A MESSAGE FROM Miles with ParkyTaco
I am ParkyTaco a Taco Bell loving, late night gamin', amateur runner! I am running my first Chicago Marathon in 2026 and I am running it with Team ChiParks. I have chosen to run with this organization because parks (in all of their shapes and sizes) have played a meaningful role in my life.
I attended Southern Utah University, the “University of the Parks,” which shaped my appreciation for outdoor spaces and their impact on community well-being. Since moving to Chicago, Rogers Beach Park and Juneway Terrace have become the starting point for nearly all of my runs.
I stumbled upon running during the pandemic, and it helped me manage growing anxieties, build routine, and fostered some of my strongest friendships (looking at you Dr. Bates). Watching friends run the Chicago Marathon and seeing the city rally behind them showed me how special this race is. Running for the Chicago Parks Foundation feels like the right way to give back to the spaces that have supported me while helping ensure Chicago’s parks remain welcoming and accessible for everyone.
