Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Chicago, IL
- Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is the pinnacle of achievement for elite athletes and everyday runners alike. Since its inaugural running in 1977, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon has developed a global reputation for its fast, record-setting course. Year after year the Bank of America Chicago Marathon hosts representatives … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 11):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 64 | 83 | 66 | 70 | 79 |
| L (°F) | 55 | 54 | 41 | 54 | 63 |
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Second time and doing fine
I ran this race as my 1st marathon in 2017 and it was going to be my one and only full Marathon. As I am writing this review I have … MORE
I ran this race as my 1st marathon in 2017 and it was going to be my one and only full Marathon. As I am writing this review I have completed 15 Marathons and this is still my fav!!! The group that puts on this event every year are the best at what they do. From packet pick up at the expo to getting 55,000 runners staged and running all before 8:00am I am not one to run the same marathon over and over again but I can see myself crossing this finish line at least one more time before I hang up the running shoes A LONG TIME FROM NOW…. Thanks for reading this
Fast, big event, made for PBs
Big but didn’t feel too packed in the front waves. Well organised. Too expensive but if you can do it I think it’s a great option for a flat fast … MORE
Big but didn’t feel too packed in the front waves. Well organised. Too expensive but if you can do it I think it’s a great option for a flat fast course and great major experience
Birthday PR!
Great race. Plenty of local supporting events and shake outs. The race shirt was mehhhh but the expo was easy and getting to and from was also easy. Chicago is … MORE
Great race. Plenty of local supporting events and shake outs. The race shirt was mehhhh but the expo was easy and getting to and from was also easy. Chicago is expensive so just expect that part. Also, I met Nike Global Running Head Coach Bennett.. he’s the best!
My 2nd world major star
This was my second world major marathon, so I was able to compared this day to the Berlin marathon of 2024, for reference. I enjoyed the early start time of … MORE
This was my second world major marathon, so I was able to compared this day to the Berlin marathon of 2024, for reference. I enjoyed the early start time of this race, since i had the rest of the day to do whatever we wanted after i finished. I found the pre-race area to be extremely organized. It was clear where everything was located, from the bag drop-off, to the corral/wave assignments. The pre race area would’ve been better if there were more bathrooms, but the lines moved quickly enough. The course is fast and flat, with amazing crowds through the entirety of the course. You can definitely omit the headphones for this race. Even though there were 55k+ people in this race, it seemed like everyone had enough space to run their race at their desired pace. I loved running through the various neighborhoods here. We had pretty good weather (50–55 degrees F and sunny). There were more aids stations than I’ve ever seen at any of my other races. I came away with a 4 min PB, so I was thrilled. The only con about this race is the placement of the expo center. It is much further away from downtown, and there isn’t a direct subway route to get there, so you have to either go on a bus, that stops a million times over the course of 3-4 miles, take a car, or go on the subway, and have to walk a lot from the closest station. I hope I can come back for this race one day!
Well organized race
overall the race was organized very well in terms of volunteers who provided water, gels and aide support alongside. However I felt down at 1 mile start because the red … MORE
overall the race was organized very well in terms of volunteers who provided water, gels and aide support alongside. However I felt down at 1 mile start because the red carpet covered the bump on the 1st bridge. I suggest do not cover the bump.
Nike designed official swag sold in Expo are not designed well. They are expensive too and not refundable.
It could be better!
I am originally from Chicago and there were spots where there were a lot of spectators and they were dead silent. For it to be a big city race and … MORE
I am originally from Chicago and there were spots where there were a lot of spectators and they were dead silent. For it to be a big city race and a world majors, I expected all of hype like New York City Marathon and I definitely did not get that feel. Also, the race gear this year was meh! They had better swag in the previous years. It was nothing to get excited about. The expo was probably one of the most efficient races that I have been to thus far. The medal engraving in the athlete’s village was lacking and only has two people doing the engraving with took forever standing in line.
Great Course!
I really enjoyed this 5K as my shakeout run. I wanted to race it, but I knew I had to conserve my energy for the next day. Great crowd support … MORE
I really enjoyed this 5K as my shakeout run. I wanted to race it, but I knew I had to conserve my energy for the next day. Great crowd support and post race meal.
Loud, organized chaos
I wanted to love Chicago, but I was overwhelmed by the noise from fans. This is obviously one of the largest fields, but also one of the biggest crowds, so … MORE
I wanted to love Chicago, but I was overwhelmed by the noise from fans. This is obviously one of the largest fields, but also one of the biggest crowds, so be ready for that! Even the race expo was crazy and packed with people going everywhere and lines for everything. The race course will be crowded, but it is flat. You won’t need for anything on the race course as they provide tons of support in the way of water, Gatorade endurance, Maurten Gels, medical support, and other assorted tables full of anything a runner might want in the later miles. The bridges in the 20 something miles are a bit tricky and it caught a few people who fell. Most people heard for the red rugs atop the metal grating. There is a legit hill at about mile 26, which seems cruel, but you have to go up to run down into the park to finish.
The best was the neighborhoods. It was as if they were competing to show off what made their neighborhood special. The worst was the people that kept darting through runners to cross the course. I nearly ran into 3 people who were walking rental bikes across the course. I made the mistake of not walking the long walk to the post race party. There were no buses and I ended up walking to my hotel instead. Get reservations for every dinner and secure your hotel or plans for wherever you stay as early soon as possible. The pre race pasta meal at Millenium Hall was a lot of standing in line despite a reservation and the food left me wishing I ate most anywhere else.
Great Course, Electric Crowd
The crowd doesn't let up for the majority of the race. The course runners stay pretty close to one another, it doesn't open up like you would typically see deep … MORE
The crowd doesn’t let up for the majority of the race. The course runners stay pretty close to one another, it doesn’t open up like you would typically see deep in the race. Great PR opportunity. Overall a fantastic race.
Believe the Hype
Amazing support on course and incredible crowd support. Don't let the flat fool you mile 22-24 are tough but overall an amazing race in a beautiful city. MORE
Amazing support on course and incredible crowd support. Don’t let the flat fool you mile 22-24 are tough but overall an amazing race in a beautiful city.
Never disappoints
This was my 3rd year in a row and I am likely to keep running it until I can't. Only downside is having to train/run over the summer in preparation … MORE
This was my 3rd year in a row and I am likely to keep running it until I can’t. Only downside is having to train/run over the summer in preparation for this World Major. Crowd support at Chicago is like no other! Food, culture, shopping, public transportation, etc of Chicago are all on point (and helps keep me coming back).
Hometown Love at its Best!!!
My first marathon in the city that raised me. I have never run an event with such strong crowd support. Expo was easy in and out with plenty of parking … MORE
My first marathon in the city that raised me. I have never run an event with such strong crowd support. Expo was easy in and out with plenty of parking with the various lots in the downtown area. Slightly disappointed that I couldn’t get to my prepaid parking in Millennium Garage on Raceday.
Each side of the city was unique and offered so much to the event. Unsanctioned aid stations were the main highlights for me. From keg stands, hugs, petting a dog and even full out line dancing, Chicago put on a party! I would definitely run this again for time and to see how hard I can push myself at the full marathon distance.
Love World Major Marathons
Chicago Marathon is amazing with a flat course, thousands of runners, and cheering crowds. Every moment filled with excitement and unforgettable memories. Smooth packet pickup, big expo, decent shirt, and … MORE
Chicago Marathon is amazing with a flat course, thousands of runners, and cheering crowds. Every moment filled with excitement and unforgettable memories. Smooth packet pickup, big expo, decent shirt, and a great medal.
Beautiful city and people
The crowd support was absolutely amazing. From start to end there were cheers, signs, music and friendly faces. I am back of the pack and was never crowded. Getting to … MORE
The crowd support was absolutely amazing. From start to end there were cheers, signs, music and friendly faces. I am back of the pack and was never crowded. Getting to the start line and family meet up after takes sometime so be patient. Swag? There was none really but lots of merch to buy for a pretty penny! I definitely recommend this race!
Chicago! What a city! What a race!
This journey was a year in the making. After trying to get into one of the premier events via the lottery the last couple years, I finally got into Chicago … MORE
This journey was a year in the making. After trying to get into one of the premier events via the lottery the last couple years, I finally got into Chicago and it did NOT disappoint!
Prep: The moment I got the email notifying me that I was in, I grabbed a hotel downtown. I knew I didn’t want to have to deal with trying to travel in from further out. Hotel prices even at that point were quite high. I stayed at the Meridian Essex, right on Michigan ave. It was across from the finish area. Perfect!
Travel to Chicago: I arrived in Chicago on Thursday morning. I wanted to get there early in case there were flight problems or delays. No issues traveling at all. I highly recommend arriving early if you can to then take in the city. Flight was no issue, Uber to hotel was no issue. Downtown Chicago is highly walkable or has great mass transit. But don’t over do it!
Expo: I thought the expo was outstanding! Huge event hall, lots of vendors, lots of stuff you can buy, try, or check out. Getting checked in and the packet was easy and quick. No issues at all on Thursday afternoon. I went with a Medium size shirt, probably should have went one size bigger. Couldn’t exchange because there were no extra large sizes available (knew better, but that’s on me). If you are looking for specific swag, you’ll find it! I had a specific list of things I was looking for and got them all. Some booths like the Nike one were really high priced, but I found what I wanted elsewhere. Again Expo, top notch.
Friday/Saturday: There was a Brooks pop up store, long line so I didn’t go. Wish I had though! There were lots of other places to check out, Nike store, Hoka, Fleet Feet, etc. Of course Chicago has non-race stuff to do as well. I’ve been to Chicago many times, so we did some low-key activities and kept off our feet as much as possible.
Pre-Race Carb Loading: WARNING AND STRONG ADVICE!!! There are 53,000 people running the event + HUGE numbers of support people. MAKE RESERVERATIONS FOR MEALS WEEKS IN ADVANCE!! Everybody will be looking for pasta (Italian). Seriously, if you want it, make reservations 4-6 weeks out. We went to The Village on Friday and La Bella Trattoria on Saturday. Highly recommend The Village. Great vibe!
Race Day: So much to cover here! Since I stayed downtown, getting to the event was simple. Recommendation for my corral was to arrive by 6:30am for an 8:35am start. Getting thru security was quick and easy though. I got to security about 7am and breezed through. Took a banana with me as a light snack ahead of time. Lines for the toilets at 7:15am weren’t bad, but growing. I went through quickly, but had to hit one again around 7:55am. HINT: The lines for the toilets between Columbus and Michigan have crazy long lines at this point. There are more to the EAST of Columbus that had NO lines at that point! Our corral started right as advertised. No issues.
There are alot of people running! You are definitely bunched up and crowded for at least the first 6 miles. Just be prepared to dodge runners, people stopping mid-run, the crowds closing in, and people running across the course in front of you!!
The crowds were the best I’ve seen! They were cheering us on right from the start and didn’t let up the entire way. All the neighborhoods we ran through brought the excitement and kept us going. There were times where the cheering was so loud I couldn’t hear the music in my earbuds. The only issue I had with the crowds were the idiot people running across the course to the other side. I saw more than one runner collide with someone. ANNOYING!!!
Course is outstanding. I believe 29 different neighborhoods. Flat course, with some dips and rises in places. I did not like the bridges, the grates were uncomfortable running for me. They did have red carpets in places, would have liked to see more of those! Watch your footing in places, there are pot holes and other hazards along the way. That final 400 meter push up the incline and then coming across the finish was worth it. Victory!
Post-race: As you are coming down the finishers chute, they have all kinds of stuff for you: water, food, beer, snacks, your finisher medal, etc. One thing they do at Dallas is give you a reusable grocery bag, that would have been great! I had a hard time trying to pocket everything being handed out while you have to keep moving.
Meeting my party at the post-race meetup was impossible. It’s a half to three-quarters of a mile at least from the finish. Thankfully we were able to call and switch to meeting up on Michigan ave, which btw is shut down in front of Grant park during the race, which was great.
All-in-all, I had the best experience and would highly recommend Chicago to anyone wanting to complete a marathon!!
Chicago BRINGS IT and wraps it up
Marathon number 4 was filled with an expected sense of calm and self-assurance. Any marathoner will tell you that each marathon is different, and if they don’t, I am here … MORE
Marathon number 4 was filled with an expected sense of calm and self-assurance. Any marathoner will tell you that each marathon is different, and if they don’t, I am here to tell you that they are different. Each is wonderful and difficult in its own rite. As such, I would never change any of the experiences. Each marathon will hold a special place in my heart for different reasons.
The Chicago Marathon was my first charity run. This means that along with the pressure of training for 26.2 miles, I also had the pressure of raising a minimum amount for the Mission of Our Lady of Angels. There was a lot of self-doubt involved, even if I demonstrated otherwise throughout the course of the year. In the end, God provided and I not only was physically and mentally prepared, I reached my fundraising goals through donations and baking cakes. In this aspect, for anyone wanting to race and raise funds, do not be surprised by the generosity of others. You have friends that want to support you and every dollar counts!
Now, for the course itself, Chicago lives up to its fame and is flat, relatively speaking. My weekly Kansas City training course had more elevation gain than the course as a whole. For the first half, I maintained a steady pace for walk/run intervals. I had to remind myself that there were no clouds on this gorgeous, perfect weather day. I am partial to straight line courses. I like being able to just go straight and not worry about so many turns. Chicago delivered. We had good stretches of a straight path. As a back of the packer, I felt like a rockstar sticking to the left and passing up other runners, rather than being the one always on the right. But don’t be mistaken, as the NUMEROUS signs from the crowd reminded us – no one likes a quick finisher. Slow and steady is the key to perfect satisfaction.
Be prepared to face a good four miles of direct sun and no shade around miles 14 to 18. However, along that route is the official team cheer section. Tens of tents line both sides of the street to cheer on runners. The perfect motivation came shortly after mile 15 when Pope Leo cheered us on. Well, 5 cutouts of him and a group of cheery sisters and priests with the Mission of Our Lady of Angels.
As a back of the packer, crowd support in the later miles mean the WORLD TO ME!!! I refused the ‘wall’ to hit me, and my Mexican neighborhood knew it. They came out in force, only to be rivaled by Chinatown. To the lady that danced “Chicos del Barrio” with me, TRUST me I wanted to dance more, but I was determined to beat the pace car.
Mile 22 hit and my headphones died. As disappointing as it was, it was all in God’s plan. I had been rubber-banding with another member of Team OLA and his headphones also died. We shared stories about how we were each carrying each other throughout the race. The last four miles we ran together. We intervaled, we pushed, we made it. The final little hill at mile 26 – I eat those for breakfast. Everyone had warned me about the final hill. I saw it and laughed. It was a molehill. Andrew, my teammate, and I ran up the hill and turned into victory.
This is the Chicago Marathon. A world major marathon…..it has a time limit. The official limit is 6.5 hours. Chicago does not play. As much as the crowds BROUGHT IT!, the official organizers do not play. With 2+ hours remaining, the official pace car crawled to my side with a “TIME EXCEEDED MOVE TO THE SIDEWALK”. It only served as motivation to stay ahead of it. (I failed by 8 minutes. PR time of 6:38:49). Back of the packers BEWARE: aid stations will start to pack up! I carried water and gatorade throughout the whole race, but didn’t want to utilize them until absolutely necessary. I used every aid station on the course. It was probably the last 6 miles when stations started to semi-clean up. As I recapped with other teammates the following day, we all agreed that the aid stations were first half heavy. It seemed as though there were stations around the first half, but diminished in the 2nd half. I’ll half to l9ok at the official map and verify.
Once we hit mile 25, the DJ acknowledged the pace car but also stated that while the pace car meant to move to the sidewalk, he would still be supporting the last runner. A HUGE shoutout to all the ‘unofficial’ aid stations. YOU CARRY THE BACK OF THE PACK!!! To the lady who saw my face on the verge of exhaustion, THANK YOU for yelling at me I CAN DO IT!
Maybe it was mind games, maybe it was an honest mistake, but Andrew and I truly saw a 400 meters sign, then an 800 meters sign to the finish, and finally 400 meters, again. The signs confused us and how to pace ourselves. It was our first Chicago marathon and, as out of towners, we had no idea where the finish line would truly greet us.
The final ‘hill’ incline greets runners at the true 400 meter mark. Runners turn right, RUN uphill and then slide downhill. Andrew and I finished together. It was our goal. We were a team at this point. Andrew finished his first marathon and I earned a marathon PR. He hugged hard and I cried.
A HUGE shoutout to my racing partner, running inspiration and more – jkelling. All the summer miles, hills and inspiration paid off. I got a marathon PR. The sub-15-minute mile pace is one I will accept. There were no clouds, no grocery store strolls. Any time I felt tired, I looked at my pace and thought, this is unacceptable. I remembered to run to the shade. I pumped my arm when I paced miles 22-24. Team Squeans was in full force.
Key notes on this VERY LONG review. Chicago BRINGS IT!!! There was never a quiet mile. I had 6 alcohol shots on the course, at least. It is flat terrain. Bridges are red carpeted for a smoother running passage. But the official pace car does not play. It will sneak up on you like the traffic ticket you forgot to pay. One lady told me they eventually move the timing mat to the sidewalk. I want the grand finish. At 6:38:49, I got the official finish.
I look forward to seeing jkelling KILLING it at Chicago and running slightly behind him:)
World class marathon experience.
I have been to a number of marathons and other race events, including large productions such as Philadelphia, Twin Cities, Atlanta and Indianapolis and they were great events, but Chicago … MORE
I have been to a number of marathons and other race events, including large productions such as Philadelphia, Twin Cities, Atlanta and Indianapolis and they were great events, but Chicago is truly a world class event. So many volunteers, great organization, awesome community involvement, and the race truly explores the many areas throughout downtown that make Chicago one of the premier cities in North America. Tons of on-course support. We were treated will, the expo was well done and interesting, the 5K and the Marathon were both well-executed. Swag was good but this race doesn’t need to sell itself on fancy swag. Parking was a bit of a problem as the race organizers told us to prepay and park in the Grant Park South Garage, which was inaccessible due to road closures. So bear in mind, It’s expensive to visit Chicago, especially if you stay/park downtown but I found a perfect place about 25 minutes west into the suburbs, transit if very good and the people was so nice. This was such an enjoyable and memorable experience and I would go so far to say it’s the best of the 35 I’ve run so far.
Scenic Route, Spectators Galore
Running through Chicago is great because there is always something to look at. This race draws quite a crowd of spectators, so there's always someone cheering throughout the entire course. … MORE
Running through Chicago is great because there is always something to look at. This race draws quite a crowd of spectators, so there’s always someone cheering throughout the entire course. GPS is a bit touch and go while staring off downtown, so pace was showing all over the place and my watch distance had me completing 2 miles prior to the course marker, so my watch distance was off early on. There were plenty of water and Gatorade stations throughout, along with aid stations and porta John’s. Some areas even had people out with biofreeze bottles and tubs of Vaseline, great touch!! The route design also made it relatively easy for my friend to meet me at a few different points.
Tiny downside: im a back of the pack runner, but still finished before the cut off. In the last few miles, it felt like some of the volunteers were less bothered about handing out fluids at the stations and just trying to clean up. Also the last 300m to the finish line was pretty void of spectators because I believe those were seats people paid for and they had all left at that point. Not sure why you wouldn’t open it up to the public after a certain point.
Chicago, always be Chicago!
2024 was my third Chicago Marathon and always is very gratefull participate and be part of it. This year was different because ran with part of my running gang and … MORE
2024 was my third Chicago Marathon and always is very gratefull participate and be part of it. This year was different because ran with part of my running gang and makes a very special ocassion.
For my its the best Marathon experience of my 13 marathons in my life and always Chicago be an option to repeat it
Great Race, Great City. No Headaches.
The Chicago Marathon is one of Abbott World Marathon Majors - and typically the second largest race in the United States. This year, there were over 50,000 finishers, and with … MORE
The Chicago Marathon is one of Abbott World Marathon Majors – and typically the second largest race in the United States. This year, there were over 50,000 finishers, and with a race that size you often have logistical issues.
But the 2024 Chicago Marathon was a smooth operation – despite it’s size. There were ample volunteers at the expo, and I was able to breeze through the line to get my bib (although there was a long line to purchase merch). I arrived at the start about an hour before the gun, and I walked through security without an issue.
My only logistical complaint is that my corral – C – wasn’t big enough to hold us all. When it was time for the corrals to “close,” there was still a large group of us waiting to get inside. But once the gun went off and corrals A and B started, we were able to file in.
Unlike New York and Boston, you don’t have to worry about having a difficult time getting to the start. The start and finish are both downtown, and there are plenty of hotels within walking distance. I stayed just north of the river, about a mile away. The start time – 7:30 (for the first wave) is also a good compromise. Not super early, but not late enough that you’ll suffer through the afternoon.
The course itself is great. It’s flat, and it offers a variety of settings and scenery. You weave in and out of downtown, out along the lake, and through several neighborhoods. The crowds were fantastic, and there was never a quiet moment. Some areas were thinner than others, but there were no dead spots.
Although the course is congested early on, you can definitely PR on this course. It’s flat and fast, and after a couple miles you’re able to move around. As long as you’re seeded in the correct corral, you’ll be carried along by the current.
The one thing to be aware of is that the weather can be fickle – it could be beautiful, it could be freezing, or it could be blazing hot. This year wasn’t bad (50’s into the 60’s), but it was hot two days before the race and cold and windy the day after.
The post-race celebration was also nice. There was an assembly line of volunteers, pushing you through to get your medal, some hydration, and a foil blanket. They were also handing out free beer, although I heard that they ran out towards the later waves. Once you got out of the secure area, there was a big family reunion area along with another free beer (with a ticket) and food vendors.
Chicago is also an amazing city – between the architecture, the food, and the history. Take a long weekend, and enjoy the city before or after the race. Throughout the weekend, the place is teeming with runners, and it’s just one giant party.
For now, I have other races to run. But I’m sure I’ll be back to Chicago at some point.