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Chicago Racing Circuit

CARA circuit races logo

About

The Chicago Racing Circuit by CARA provides a competitive structure and recognition for Chicagoland runners and clubs. The Circuit annually honors Chicagoland’s top runners and clubs with Runner of the Year and Club Champion titles. Comprised of various race distances, the Chicago Racing Circuit provides all runners - both recreational and competitive - with the opportunity to chase personal, club, and competitive goals. 

To learn more about eligibility for individual and team awards, please see Scoring (above).

Circuit Schedule (2024)

The Circuit features Chicagoland’s most well organized and well-appreciated races. Circuit races are found in both the city and suburbs and include both major world-class events and local club races alike. Circuit races are annually assembled with the input of CARA’s membership, the CARA Racing Committee, the CARA staff, and CARA Board of Directors.

Schedule Notes:

 

  • When races offer multiple distances, only the specific distance listed in the schedule below counts for Circuit scoring.

  • Only in-person races and in-person registration options are included in the Circuit.

  • Circuit runners are encouraged to register immediately early for any Circuit races they intend to participate in. Once races fill to capacity, CARA does not have the ability to force Circuit races to allow additional Circuit runners into an event.

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Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k

March 24, 2024

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Lakefront 10 Miler

April 7, 2024

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Good Life Race 
5k

April 28, 2024

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CARA Spring Trail Chase 10k

May 19, 2024

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Run for the Roses 5k

June 2, 2024

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Bank of America Chicago 13.1

June 9, 2024

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Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate 5k

June 16, 2024

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Elmhurst Running Club
4 On The 4th

July 4, 2024

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Chi-Town Miles
One Mile

July 27, 2024

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Lake Bluff PTO
Pumpkin Chase 5k

October 26, 2024

Alpine Races 10 Mile

August 18, 2024

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Hidden Gem
Half Marathon

September 7, 2024

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Fast Track Cross Country
Regionals 3 mile

November 10, 2024

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Bank of America
Chicago Marathon

October 13, 2024

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Lincolnwood Turkey Trot 10k

November 24, 2024

Meet the Teams

Division I

CARA Racing Team, DWRunning, Elnhurst Running Club, Fleet Feet x New Balance Racing Team, Nameless Track Club, Naperville Running Company Track Club, Oak Park Runners Club, Venados, Windrunners Chicago, Xtra Mile Fast Track Racing Team

Division II

CARA Run Crew, Elmhurst Running Club, Lake Shore Racing Club, Oiselle Volée, Track & Trough Athletic Club, UNFRGVN

DWRunning

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Location

Chicago & Suburbs

Joined

Rejoined 2023

Sponsors

Tracksmith

Naperville Running Co.

Categories

Division I:

Open Men, Open Women, Master Men, Master Women

Club Type

All Abilities, Limited Roster

More Info

dwrunning.com instagram.com/dwrunning1 

Cost to Join

Monthly Membership Fee

Notes

5x Olympic Trials Qualifiers

Evanston Running Club

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Location

Evanston, IL

Joined

1981- Founding Member

Categories

Division I:

All Age Group Categories

Club Type

Community Team- All runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

More Info

evanstonrunningclub.org

Cost to Join

Annual Membership Fee

Notes

Founded in 1973, RRCA Member

Oak Park Runners Club

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Location

Oak Park, IL

Categories

Division I:

All Age Group Categories

Club Type

Community Team- All Runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

More Info

runsignup.com/oprc

instagram.com/oakparkrunners

Cost to Join

Annual Membership Fee

UNFRGVN

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Location

Chicago/New York

Joined

2023

Categories

Division II:

Master Men, Master Women

Club Type

Community- All runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

More Info

UNFRGVN Facebook Page!

Contact

unfrgvnfitness@gmail.com

Cost to Join

Free Membership

Notes

Athletes have been represented in 20+ states, 4 countries, and 4 USATF National Championships

Lake Shore Racing Club

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Location

Chicago, IL

Joined

2022

Categories

Division II:

All Age Group Categories

Club Type

Community Team- All runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

More Info

cararuns.org/tracktuesday

Contact

james@cararuns.org

Cost to Join

Free Club Membership

 

Xtra Mile Fast Track Racing Team

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Location

Schaumburg, IL

Joined

2009

Sponsors

Xtra Mile Running Co.

Categories

Division I:

All Age Group Categories

Club Type

Community Team- All runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

More Info

fasttrackracingteam.com

instagram.com/fasttrackracingteam

facebook.com/4everfasttrack

Cost to Join

Annual Club Membership Fee

CARA Racing Team

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Location

Chicago

Joined

2024

Sponsors

PUMA

Categories

Division I

Open Men, Open Women, Master Men, Master Women

Club Type

Elite Team- Application Required, Limited Roster

Contact

james@cararuns.org

More Info

cararuns.org/cararacingteam

Cost to Join

Monthly Membership Fee

Nameless Track Club

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Location

Chicago, IL

Joined

2024

Sponsors

Nike

Categories

Division I:

Open Men & Open Women

Club Type

Elite Team- Limited Roster

More Info

instagram: @namelesstrackclub

Notes

4x US Olympic Trials Qualifiers (Marathon 2024)

1x Olympian (Marathon 2016)

Oiselle Volée

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Location

Chicago, IL

Joined

2024 (rejoined)

Categories:

Division II:

Open Women

Club Type

Community Team- All Runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

Contact Info

Instagram: @oisellevolee_il

More Info

https://www.oiselle.com/pages/volee-team

Cost to Join

Annual Membership Fee

Track & Trough Athletic Union

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Location

North Side, Chicago

Joined

2011

Categories

Division II:

Open Men, Open Women, Master Men, Master Women

Club Type

Community Team- All runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

More Info

Track & Trough Athletic Union Facebook Page

Cost to Join

Free Club Membership

Elmhurst Running Club

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Location

Elmhurst, IL

Categories

Division I:

Open Men, All Around

Division II:

Open Women

Club Type

Community Team- All runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

More Info

elmhurstrunningclub.com

CARA Run Crew

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Location

Chicago & Suburbs

Joined

2021

Categories

Division II:

All Age Group Categories

Club Type:

Community Team- All Runners welcome, unlimited roster spots

Contact:

training@cararuns.org

Cost to Join:

Free Club Membership

Naperville Running Company Track Club

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Location

Naperville, IL

Joined

2024

Categories

Division I:

All Age Group Categories

Club Type

Community Team- All runners welcome, unlimited roster sports

Contact 

coach@runningcompany.com

More info

runningcompany.com/nrc-track-club/

Cost to Join

Annual Membership Fee

Venados

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Location

Pilsen, Chicago

Joined

2023

Categories

Division I:

Open Men

Club Type

Offers both a "community" and "elite" team

More Info

venadosrunning.com

instagram.com/venadosrunning

Cost to Join

Free Club Membership

Notes

Founded in 1981 in the Pilsen Neighborhood of Chicago. Runners of all levels are welcome!

Fleet Feet x New Balance Racing Team

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Location

Chicago, IL

Sponsors

New Balance

Categories

Division I:

All Age Group Categories

More Info

fleetfeet.com/s/chicago/racingteam

Contact

svanis@fleetfeetchicago.com

Windrunners Chicago

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Location

Chicago, IL

Joined

2024

Sponsors

Nike

Edge Athlete Lounge

Categories

Division I:

Open Women

Club Type

Elite Team- Limited Roster

More Info

Instagram: @windrunnerschi

Awards Party

The Chicago Racing Circuit Awards Party for 2023 will be held February 25, 2024 at Chicago Theater Works. We will honor top performers and recognize CARA Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Award inductees. Ticket information to come. Click Here for more details.
 

Hall of Fame

Runners are inducted to the CARA Hall of Fame through long-standing success in the Chicago Racing Circuit. Each year award winners are given five points for first place finishes in age-group and/or Clydesdale/Athena categories. Three points are awarded for a second-place finish, and 1 point for a third-place finish. Once a runner has earned 30 total points they are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Runners can earn points in both age-group or Clydesdale/Athena categories simultaneously. However, 30 points must be reached in solely one of the categories, not a combination of the two.

Awards History

2023

2022

2021

2020 (Canceled)

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Prior years not available.

Chicago Racing Circuit Community

Runners are encouraged to engage with fellow Circuit runners, and stay connected with latest news on our Chicago Racing Circuit Facebook Group and Chicago Racing Circuit Strava Club

CARA Racing Committee

The CARA Racing Committee, in collaboration with CARA staff, leads the CARA Circuit and represents participating local running clubs.

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Erika Edmonson
Committee Chair

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Nick Bensen
Committee Member

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Brett Geschke
Committee Member

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Scott Mangum
Committee Member

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Steven Levine
Committee Member

Doug Pearson
Committee Member

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Brian Sweney
Committee Member

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Chris Willis
Committee Member

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Angelica Guerrero
Committee Member

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Erica Agran
Committee Member

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