What better way to explore and learn more about the City than to do the Chicago Running Tours! Few of my girl friends and I were celebrating a birthday and we decided to sign up for the tour and we had a blast! Our guide was very informative and such a jolly man - he definitely made tour as a fun experience. Not all of us in the tour were runners but we were all able to keep up. To all my fellow Yelpers and especially runners, I highly recommended you to do this tour! read more

This is easily one of the best tours I have ever been on! My cousin and I went to Chicago for three days, not knowing much about the city and I left the tour feeling like it was "my kind of town." I LOVED it! The kindness of the people really struck me, and Marlin shines out among them: a big heart and a very kind soul. His story is amazing--I also highly recommend his book. He's run marathons in all 50 states! And the story of this and how it came to pass is so touching and yet hilarious at the same time. I don't want to give it away though! He was very humble about the whole thing, which was also very refreshing. So many tour guides are like robots, and I'm exhausted by the end, but after the tour with Marlin I felt energized, like a dear friend had just given me a personal tour across their city. He even recommended things to do after the tour. He is very flexible, so just tell him what you'd like. After telling him I was an artist, he even surprised us with a viewing of a beautiful ceiling in a hotel I would have never ventured inside were it not for the tour. The tour was full of so many interesting facts, from the tragic to the ironic to the comedic. If you're in Chicago, don't miss the opportunity to meet a friend and learn about this fantastic city. read more

My girlfriend and I are both from Chicago, and we enjoy touring our city, but this time we wanted to do it in a different way, so we signed up for a Tragic Event running tour. When we got to meet our tour guide, Marlin, we found out we were the only people doing the tour that day! We were shocked, surprised to hear that the tour runs even if only one person signs up, and we were thrilled and excited that because of that we were basically getting our own private tour. Marlin has a great personality and he really just goes along with your pace; he was also very knowledgeable in little obscure facts about the city, and really helpful in providing additional tips for dining and other tour experiences. My girlfriend and I had a blast with all the pictures Marlin was taking for us, and it was really awesome to hear that part of the money also goes out to help a good cause. My girlfriend and I really look forward to signing up to another of his tours. It's really a one of a kind experience and Marlin goes out of his way to make sure everyone enjoys it! read more

This was the highlight of my trip! We did the "Tower to Tower" tour with Marlin and Megan. They took great pictures (for free! Uploaded to their Flickr, but we have full rights), provided the beverage of our choice and had a wealth of knowledge about the area. I'm a slow runner (11:30 min./mile) and they did not push me to go faster than I wanted. This was a huge relief at it was 90 degrees out and I was dying! It was a 6 mile run, which was a bit challenging towards the end, but only due to the heat. If you are a runner, sign up for a tour with them! read more

What a great experience! We did the 5K Grant Park run and it was a blast. I'm not the best runner (VERY SLOW) but still was able to keep up and enjoy the day. I can't wait to participate in their other tours (and maybe one day do the 26.2 tour!). They best part is they take pictures of you throughout the run and provide you the tour details following the run (and pictures) for free! Thank you Marlin and Michael! read more

I found Chicago Running Tours in a recent issue of Runner's World, right before a trip to Chicago. I excitedly signed up for a Saturday morning tour, but when I arrived at the designated meeting place, the guides were not there. I called Marlin, the owner, who apologized profusely for the scheduling mix-up. He offered to meet me later in the day (outside of regular running tour hours), but I had a previous commitment scheduled. Instead, we agreed that I would participate in the tour the following morning. Initially, I was disappointed, but only a few minutes later, Marlin sent me a message, again apologizing profusely and asking for my shirt size, as he was going to bring me a Chicago Running Tours shirt for free. I got the impression that Marlin was genuinely upset about his mistake and was not only worried about how this would reflect on his business. The next morning, I met Marlin, the second tour guide (Michael, I think), and two fellow tour-takers. We embarked on the Grant Park tour, a 5k that takes approximately 90 minutes with stops to talk and take photos. Even though I initially had signed up for the Chicago Tragic Events tour, I really enjoyed the Grant Park tour. We ran through Chicago's beautiful parks nestled in between the Lake Michigan waterfront and the bustling Michigan Ave. Marlin and Michael told us about the history of the park, the statues and attractions within it, and many other things we passed along the way. Throughout the tour, Marlin and Michael exchanged corny jokes with each other and the tour-takers, which makes the experience a bit cheesy, but even more fun. Michael takes photos of the runners at different points throughout the tour and these photos are made available to the runners for free online. It's great to not have to worry about taking your own pictures during the tour. After the tour was over, Marlin offered to take me and the other tour-takers to the Chapel in the Sky at the Chicago Temple, which offers free tours and amazing views of the city. When we were done at the Chapel in the Sky, he walked me back to my hotel, pointing out some of the sites I would have seen on the Tragic Events tour. Marlin felt less like a tour guide and more like a friend showing you around his city. Yes, there was an initial mistake made Saturday morning, but mistakes are bound to happen occasionally in business. I think the handling of these mistakes is most important, and Marlin did everything he could to make it up to me. He's also promised me that when I return to Chicago, I'll be taking the Tragic Events tour for free. If I return to Chicago, I would definitely sign up for more of Marlin's tours. At about $30 for the 5k tours, they're a great deal! Thanks, Marlin and Michael! read more

I was searching on Yelp for things to do on a recent visit to Chicago and stumbled upon Chicago Running Tours & more. Needless to say I was excited. I love to eat delicious food on vacation and do a ton of sightseeing, however don't ever feel like I have enough time to be active while doing everything else! This was the perfect combination allowing me to be active and see tons of great sites! I immediately called to book a tour for the next day! My husband and I were the only ones on the tour of Grant Park, which was a treat as it was like it was our personalized tour. Marlin gave us so much information, took tons of pictures, and overall we had a great experience. Added bonus we got in a 3 mile run along the way! Afterwards Marlin sent us an email detailing everything we saw along with all the uploaded pictures. He even offered to take us to the art institute the next day, however we did not have enough time as our flight was leaving too early. Would love to do the Tragic event tour next time. This is a great way to see Chicago! Marlin is so incredibly passionate about the city and it's like you're hanging out with a friend. Highly recommend! read more

Great tour of the Art Institute by Marlin. Informative while infused with humor. He creates a narrative that connects famous worksite art to each other into history that provides viewers with a complete experience that cannot be obtained on one's own. read more

I really enjoyed the Navy Pier tour. Luckily I was the only person that signed up because I'm a very slow "runner". I audibly laughed when I read a previous reviewer saying they're a slow runner at 11:30; that would be me on a very good day. But Marlin didn't make me feel bad when I had to walk a few times. The photos are great and Marlin was extremely knowledgeable about the city as well as additional sights to take in. Due to some personal issues Marlin did not have the shirts (which I did want) with him but it was an honest, legit reason so I won't hold that against him or the tour. If you're a runner I would definitely check it out! read more

This was my first time to Chicago so I didn't know what to see first. I had done a running tour in London and found it to be a great way to see a city-a little faster than walking but more intimate than a bus. Marlin was very knowledgeable about all things Chicago-history, layout, events. I did three tours and it was a great way to see the city, get a little exercise and meet a really great person who made the trip wonderful! read more

The running tour was amazing! Thanks for Val and Marlin!! You guys are so wonderful and really knew the city well! I'll be back

We had such a nice running tour the other day! It was personable, fun, and informative! I have lived in chicago for the past 9 months, and didnt know alot about Millenium Park. What better way to learn about the park, than to run through it! The run was adjusted to our own pace. The tour guide was awesome! He held our stuff in his backpack, acted as our personal photographer in front of the touristy must-see attractions in the park-- and provided interesting information! I would recommend this run to any tourist, at any age group, and any running level. Definately well worth the price you pay! read more

Chicago Running Tours & More - At the Finish Line! - Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Greatest Idea Ever!!! My girlfriends and I did a run through Grant Park with Marlin for part of my bachelorette party. Many of my friends are non-runners but we all had an absolute blast. Marlin is fantastic - took so many pictures (posted the same day!) and was incredibly knowledgeable about the city and the park - I loved every minute of it. I would refer this tour to anyone who is looking for a cool way to learn about Chicago - I'll be doing this again! read more

I am so glad I got out of bed at 6:45 on Easter morning while on a weekend getaway. I was so tempted to skip out, but it ended up being my favorite activity while in Chicago. I wanted to get a run in while in Chicago, but the busy streets and my poor sense of direction made me leery of running on my own. City Running Tours was a fun, informative, safe way of exploring a city while running. Blake was a great guide, was friendly, knowledgable, and made sure to ask if the pace was comfortable for the two of us on the tour. A lot of reviews mention photos and an email with a recap of the tour highlights. I believe Blake did mention that he had a camera with him but he never took it out. He did, however, take a couple still photos of me when I asked with my phone. I am sure if one of us had inquired, he would have taken some running shots with his camera. It was a gorgeous morning for a run through Millennium and Grant Park. I was really hoping to see Buckingham fountain flowing, but it is under repair and still not open for the spring, bummer, but no fault of the tour. read more