HIP running club celebrating 3rd anniversary Saturday

The Hoffman Estates, Inverness & Palatine Athletic Association (HIP) will celebrate its third anniversary Saturday morning after its regular 8 a.m. run, starting in the parking lot of Deer Grove Forest Preserve-East. 1599 Pepper Tree Drive, in Palatine.

The club is the brainchild of Inverness resident Leo Tyska, and the idea quickly morphed into a tight-knit fellowship of community members, some of whom began as non-runners and now have 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, and marathons under their belts. Tyska launched the club by urging a small group of walkers and runners to invite everyone they knew. When he showed up at the assigned time, he found 40 people already there - from families with children to couples with dogs - ready to walk or run the trails of Deer Grove Forest Preserve.

HIP meets year round on Saturdays, usually in Deer Grove East (take the left fork) and often has coffee afterward. The organization gives back to the local community and has partnerships with Palatine and Fremd high schools' track and cross country teams, along with local businesses like Christie's Dairy Delights, New Creation Fitness and Great Harvest Bread Company.