All paces welcome in new Hanover Park Runners group

A new group has hit the ground running in Hanover Park. Literally.

The Hanover Park Runners will meet at the Hanover Park Police Station, 2011 W. Lake St., at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, for their fourth weekly run.

Hanover Park isn't traditionally known as a running community, but village Trustee Lisa Trousdale, who helped found the club, said she hopes the group encourages more people to run, walk and meet other community members.

"Some people in the group run fast, and some run slow," Trousdale said. "I would love to see more kids and parents running and walking with us."

Mileage and pace depend on individual's training goals, but the group has been following a three-mile route through the neighborhood north of the police station.

Trousdale has been running since 2009. After she and Carol Chaplin-Dieringer participated in the Special Olympics Torch Run, the two decided to establish a running club for the area.

"The police chief and village president have really given us great support," Trousdale said.

The group currently consists of about seven people from the area, and they meet in the Hanover Park Police Station lobby where there are bathrooms and water fountains.

While it can be intimidating to start running with a group, the Hanover Park Runners encourage runners and people who are more comfortable with run-walking to join in the Saturday morning runs.

"It's really about community," Trousdale said. "I love people, and I need the exercise."

The Hanover Park Runners can also be found on Facebook.