giving back to the community

  1. Thanksgiving Day race is a fundraiser to support the Crystal Lake Food Pantry
  2. Volunteer hours tracking contest.  Track your volunteer hours and top volunteers for the year will win free membership to the club
  3. Various Donation Drives throughout the year like sweatshirt drive, shoe drive, hats/mittens
  4. Hillstriders Distance Running Scholarship awards at least three $3000 scholarships each year

Running Events

Optional Group message service

We are a group of individuals who enjoy running and socializing.  We also participate in several events that help out in the local community.

​To Join or renew your membership click on the Membership button

MEMBERSHIP HAS IT privileges

  1. Beach Runs - We host Tuesday night beach runs which is a 4.3 mile loop around Crystal Lake from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  This event is in conjunction with the Crystal Lake Park District’s “Summer Concerts in the Park”. 
  2. Marathon Training - Several runners also participate in year round weekend runs which are both formal and informal training runs. See the Training Group page for more info.
  3. March Madness Half Marathon Race
  4. Thanksgiving Day 5k Run/Walk
  5. Soup Run - Come out to Veteran's Acres and run the trails followed by a potluck in November
  6. SNoW Fun Run - Although this event is not hosted by Hillstriders, you'll find that several members attend every year. Its a great oppourtunity to come out and socialize with the group. 

Hillstriders use a group messaging service to communicate events in real time.

Those that want to be added to the group messaging service please follow the GroupMe link


  1. Superbowl Party
  2. Post race volunteer day of party (all volunteers)
  3. Race volunteer party (club member volunteers only)
  4. Christmas Party

member Information

Social Events