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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Marathon
  • 42.2 km
  • Chicago
  • Event weekend starts
  • Ballot entry

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

This race edition

Race date
Awaiting a fresh confirmation
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2026 edition

Entry information needs a fresh source check.

Official ballot info ↗
Plan my trainingPlan my paceData current as of

Decision summary

Bank of America Chicago Marathon at a glance

Cut-off average pace
9:15/km

6:30:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.

Typical conditions
64/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
43 verified facts

Source facts available

RUNNER INFORMATION

Race-weekend guide · 2026

Checked

For the 2026 edition. Times are local to the race. Your current registration instructions and the organiser’s latest guide take precedence.

This guide is due a fresh source check. Use the organiser links below for current arrangements.

The official participant-guide page still links only to the 2025 guide, so no 2025 gate map, security route, baggage dimensions or prohibited-item detail is carried forward. Individual bib, corral and gear-check colour come from the runner’s Participant Account or email. The consulted pages do not yet confirm a 2026 entrance map or final street-closure plan. Charity and tour availability, fundraising commitments and package prices are provider-specific and can change; the general application fees above do not describe them. Recheck official instructions and the runner account before travel.

Official guides and review details

RaceIndex factual summary, version 1.0. Source language: English. Reviewed with AI assistance on 2026-09-11; next source review due 2026-09-16. No organiser endorsement is implied. Report a correction.

Choose where to stay and plan your Chicago race weekend

Use the marathon packing checklist · Keep your race tasks in My Season

Guides for this race

Use the detailed guides to plan entry, preparation and your race weekend.

Route details

Known course facts at a glance

Methodology →

Bank of America Chicago Marathon has known course details for its marathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.

Official distance
42.2 km
Scenery
City, Riverside, Lakeside, Parkland

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Where can I find the Bank of America Chicago Marathon route map?

Use the official course links on this page for the organiser route page, map PDF or route download.

Official course links

How hilly is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon?

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is described as pancake flat.

Where does the Bank of America Chicago Marathon route go?

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon route starts at Grant Park and finishes at Grant Park. It passes Grant Park, Lake Michigan lakefront, Willis Tower, Chinatown and Pilsen. the course has produced seven world records.

What should runners know on race day for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon?

Fully closed-road 26.2-mile course through 29 Chicago neighborhoods. On-course entertainment includes mariachi bands in Pilsen and lion dancers in Chinatown; headphones permitted. 20.

Race character

Scenery

  • City
  • Riverside
  • Lakeside
  • Parkland
Elevation character
Pancake Flat
Technicality
Non Technical

Entry, logistics and records

Records and field

Men's course record
2:00:35 (Kelvin Kiptum)
Women's course record
2:09:56 (Ruth Chepngetich)

Entry requirements

Entry status
Ballot entry: Entry is listed as ballot or lottery based.
Cut-off
6 hours 30 minutes course time limit
Ballot
Yes
Qualification status
Championship

Race day logistics

Aid stations
20
Closed roads
Fully closed-road 26.2-mile course through 29 Chicago neighborhoods
Expo / packet pickup
Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place; Oct 8-10, 2026; free; in-person packet pickup with photo ID, no race-day pickup.
On-course music
On-course entertainment includes mariachi bands in Pilsen and lion dancers in Chinatown; headphones permitted.

Access and course status

Start
Grant Park
Finish
Grant Park

Course facts

Course type
Loop
Landmarks
Grant Park, Lake Michigan lakefront, Willis Tower, Chinatown, Pilsen, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Greektown, Northalsted, Chicago River bridges
Notable features
  • 20 aid stations roughly 1-2 miles apart with water and Gatorade Endurance
  • the course has produced seven world records

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 14°CTypical temperature
  • 27 kphTypical wind
  • 4 mmTypical rainfall
  • 64Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, warmer than the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (2)

Read the full methodology →

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