Starting running again

Couple questions:

Are there any tracks open to the public in the northern Chicago area (closest suburb is Evanston...like 5 minutes from me)? Would be nice if I could get some access to hurdles too?

I injured my knee playing volleyball about a year and a half ago, only to reinjure it last August. It feels fine and I've been lifting to stregthen my legs but I feel if I start running again it might help build my knees. Any suggestions?

Have you checked the local high schools? In my experience if you go while the track team isn't practicing and just act like you know what you're doing no one will say anything to you, especially in the suburbs. As for hurdles, you might get lucky and some will be left out during the season.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by 'building' your knees but running will make your legs somewhat stronger. I'd run normally a bit before attempting the hurdles just to be safe though.

-jeff

Want to strengthen the tendons. Besides, eventhough my trail leg still says I can get over the hurdles, the rest of my body disagrees at the moment.

You can probably run on the local high school tracks. Check out ETHS. But schools are often reluctant to let people use the hurdles. Then again, if you can get there when the HS team is practicing, and the coach is agreeable, you might have no problem there either.

Build incrementally and slowly. At a guess, it would be a very good idea to get back to running the straights solidly and without complaints from knees (or elsewhere!) before starting the hurdles.