Celebrate the annual running of the Chicago Half Marathon & 5K presented by MY FIT KEY, a signature event produced by Life Time. The Chicago Half Marathon & 5K is centered around Chicago’s historic Jackson Park, once home to the 1893 World Columbian Exposition. The course highlights Chicago’s historic south …
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Celebrate the annual running of the Chicago Half Marathon & 5K presented by MY FIT KEY, a signature event produced by Life Time.
The Chicago Half Marathon & 5K is centered around Chicago’s historic Jackson Park, once home to the 1893 World Columbian Exposition. The course highlights Chicago’s historic south shore and features a traffic-free Lake Shore Drive – the only Chicago race to completely shut down this main transportation artery. Runners traverse the streets of Hyde Park and the Museum of Science and Industry Campus before taking on the north and south Lake Shore Drive lanes and finishing at the Statue of the Republic or “Golden Lady” as she’s known to locals.
The Chicago Half Marathon supports the programming of our benefiting charity partner Chicago Run, promoting the health and wellness of Chicago children through innovative, engaging, and sustainable youth running programs.
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Great Race, Easy, Flat Race
Race is mostly along Lake Shore Drive. My favorite race, good crowd support along the way. Scenery is awesome along the lake. Swag is good, course offers potential for a … MORE
Race is mostly along Lake Shore Drive. My favorite race, good crowd support along the way. Scenery is awesome along the lake. Swag is good, course offers potential for a good time, no real hills at all.
Flat and beautiful
Beautiful race along the lakefront. This was my first half marathon and is still my favorite among the many Chicago races I've done. Very flat so was good for a … MORE
Beautiful race along the lakefront. This was my first half marathon and is still my favorite among the many Chicago races I’ve done. Very flat so was good for a first race.
Huge medal
Huge medal Unfortunately it rained and the entire starting area/bag drop area/after race area was mud. The course was fabulous. MORE
Huge medal
Unfortunately it rained and the entire starting area/bag drop area/after race area was mud. The course was fabulous.
Great scenery and production
Race was great and everything was well organized. Loved the course and scenery. I did not love having to get on the bus 2 hours before the race to get … MORE
Race was great and everything was well organized. Loved the course and scenery. I did not love having to get on the bus 2 hours before the race to get there… and it was cold so i huddled by the exhaust from the portable lights…. but there were plenty of potties and everyone was friendly…. i even left my medal on the bus the they sent me a new one for free! It is so stupid big i took it off and then forgot it…. I don’t ever take them off now 🙂 until i get to the hotel.
Where's the wind in the Windy City?
Finishers receive a medal as large as a dinner plate!! The races following along side one of the Great Lakes, right south of Chicago downtown. Be warned that Chicago can … MORE
Finishers receive a medal as large as a dinner plate!! The races following along side one of the Great Lakes, right south of Chicago downtown. Be warned that Chicago can lack that infamous wind, but present an equally infamous humidity.
Novelty medal, overall forgettable race
I thought I would have liked this race more than I did. The medal and shirt are cool (though the size of the medal is a bit ridiculous) and it’s … MORE
I thought I would have liked this race more than I did. The medal and shirt are cool (though the size of the medal is a bit ridiculous) and it’s organized well. It’s a unique experience running on Lake Shore Drive, but the course does get a little boring. The fact that they had something called Skratch Hydration (which tasted awful) in lieu of Gatorade was also unfortunate. It’s still a solid race, but I can’t say I’m dying to do it again. They did offer free race photos, so that’s always a plus not available at all races.
2013 - the last year of non-corporate
This race was sold to LifeTime Fitness at the completion of the 2013 race. I was highly disappointed to hear that news. The previous managers of this race did quite … MORE
This race was sold to LifeTime Fitness at the completion of the 2013 race. I was highly disappointed to hear that news.
The previous managers of this race did quite well given the 2013 conditions. Many, many people were on course who were not properly trained (I myself saw a few fainters within the first 3-4 miles, and someone who messed themselves at mile 6 – and I heard plenty of other people had issues as well), so I cannot imagine how over stretched the medical staff was. But, the staff managed things so well you would have never known.
And of course, you can’t beat finishing a half marathon with a slice of Chicago deep dish.