BTN Big 10K
Chicago, IL
- 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Celebrate the greatest conference in college sports at this one-of-a-kind racing experience. Represent your favorite Big Ten school while racing along Chicago’s iconic lakefront. After the race, stick around for the ultimate Big Ten tailgate! At this year’s race we’ll welcome fans and alumni of the Big Ten’s newest four … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jul 11):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 91 | 81 | 86 | 87 | 70 |
| L (°F) | 72 | 69 | 69 | 72 | 67 |
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Fun race
Loved this race. It was great seeing all the Michigan fans out there running. The course was nice along the waterfront in downtown Chicago. There was good aid stations. Overall … MORE
Loved this race. It was great seeing all the Michigan fans out there running. The course was nice along the waterfront in downtown Chicago. There was good aid stations. Overall I liked this race.
Excellent Event!
This is a great race. I ran the 10K last year and the 5K this year and would go back any chance I get. It is a fairly large race … MORE
This is a great race. I ran the 10K last year and the 5K this year and would go back any chance I get. It is a fairly large race with great organization and a great, flat course along the Lakefront. The course support is awesome. Overall this is one of my favorite events.
Great race
This was a well put on race with lots of participants. I like how they have different start times for 5k and 10k. I didn’t race this because I did … MORE
This was a well put on race with lots of participants. I like how they have different start times for 5k and 10k. I didn’t race this because I did my friend’s first ever 5k with her. But they gave me an opportunity to enjoy the views.
I liked how they did wave type starts. They would start a group and then way a few minutes and start the next group. They had finish line well organized and kept people moving by having a long chute.
I really liked that you get to pick shirt with favorite school. I also liked how the race bib had the emblem for that school as well. Very unique to this race.
I loved how each school was represented by tents at after party as well.
Wow! What views!
With the Big Ten schools being represented, this was a huge, fun party. There were so so many runners. I don't know the final count, but there were about 6,000 … MORE
With the Big Ten schools being represented, this was a huge, fun party. There were so so many runners. I don’t know the final count, but there were about 6,000 just for the 10K.
Each school had its own shirt and medal, which you get to choose. I thought this was fantastic. The medals were clever. You were given the same medal, then you go to your alumni tent and pick up a magnetic coin that fits into your medal. There were cheerleaders and mascots everywhere. And since this was held at Grant Park in Chicago, the scenery was outstanding.
Packet pickup was held at a Fleet Feet and was very smooth. And a cookie vendor gave all the runners a half dozen cookies included in the swag bag; nicely packaged and super delicious. I would recommend that you go to packet pick up in pairs. One person can run in and pick stuff up while the other person drives in a circle until they can pick you up. Parking is a premium. I stayed at a hotel and walked over, which was the perfect option as the walk took me through the historic neighborhoods which were gorgeous.
My race was particularly hot. It was 88 degrees at the end at about 8am. Eeek. They had aid stations every 2-ish miles where I drank the electrolyte drink and dumped water on my clothes and hat. At the finish, they provided towels dunked in ice.
As for accommodations, I chose the Travelodge located 0.5 miles from the start/finish. It was relatively inexpensive and the location was as perfect as it could get. I never had to drive. I just walked over. They charge $39 for valet parking, but I found parking a block away for $8 total my entire stay!!! The address to this garage is 711 S. Plymouth. Park there, but bring your smallest car because you’ll be shoehorned in. Also, stay on a floor up high or the train will keep you up at night. The hotel manager told me this tidbit and now I’m passing that on to you. We were on the 12th floor. We could still hear the train but it was faint and not annoying.
This is the kind of race where you bring all your friends and just enjoy it for what it is. We had a great time and would love to do it again.
Come for the race, STAY FOR THE PARTY!
I would normally scoff at paying $52 (after fees) to run an out-and-back 10K along the Chicago lakefront, but an argument could be made that this is one of the … MORE
I would normally scoff at paying $52 (after fees) to run an out-and-back 10K along the Chicago lakefront, but an argument could be made that this is one of the better bang-for-your-buck races in Chicago. If you just want to run a timed 10K, there are absolutely cheaper options out there, but this race derives its value from its swag and the after-party.
As far as the course goes, it’s pretty vanilla — you’ll run south through/under McCormick Place and onto S/B Lake Shore Drive, before coming back north along the lakefront path (and under McCormick Place again) before finishing at the Big 10K Fan Fest near Soldier Field. There’s an actual slip-n-slide out on the course as well, which I did not make use of myself, but it looked pretty refreshing on a hot day.
There are plenty of elite runners and former Big Ten athletes that come out for this, but the real reason to run this race is for the swag and the race-day experience. Consider that all runners receive the following:
–A gender-specific running shirt from your Big Ten school of choice, in that school’s colors (or a generic race shirt if you don’t want to rep a specific school)
–Various swag from your school of choice. Past years have featured trucker hats in your school colors, and this year included some (attractive) school sunglasses along with pens, bottle openers, magnets, and whatever else your school is handing out at their tent.
–A full, satisfying breakfast featuring Amylou chicken sausages and some other delights.
–BASICALLY UNLIMITED GOOSE ISLAND BEER. Your race bib will come with an attached ticket for 1 beer, but if you play your cards right, you can get in line again and again. I’ve never found myself wanting in the beer department, and they’ve never run out of beer.
The aforementioned Big 10K Fan Fest also has plenty of sets of bags/cornhole to make use of, as well as a timed 40-yard dash area and other tailgate games. Taking into account all of the swag you get, along with all of the food & beer you can consume at the post-race party (which legitimately rages for several hours), and you’ll more than get your money’s worth out of this race
A must for any Big 10 alum / fan
I don't usually run 10ks, and I certainly don't run them if they take place on Chicago's Lakefront Path, where I train for free four to five times a week. … MORE
I don’t usually run 10ks, and I certainly don’t run them if they take place on Chicago’s Lakefront Path, where I train for free four to five times a week. However, the Big Ten Network’s Big Ten Big10k, sponsored by the Big Ten Network and the Big10 Conference, is one of few exceptions. The biggest reason is that every runner gets to choose the university t-shirt that they want to rep and the vast majority them show up on race day wearing it. So one look across the crowd and you can see a veritable rainbow of colors as each school is represented (albeit not evenly). The event production is pitch perfect, from the start line corrals to the raucous post-race party. Sure, it’s in the middle of July, so you won’t necessarily be gunning for a PR, but the course is near flat and the three aid stations are evenly distributed. Plus, you get a totally sweet tech shirt to wear during the warm tailgate season … while it lasts.
Huge race with great swag
The weather was really hot, and I had an injury, but this race was still a ton of fun. It was great to run with so many other B1G fans, … MORE
The weather was really hot, and I had an injury, but this race was still a ton of fun. It was great to run with so many other B1G fans, and the swag was outstanding! Very well managed and efficient, despite the large size of the race.
I’d highly recommend this race for fun. Great post-race food, tons of energy throughout the course, awesome shirts/fan gear, and a cool opportunity to run with friends in a fun city.