Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Chicago, United States · October · World Marathon Majors
Why people love it
- About 1.7 million spectators line the 42.2 km (26.2 mi) loop through 29 neighbourhoods
- Flat course; the only real rise is near mile 26 (42 km)
- 20 aid stations every 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3 km) with toilets and medical
- Pace groups from 2:55 to 6:00 and a 6.5 hour cutoff suit first marathons
Watch out for
- Lottery odds are low: about 55,000 places for over 200,000 applicants in 2026
- Metal bridge grating under carpet in the first 3 km (2 mi) is slippery
- Long start waits; corrals close 20 minutes before each wave
- Heat can reach 27 °C (80 °F) or more; 2007 hit 31 °C (88 °F)
- Entry fee $250 US; race-weekend hotels and dinners are expensive
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionBucket list4.7
RaceRaves lists 4.7 of 5 over 199 reviews. Crowds, neighbourhoods and the production score highest; complaints are cost, swag and waits. · High confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.3
Production rated 4.6 of 5, with an efficient expo and 12,000 volunteers. Gels ran out at the first station in 2024; start waits are long. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.3
Flat, 6.5 hour cutoff, pace groups to 6:00 and crowds all the way. The lottery, security queues and packed corrals hold it back. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.4
Seven world records and a flat loop with wide streets. Heat in some years matters more than the course. · High confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.1
Skyline, 29 neighbourhoods, Pilsen murals and Chinatown. RaceRaves scenery is 3.9 of 5 because it is mostly city streets, not parks or coast. · High confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.6
Wide streets and long straights with few tight turns. Corrals are crowded, starts are slow and three out-and-back sections add two-way traffic. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.9
Paved city streets. Several reviewers warn the metal grating under carpet on early bridges is slippery. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresFully closed4.8
A city loop fully closed for runners with three wave starts to keep roads clear. Bridges and crossings still need care. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.8
Described everywhere as flat with one short climb near mile 26 (42 km). No gain figure was found. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop starting and finishing in Grant Park, so no net drop. Boston qualifier, not downhill-aided. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.2
Security checkpoints, corrals closing 20 minutes before each wave, long toilet lines and a long walk to bag pickup after the finish. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingFull range4.6
Pace groups from 2:55 to 6:00, 5 km (3.1 mi) mats and a tracking app. Downtown GPS drift means runners lap-mark each mile. · Medium confidence
- Crowd supportElectric4.9
About 1.7 million spectators by the organiser's count. RaceRaves reviewers call it unmatched, thinner only for a stretch after Chinatown. · High confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
20 stations every 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3 km) with toilets and medical. Complaints: no bins, sticky mess, gels gone early in 2024. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
Wind can come from any direction along the lakefront and downtown. Few runners comment either way. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Usual start 8 to 15 °C (46 to 59 °F), but highs reach 27 °C (80 °F) and 2026 runners said heat slowed them. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Race history spans -6 °C (21 °F) to 32 °C (89 °F), including the 2007 heat shutdown. Most years are fine. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.4
Out-and-back sections and viewing guides let friends see a runner several times. They cannot enter the finish village. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 180 m (590 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Many hotels, but race weekend sells out. Runners are told to book early. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valuePricey2.4
Reviewers say Chicago is expensive and to plan for it. Race-weekend downtown rates are high. · Medium confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.4
The start and finish are in Grant Park beside Loop hotels. Getting back from the finish by transit can be difficult. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.6
Major hub, with O'Hare about 27 km (17 mi) from the Loop by direct rail. · High confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Bib pickup in person with ID at an expo reviewers call efficient, but signage from parking is poor. Clear-bag rule and security add steps. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.7
Major food and culture city. Reviewers say to book dinners early. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inHard1.5
Over 200,000 applied for about 55,000 places in 2026. Entry is by lottery, charity, time standard or legacy status. · High confidence
- Value for moneyFair2.9
The fee is $250 US or $260 international. Reviewers call it expensive and swag mixed, but production and timing are excellent. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 10 October 2027
- Organiser
- World Marathon Majors
- Field size
- About 54,500 athletes
- First held
- 1977
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Start time
- 07:35
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved city streets; metal bridges with carpet strips
- How to get in
- lottery
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $250
- Air temperature
- 8–22 °C (46–72 °F)
- Humidity
- Variable; the 2007 race hit 31 to 32 C (88 to 89 F) and was partly halted
- Altitude
- 180 m (590 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD); Midway (MDW) is closer, 27 km (17 mi) away
- Where to stay
- The Loop, South Loop, Streeterville / River North
- Booking
- Book hotels and pre-race dinners months ahead; race weekend is expensive. Transport after the finish can be difficult.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (199 reviews)Raced 2025-2026 · aggregator · Positive
Runners agree the crowds are the best part and the course is flat and fast. Common complaints are slippery bridge grating, messy aid stations, long start waits and a high cost. Several 2026 runners said heat slowed them.
“Crowd support at Chicago is like no other!”
- Chicago Sun-Times reader tipsRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Past runners say the crowd is loud and worth hearing without headphones, and to follow the painted tangent line. They warn about the taped carpet on early bridges and that the first aid station ran out of gels in 2024.
“Put your name on your shirt. People will scream it.”
- UIC TodayRaced 2012 · article · Positive
A student on his second Chicago found the crowd and pep bands carried him through the early miles and the final miles were a mental test. Dated but consistent with later reports.
“Miles 20 through 26 were all mental.”
- Running Magazine (Canada) tipsRaced n/a · article · Positive
Advice piece: arrive an hour early, expect several security checks, wear throwaway layers and start slowly. Notes the short rise near 42 km (26.1 mi) and a thinner crowd between about 30 and 40 km (24.9 mi) after Chinatown.
- NBC Chicago 2026 race-day guideRaced 2026 · article · neutral
Lists three waves (07:35, 08:00, 08:35), corrals closing about 20 min before, 20 aid stations 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3 km) apart each with toilets and medical, and strict park security.
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- The Running Channel guideRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Describes a flat, wide-street loop with about 1.7 million spectators, 20 aid stations, a 6.5 h cutoff and pace groups 2:55 to 6:00. Warns about bridge metal, poor downtown GPS and a long walk to bag pickup.
- Shokz 2025 race recapRaced 2025 · blog · Positive
2025 had cool, mild conditions and lined streets for a field above 54,000. The flat route removes climbs, so pacing discipline decides the race.
“Chicago's flat course removes major climbs from the equation.”
- Marathon Handbook 2026 race reportRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Record 54,581 finishers in 2026; winning times second-fastest in race history. Lottery demand over 200,000, fee $250 / $260, and Mount Roosevelt near mile 26 is the only real climb.
- Marathon Handbook refill stationsRaced 2026 · article · Positive
All 20 stations still serve water and Gatorade Endurance in cups, plus four filtered refill points at miles 5.7, 10.1, 15.7 and 20.3 (9.2, 16.3, 25.3 and 32.7 km (20.3 mi)) for 2026.
- Wikipedia: Chicago Marathon (2007 heat)Raced 2007 · article · Negative
The 2007 race reached 31 °C (88 °F), was partly halted after about 3.5 h, with one death and over 400 treated. A rare but real heat risk that shapes the weather-reliability score.
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Sources
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