Why Christina Runs for the Parks
Meet Team ChiParks in our ongoing ‘Why I Run for the Parks’ blog series highlighting members of our 2025 charity team.
The Chicago Parks Foundation has been a proud Bank of America Chicago Marathon charity partner since 2013, as well as the Bank of America Chicago 13.1.
These dedicated runners choose to make their miles extra meaningful by running on behalf of a charity. Since our start, Team ChiParks and their supporters have raised nearly $2 million for the parks - vital park projects, community programming, our citywide volunteer efforts, and more. This is the Chicago Parks Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. We are thankful to our team!
Christina and husband Mike at their 2020 Humboldt Park wedding
Meet Christina A., running her second Chicago Marathon to celebrate her 40th birthday!
Christina ran her first marathon ever in Chicago in 2019, and this year will be her second. She’s joined by her husband, Mike, who has completed five marathons including Seattle, Columbia River Gorge, Berlin, and Chicago twice!
WHAT DOES RUNNING THE 2025 BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON MEAN TO YOU?
I turned 40 in January of this year. This running season for me is a celebration of a new era, pushing my endurance a little past what is comfortable or typical for my age and reaffirming my commitments to a lifetime of health and wellness. Mike is running to support me for my birthday!
WHY TEAM CHIPARKS
My husband and I have a great connection to ChiParks. In 2020 when our big wedding plans were cancelled due to COVID, we just decided to tie the knot on a whim in Humboldt Park. Access to the parks was such an important part of our health and happiness during that tough time, and we are happy to both be raising money for ChiParks for the Chicago Marathon.
“Access to the parks was such an important part of our health and happiness during that tough time, and we are happy to both be raising money for ChiParks for the Chicago Marathon.”
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT CHICAGO’S PARKS?
Humboldt Park brings us both so much joy given it was our impromptu wedding venue. The 606 and Lakefront Trail are equally important to us for running/exercise; we utilize those spaces as much as we can.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT TRAINING FOR THE CHICAGO MARATHON?
I love the mental challenge, I love the companionship you can find with other runners on the trail, and I really enjoy discovering new public spaces to run in (most of which are ChiParks!). Also, who doesn't love the Strava kudos after a particularly tough one?
OTHER THAN RUNNING, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
My little family includes my husband and our 2.5 year old Belgian Malinois mix rescue dog, Gretchen. We love to use the ChiParks for our family walks, Gretchen likes to play fetch on the beaches, and we love the forest trails out in the suburbs as well.
