The Chicago lakefront park facilities (i.e. bathrooms) close all winter and they shut off the water fountains so they don’t freeze. Even when the weather starts to warm up and lots of runners start up their spring training, the park doesn’t officially open those things until Memorial Day*, which is still almost two moths away–that’s lots of carrying water bottles and then trying to find somewhere for an emergency pee. So it’s good to know spots to avail yourself of both without going too far off the path.

• The Lincoln Park Zoo is open 365 days a year and is just to the west of the lakefront path, across Lake Shore Drive. From the north, take the underpass at Fullerton; from the south take the pedestrian bridge at North (and hey, it’s like hill-work!). There are bathrooms and in several of the buildings (and you can get sink water if necessary)—I usually use the ones in the Big Cat House, which is open 9–5. And another “and hey” is that you get to see cool animals as you run into and out of the zoo.
• Just north of the zoo on the inner path between Cannon Drive and Diversey Harbor (just south of Diversey) there’s a water fountain that is not a Park District fountain but rather sponsored by CARA and runs year round.

* Some of the water fountains may be turned on early depending on weather and staff availability to do so.