Run for the Zoo

For more than four decades, runners of all levels and abilities have supported Lincoln Park Zoo with Run for the Zoo, now in its 46th year! Run for the Zoo makes it easy for anyone—from toddlers to elite athletes—to help support their favorite species at the zoo and save them in the wild.

We're thrilled to reveal that the western lowland gorilla is the featured animal for 2024's Run for the Zoo. This means that, once you sign up, the medal and T-shirt you receive will feature this year’s gorilla-themed logo.

Choose from:
* 10K Run
* 5K Run
* 5K Walk
* Kids’ Course (for kids ages 3–8)
* Wildlife Warrior (10K and 5K)
* Virtual Race

The flat-surface 5K and 10K race courses are chip-timed and U.S.A. Track and Field-certified, taking you through gardens and habitats, around Nature Boardwalk, along Lake Michigan, and into Lincoln Park—all with the Chicago skyline as your backdrop. Whether you’re a veteran racer or new to a 5K/10K, Run for the Zoo is an open, inviting, and supportive event. It connects you to a community of other Lincoln Park Zoo fans raising money for a common reason: saving wildlife.