired.

Some many race memories

Tuesday 5/7/2025

My final trip took me to Lippold Park, a multi-use park in the far north west corner of the city. Lippold is huge park -- sporting baseball fields, frisbee golf, soccer fields and way more. It also play host to several large 5Ks, which a very accurate limestone paved 5K course. I probably ran well over a dozen 5K races there.

I started there and decided to drift into the neighborhoods surrounding the park. I had my phone and I figured I could do a lap around Crystal Lake. I lived in the area for 12 years and I never once did that. I remember a race or two in that area (the long deceased Frosty 5 Miler comes to mind)

My route can be found here.

It was an absolutely beautiful day. Occasionally, I'd duck into a neighborhood to get a closer view of the lake. The park district also had the beach open (and fortunately the bathroom, which came in a nick of time). It was also an opportunity to get some water in me, as I was parched.

After grabbing a bite to eat I swung by Veterans Acres and wound up doing a fairly short hike around the grounds. I had once done an 8KM "Euro Cross Country" race here and I simply remember it as being grueling. I am not much of a trail runner and this race proved that fact.