Our Mission

Northern Illinois Lightning Athletics was founded with the community at its core. We believe in promoting physical fitness while fostering a positive, supportive environment for athletes of all ages & backgrounds.

Our club features two divisions: one for athletes in grades 6–12th grade and another for athletes 19 years old or older. Whether you're a top competitor at the high school or college level, or someone who wants to run to stay in shape or get into shape with no prior experience, our club offers a space to grow.

We prioritize progress over personal records, and we believe that an athlete’s worth is not defined by times or placements. Our mission is to help individuals, both youth and adults, reach their full potential, physically and mentally.

Running is a gift. We want every athlete to enjoy the process, embrace the highs, and work gracefully through the lows. By focusing on personal growth, joy in movement, and a community-first mindset, we aim to keep running fun, fulfilling, and accessible to all.

Why This Was Created?

Northern Illinois Lightning Athletics was created with the community in mind! Adult athletes have no club or group to train in Track & field or Cross Country. Youth Athletes also have a very similar struggle, but have to deal with high prices and long travel. The Athletics field brings people all across the world together. We want both groups to build a community for everyone who wants to be a part of our mission. As our athletes are not just bettering themselves, but our whole community!

Running may seem simple, but doing it alone, whether long-distance miles or sprints, can feel overwhelming, especially without guidance or support. Sprint training, in particular, can be hard to navigate without access to coaching or clear information. That’s why we’ve created a space where runners of all experience levels can come together, learn, grow, and enjoy the journey.

We aim to provide a fun, welcoming environment that teaches people, regardless of background or training history, how to train healthily and sustainably. Here, it's not about race times or results. Fast or slow, experienced or brand new, it doesn’t matter.

Our goal is simple: Foster a community of people across all ages who want to better themselves and others physically and mentally!

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