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Pi Day “Pi K” Fun Run/Walk
Join us!
IL Science Council’s 12th Celebration of Pi!
It’s a 3.14-mile fun run along the Chicago River with round treats following, or virtually anywhere!
We’re gearing up for EVERYBODY’S favorite “holiday” – PI DAY! Registration is now open for ISC’s 12th “Pi K” 3.14-mile Run/Walk. Mid-March is the perfect time to treat your body to some exercise and your tastebuds to delicious treats to honor math. Join the fun in Chicago or wherever you are!! All proceeds support the STEM outreach programs of Illinois Science Council, an independent 501c3 nonprofit in Chicago that offers engaging STEM programs for adults and teens.
Sponsorship – If you are interested in partnership opportunities for this, or any of ISC’s many STEM events, email Monica at PiDay@IllinoisScience.org.
THE Pi K PLAN
1. SIGN UP!
Register EARLY (by midnight Tuesday, February 24) and we’ll do our darndest to get this year’s awesome Pi K t-shirt mailed directly to you by March 14th to wear on Pi Day.
Register LATER (from 2/25 until midnight March 14) to have your collectible Pi K t-shirt mailed to you after Pi Day.
VIRTUALLY: Pi & Pie Fans anywhere can join in. If you aren’t in Chicago, register and run wherever you are and we will send you the Pi K t-shirt! (There will be a small surcharge to ship shirts overseas as there’s math involved. 😉 )
Sponsored Teams: If you’d like your company or organization to sponsor a team to run the Pi K, email Monica at PiDay@IllinoisScience.org.
All registrants receive this year’s coveted Pi K t-shirt they can wear proudly to show their respect for math and support of science outreach.
2. RUN or WALK 3.14 on 3/14
In Person: Come to the Clark Park on the Chicago River at 3400 N Rockwell St. between 9-9:20am to be ready for the run start at 9:30am. There’s no packet pick up in advance. There will be space for gear check and we’ll have the 3.14-mile loop route mapped out for you.
Virtual:Â You should run, walk, skip, cartwheel, or saunter 3.14 miles, which is a little more than a 5K. (It’s the honor system. We won’t know if you spent 3.14 hours on your couch.) You can also go 3.14 kilometers, furlongs, acres, leagues, or city blocks anywhere you choose! Be sure to wear your Pi K shirt and share your picture on ISC’s socials.
3. CELEBRATE PI!
When you get to the finish, we’ll have delicious treats to enjoy in celebration of everything circular. Will they be pies, bagels, donuts, cookies, flan, cupcakes??? So many great options so who knows!
The 2026 Pi K T-SHIRT is a softstyle unisex cotton tee available in sizes S – 2XL. This year’s collectible tee will be different from the ones shown above from 2019 and 2021 (we don’t have a photo for this year yet).
Pi K Logo – The logo on the front is not some fancy equation. Insiders know it indicates this is a “Pi K” as opposed to a 5K run when everyone goes just a little extra for math. The exponent number indicates that 2026 is our 12th year for the run.
The shirt backside makes it clear you know math and how far you went. The line between 3.14 and the ISC logo is not just a divider line. Look closely and you’ll see it’s a long sequence of digits of pi. 🙂
More Details:
There is no packet pickup prior to the run but at the finish we’ll have circular treats for you! We will have bag check but we can’t guarantee bathrooms will be available for use or to change clothes.
T-shirts will be mailed to you in advance so you can wear it to the run if you register by Tuesday 2/24. If you register between 2/25 – 3/14, your shirt will arrive about 2 weeks after Pi Day.
Weather: This is Chicago. Weather on March 14 could be warm and sunny, or cold, windy and wet. You’ve seen it all and you know how to dress accordingly. The Pi K takes place rain, snow, or shine. Run will only be cancelled due to severe weather conditions, in which case you’ll be emailed with updates. Even if the run is cancelled, the post party probably won’t be because we’re not savages!! There are no refunds as you’ll still get your shirt.