Running Tours: The Cora Tozzi Historical Mystery Series in Lemont

Join Read & Run Chicago as we bring three of the books in local author Pat Camalliere's Cora Tozzi Historical Mystery Series to life this spring in partnership with Lemont Downtown. In this three-part series inspired by The Mystery at Sag Bridge, The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods, and The Mystery at Mount Forest Island, we'll explore Lemont through movement and stories.

Led by Read & Run Chicago guide Carrie Mathews, each event features a running route corresponding to real-life locations featured in one of the novels and covers historical topics like Irish immigration, Illinois’s indigenous history, and even Chicago mob history.

Readers & runners will run where the books take place, gain historical context to the stories, learn fun facts, and finish each running route with an optional post-run hangout in downtown Lemont with author Pat Camalliere. You’ll be able to enjoy lite bites, buy Read & Run Chicago merch, and purchase books. No prior reading is required for any of the events in this series, but you’ll have the chance to purchase the book during our Q&A with the author.

All ages, running levels, and abilities are welcome to join one or all of the runs in this series!

If you love Lemont history and books but are unable to join the running portion of the events, please join the group at the post-run Q&A locations (see below). We will indicate in each event’s details if alternative movement options (walking, cycling, rolling) are possible for the routes.

Event 1: Running Tour of The Mystery at Sag Bridge
Saturday, March 23 at 9am

Here are all the details:

MEET: Meet at St. James at Sag Bridge Catholic Church (10600 Archer Avenue, Lemont) between 8:50am-9:00am on Saturday, March 23.

ROUTE: We’ll run an easy-paced (~11:00 minute/mile), 3-mile route through Red Gate Woods starting and ending at St. James and stopping at a couple of points. Trail running shoes are encouraged but not required.

OPTIONAL PREPARE/PREPARE: This is a running tour and it is optional to read The Mystery at Sag Bridge prior to this run. You’ll be able to purchase your copy during the post-run Q&A directly from the author.

If you’d like to read the book prior to this run, we encourage you to borrow a copy from your local branch of the Chicago Public Library (here's how to get a card if you don't have one). If you prefer to purchase the book, you will find it at Smokey Row Antiques.

POST-RUN: After the running route finishes at St. James, readers & runners can drive or carpool to (306 Lemont Street – about a 10 minute drive), where Pat Camalliere will provide additional historical information and chat with runners. You’ll be able to purchase your copies of her books, snack on light bites, and buy Read & Run Chicago merch. Attendees will also be able to browse the museum (suggested $5 donation).

If you want to socialize with other readers & runners and meet the author but are unable to join the running portion of the event, please plan to meet us directly at the Lemont Area Historical Society and Museum starting at 10:30am.

If the weather becomes unsafe to be outside, this event will be a lecture at the Lemont Area Historical Society and Museum starting at 10:00am. Registered runners will be informed no later than 8am on Saturday, March 23.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: If the weather becomes unsafe to be outside, this event will be a lecture at the Lemont Area Historical Society and Museum starting at 10:00am. Registered runners will be informed no later than 8am on Saturday, March 23.

All registered runners will receive reminder details two days and four hours prior to the event.

Stay tuned for details on the other events in this series!

Event 2: Running Tour of The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods on Saturday, May 4 at 9am

Event 3: Running Tour of The Mystery at Mount Forest Island on Saturday, June 15 at 9am
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Read & Run Chicago is a chapter of Read & Run Tours, LLC, the country’s first and only organization that hosts running events inspired by books. Founded in 2021 by queer educator, freelance writer, and runner Allison Yates, the mission of Read & Run Tours, LLC and the city chapters is to use movement and stories to explore locations. Our community-focused run programming includes running tours, book club runs, author talks, and other literary-themed fun runs all inspired by books set in the cities where chapters are located, written by local authors. While connecting runners to the city’s stories, we also actively support literacy programs, public libraries, independent bookstores, and local authors.

In Chicago, we have hosted more than 60 events (in English and Spanish) for over 300 Chicagoans, featuring over 30 authors or local experts, and we have been featured in various media outlets including Runner’s World, Midwest Living, NBC’s Chicago Today, Fox32 Good Day Chicago, WGN Radio, Block Chicago, and more.

More information at readandrunchicago.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

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