Chicagoland Spring Marathon
Schaumburg, United States · May · Independent
Why people love it
- Flat certified Boston-qualifying course on paved forest-preserve path, net 0 m (0 ft).
- Free parking near the start and a low entry fee.
- Marathoners praise the volunteers and water stops.
- Start temperature averages 7 °C (45 °F).
Watch out for
- Paths are 2 to 3 runners wide; half and full bunch at miles 3 to 5 (5 to 8 km).
- Few spectators; turnarounds near miles 11 and 21 (18 and 34 km).
- A headwind on the return and a long hill near the finish were reported.
- Highs have reached 24 °C (75 °F) in May.
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 satisfactionLiked3.4
MarathonGuide: 2 reviews average 4.3, one calling it a favorite of 35 marathons. RaceRaves: 3 ratings average 2.3, mostly half-marathon crowding. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.3
A 2022 marathoner scored production 5 of 5 with well-run water stops. A 2025 half runner scored it 2 because 2,000 runners packed narrow paths. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
Flat, small and low stress, with friendly volunteers; lonely out-and-back sections can be mentally hard. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Flat, certified and a Boston qualifier. Narrow paths, a return headwind and a long uphill near the end hurt. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.5
Forest preserve with lakes, prairie and an elk pasture, scenery 3.7 of 5 on RaceRaves; frontage road is dull. · Low confidence
- Room to runCrowded2.2
Paths only 2 to 3 runners wide with two-way traffic and half and full starting together: 'intense congestion for miles 3 to 5' in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Paved bike trail; the road from start to path was rough in 2014. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
Mostly on shared forest-preserve paths rather than open roads; the frontage-road finish section is on roads. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.6
Net 0 m (0 ft); flat with small inclines at bridges and a highway crossing. No gain figure published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Out-and-back, net 0 m (0 ft); certified Boston qualifier. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.7
Free parking near the start; the shared half and full start causes crowding. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.2
Not documented in reviews; chip timing assumed. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse1.5
Forest preserve with few spectators; reviewers describe sparse spectators and a lonely second loop. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Well-run water stops, ice at one, great volunteers (2014), water, Gatorade and fruit at finish; the last stop lacked ice in 2022. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind2.9
Average wind 14 mph (23 km/h); a headwind noted on the way back. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Start about 7 °C (45 °F) is ideal, but days warm to 24 °C (75 °F) and reviewers found conditions warmer than expected. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Chicago-area May ranges from 0 to 24 °C (32 to 75 °F) highs historically. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.0
Out-and-back on narrow forest paths; limited access. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
About 215 m (705 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 availabilityGood4.2
Schaumburg has a large hotel supply near Woodfield. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Suburban business-district rates. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.6
Suburban; most drive to the start and park free. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.4
O'Hare is about 20 km (12 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
Free parking near start; small event. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.4
Suburban Schaumburg chains and restaurants; Chicago is 45 km (28 mi) away. · Low 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 inOpen entry4.6
Open entry, small field, never sold out. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.6
Entry reported under $60 after fees by one reviewer; praised sweatshirt or long-sleeve shirt, mixed on medal. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Schaumburg, Cook County, United States
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 2 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 400 athletes
- First held
- 2011
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Start time
- 07:15
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved forest preserve bike path with road start and frontage-road finish
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 7–20 °C (45–68 °F)
- Humidity
- About 71%
- Altitude
- 215 m (705 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD), 20 km (12 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Woodfield Mall area, Schaumburg
- Booking
- Schaumburg has many chain hotels near Woodfield Mall; free parking at the start.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (Chicagoland Spring Marathon)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
3 ratings average 2.3 of 5. A 2025 half runner says 2,000 runners on 2 to 3 wide paths felt like 4 times too many. A 2022 marathoner scored production 5 of 5 but felt intense congestion at miles 3 to 5 (5 to 8 km) from the shared start; a 2014 runner praised volunteers and the forest preserve but disliked the rough access road.
“There were 2,000 runners and should have been 500-750.”
- MarathonGuide (Chicagoland Marathon 2022)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
2 reviews average 4.3 of 5: a 2024 reviewer called it a favorite of 35 marathons, with a relaxing forest preserve course and mid-50s F (about 13 °C (55 °F)); a 2022 reviewer found it low stress with friendly people, adequate aid and parking near the start. Described as fairly flat with a few bridge inclines.
“favorite of 35 marathons”
- BibRave (Chicagoland Spring Marathon reviews)Raced 2022 · aggregator · Mixed
Several BibRave reviews: flat out-and-back on the Busse Woods path, a headwind on the way back, a hard frontage road near the finish, a very long uphill at the end and free parking.
“head wind on the way back”
- HalfRuns (Chicagoland Spring Marathon)Raced 2026 · survey · Positive
Lists a flat certified loop with net 0 m (0 ft), 7:15 am start, 12,738 finishers on record, latest turnout 922 and a 5-year start temperature of 45 °F (7 °C).
Raced Chicagoland Spring Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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