THE WOO-WOO LADY
A Feel-good Friday story about one person making a difference.
Phyllis Keenan does not want this story to be about her.
The story, she insisted, is about the early-morning warriors training for the Chicago Marathon, the parents running with strollers, the older couple who share a tandem, the folks lumbering their way back from injury and the garbage collectors who keep the Lakefront Trail
clean for them all.
On one recent morning, Keenan brought the trash guys homemade cookies.
She calls herself “just a quirky old lady who got a bike during COVID.”
But Keenan, 73 years old with gusto left to give, has become quite famous for cheering others with a “Woo!” or “Oh yeaaah!” as they zip by.
A small homage to Keenan recently popped up on the trail near Belmont Harbor. “Chicago’s…’Woo Lady,'” read the lawn sign with a drawing of a sunrise. “Thank you
Phyllis!!!”
The paths of all runners, bikers, speed walkers, dog-walkers, hand-cyclists and tricyclists on the North Side trail lead to Keenan...read more
