Chicago Marathon
The fastest flat course through the heart of the Windy City.
Chicago, Illinois
Second Sunday of October
42.195 km
74 m
~45,000 athletes
Course Highlights
- Grant Park start and finish with Lake Michigan views
- Lincoln Park neighborhood (miles 4-8)
- Pilsen and Chinatown cultural districts
- Michigan Avenue (The Magnificent Mile) in the final stretch
- Chicago skyline panorama
The Course
The Chicago Marathon starts and finishes in Grant Park along the shores of Lake Michigan. The course is a single large loop through the city's diverse neighborhoods, traveling north through Lincoln Park, west through Wicker Park and Pilsen, and south through Chinatown before returning to Grant Park. The terrain is famously flat, with only minor overpasses and a total elevation change of roughly 63 meters.
Runners pass through 29 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own cultural flair and crowd energy. Mariachi bands in Pilsen, drum lines in Bronzeville, and packed sidewalks in Lincoln Park create a continuously shifting atmosphere. The wide, well-organized streets keep congestion to a minimum even with 45,000 participants.
The final miles head north on Michigan Avenue, with the skyline growing larger with every step. The finish line in Grant Park, framed by the city's iconic skyline, provides a dramatic conclusion to one of the world's great marathon experiences.
History
The inaugural Chicago Marathon was held in 1977 with approximately 4,200 runners. It has grown into one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors and regularly attracts over 45,000 participants. The flat course has produced numerous world records, including Kelvin Kiptum's men's world record of 2:00:35 set in 2023.
Chicago's fast, flat profile and cool October weather make it a perennial destination for runners chasing personal bests and Boston qualifying times. The event is managed by the Chicago Event Management company and has become a signature civic event for the city.
How to Train for Chicago
Use the flat course wisely
With minimal elevation change, Chicago is ideal for a personal best. Train on flat routes to practice marathon pace consistency. Without hills to break up your rhythm, the mental challenge of maintaining pace for 26.2 miles becomes the real test.
Prepare for wind
Chicago earns its Windy City nickname on race day. Train in windy conditions and practice tucking behind groups to draft. Headwinds along the lakefront can add significant effort if you are running alone.
Dial in nutrition early
The flat and fast nature of the course means many runners push hard from the gun. Practice your fueling plan at race pace so your stomach can handle gels and fluid while running at or near threshold effort.
Free training plans
Half marathon to marathon
A free 16-week plan to step up from the half to the full marathon: five runs a week and a long run that builds from 1h 40m to 3 hours.
16 weeksMarathon (16 weeks)
A free 16-week marathon plan: six runs a week, a long run that builds to 2h 45m, a recovery week every fourth week, a peak in week 13 and a three-week taper.
16 weeksMarathon (20 weeks)
A free 20-week marathon plan with a gentle build: five runs a week, a long run that grows to 3 hours, a recovery week every fourth week and a three-week taper.
20 weeksSub-4 hour marathon
A free 16-week plan to break 4 hours in the marathon: six runs a week, goal-pace sessions at 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile) and long runs to 3h 10m.
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