About the race
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a big-city road race held in October, one of the eight World Marathon Majors and among the largest marathons in the world by number of finishers. In 2024 it was awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque.
History
Marathons were staged in Chicago from 1905 until the early 1920s. The first, on 23 September 1905, had seven finishers. The present series began on 25 September 1977 as the Mayor Daley Marathon with about 4,200 runners, and it has been held every year since, apart from 1987, when only a half marathon took place, and 2020, when it was cancelled because of the pandemic. Entries later climbed past 40,000, and the course has seen several world records.
The course
It is a loop that begins and ends in Grant Park. Over its length it passes through 29 of the city's neighbourhoods, and it can be thought of as three sections: north, west and south. In each section the turning point sits close to one of the major stadiums, with Wrigley Field to the north, the United Center to the west and Rate Field to the south; Soldier Field lies near the start and finish. For the first few miles runners wind through downtown before heading north along LaSalle Street. There are 20 aid stations along the way, roughly every one to three miles, and over 12,000 volunteers help on the day.
Entry basics
The organiser's site says applications for the 2027 race are open, with a drawing, guaranteed entries and a charity programme all listed on the menu. According to Wikipedia, runners can register by meeting a time standard or by winning a general lottery, with exceptions for elite athletes, legacy finishers and charity representatives. Only those finishing within six and a half hours are officially timed.
Where to watch
The route is lined with supporters in many neighbourhoods. Good places to cheer include the downtown stretch in the opening miles, the areas around the stadiums at the turning points, and the finish zone around Grant Park. The organiser keeps a dedicated spectator information section with more detail.
Weather
October is autumn in Chicago. Race mornings are usually cool, but the weather can vary a lot from one year to the next. The 2007 race faced unusually hot conditions and was stopped early, a reminder that conditions can change quickly and are worth checking close to the day.