Bank of America Chicago Marathon
The Lowdown
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a world-class running event attracting elite athletes and everyday runners, known for its fast course and vibrant crowd support.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
World-class event
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Grant Park
The race starts and finishes in Grant Park, a large lakeside park that hosts the start/finish village and offers views of Lake Michigan
Buckingham Fountain
Iconic Beaux-Arts fountain in Grant Park that runners pass near at the race start/finish area
The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue)
A signature stretch of downtown lined with shops and skyscrapers where runners enjoy city crowds and landmarks
Willis Tower
Runners pass close to the Loop and the area dominated by the Willis Tower, a defining feature of Chicago's skyline
Lincoln Park
A scenic northern section of the course that runs along tree-lined streets adjacent to one of the city's largest parks
Museum Campus (Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium)
The course skirts the Museum Campus offering views of Chicago's lakefront cultural institutions
Chinatown
A vibrant neighborhood on the South Side where runners pass colorful gateways, restaurants, and enthusiastic local supporters
Chicago, IL, United States
US
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age requirement
- Qualifying times for elite corrals
Required Documents
- Government-issued ID
Entry Methods
- Non-guaranteed drawing (lottery application window, autumn of the prior year)
- Time qualifier (guaranteed entry on a certified-course marathon time)
- Legacy finisher (guaranteed entry, 5+ Chicago finishes in the last 10 years)
- Chicago Distance Series (guaranteed entry for completing all three series events)
- Charity program ($2,200 fundraising minimum)
- Official tour operator packages
- High Performance Program (capped at 150; sub-2:25 men / sub-2:45 women and non-binary)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
All event fees (entry, ancillary products, etc.) are non-refundable
There is no true deferral for a participant cancellation: a registered participant may cancel their entry and receive a GUARANTEED ENTRY for the next event, but must still complete the 2027 application process and pay the 2027 entry fee to redeem it
The 2026 entry fee is not carried over or credited toward the 2027 entry
Optional refundable registration is available at checkout for an additional service fee of 17.024% of items purchased, which returns 100% of the entry fee
Sale and/or transfer of race entries or bib numbers is strictly prohibited and results in disqualification and/or banning of the individuals involved
If the EVENT itself is cancelled by the organizers, registered participants may choose a partial refund for their 2026 entry or a deferral of their place to the 2027 event at a discounted fee
The course is famously flat and fast, running point-to-point through 29 vibrant neighborhoods and finishing in Grant Park with views of the skyline and Lake Michigan.
The course records include Kelvin Kiptum's 2:00:35 (men, 2023) and Brigid Kosgei's 2:14:04 (women, 2019), both historic performances on this course.
Race weekend includes a large Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place, a Bank of America Kids Run, and official pre-race events and sponsor activations.
All finishers receive a custom finisher medal and technical shirt, and the post-race festival in Grant Park provides food, medical/recovery services, and beverage options for participants.
Plan to use Chicago Transit Authority trains/buses to reach the start — roads close early, and aid stations are well spaced (roughly every 1.5–2 miles) with water, sports drink, and medical support throughout the course.
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Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.