Bank of America Chicago Marathon

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is held each October on a Sunday, starting and finishing in Grant Park on the downtown lakefront. The 26.2-mile course is a single loop through 29 of Chicago's neighborhoods, and it is flat and fast. It is one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Seven world records have been set on the course. Kelvin Kiptum ran the men's course record of 2:00:35 in 2023. Ruth Chepngetich ran 2:09:56 in 2024, which still stands as the women's world record and course record. In 2025, Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda won the men's race in 2:02:23 and Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia won the women's race in 2:14:56. About 53,000 runners finished that year, a race record. Most runners get in through a drawing. The application opens in October, about a year before race day, and stays open for three weeks. Guaranteed entry is available on a qualifying time, as a legacy finisher with five Chicago finishes in ten years, through the Chicago Distance Series, with a charity, or through an official tour operator. The entry fee is $250 for U.S. residents and $260 for everyone else. The modern race began on September 25, 1977, as the Mayor Daley Marathon, with about 4,200 starters. Bank of America has been the title sponsor since 2008. The time limit is 6 hours 30 minutes, about a 15-minute mile. There are 20 aid stations, one to two miles apart, each with water, Gatorade and a medical tent. The packet pickup and expo runs for three days before the race at McCormick Place, and the 27th Mile Post-Race Party is held in Grant Park after the finish.