CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The 46th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon returns to the city this Sunday.
Runners are expected to come from all 50 states and over 130 countries to make the largest-ever marathon field.
Whether you’re running or interested in watching, WBBM will have you set for one of Chicago’s premier events. From start times to cheering sections, below you’ll find a comprehensive guide to race day.
Chicago Marathon, by the numbers
Based on the number of finishers, the Chicago Marathon is the world’s fourth-largest marathon, but a closer look at the numbers shows just how massive this annual, 26.2-mile race is:
-29 neighborhoods along the course
-More than 50,000 runners expected
-More than 10,000 race day volunteers
-More than 1,500 medical personnel
-205 official charity teams
-$30.4 million raised by charity runners at 2023 marathon
-1.7 million estimated spectators
What is the 2024 Chicago Marathon course?
The marathon begins and ends in Grant Park, with the starting line located at Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. The finish line is at Columbus and Balbo Drives and requires runners to make their final turn from Roosevelt Road, a.k.a. “Mount Roosevelt.”
Check out the full course with the interactive map embedded below, which shows the location of all 26 mile markers.
Marathon organizers have also posted their own map , which shows the location of aid stations, medical areas, hydrogel fuel depots, cheer zones and more.
Chicago Marathon street closures and parking restrictions
Street closures in Grant Park, which will stretch along Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive, began on Sept. 30.
On race day, street closures along the route will begin at about 7 a.m. and are expected to reopen by 4:30 p.m. Officials said the main thoroughfares, including the expressways and DuSable Lake Shore Drive, will remain open. Those who need to travel in and around downtown, though, should expect rolling closures:
-From north to south between West Sheridan Road and East 35th Street
-From east to west between DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Damen Avenue
Click here to see full list of street closures and available routes.
Parking restrictions will take effect starting at 1 a.m. Sunday. “No Parking” signs will be posted throughout the route, and vehicles in those areas will be towed. To locate a towed vehicle, residents will have to call 311.
When are the official Chicago Marathon start times?
-7:20 a.m.: Men’s wheelchair start
-7:21 a.m.: Women’s wheelchair start
-7:23 a.m.: Handcycle start
-7:30 a.m.: Wave 1 start
-8:00 a.m.: Wave 2 start
-8:35 a.m.: Wave 3 start
Chicago Marathon approximate finish times
-8:45 a.m.: Wheelchair men’s champion finish
-9:00 a.m.: Wheelchair women’s champion finish
-9:35 a.m.: Overall men’s champion finish
-9:50 a.m.: Overall women’s champion finish
-4:00 p.m.: Finish line closes; The marathon course will reopen to vehicular traffic.
Where will Chicago Marathon aid stations be located?
Twenty aid stations will be located throughout the course, and they’ll be located roughly 1 – 2 miles apart. Every station will have:
-A medical tent with a runner transport vehicle, providing non-emergency transportation to Grant Park if a runner cannot finish
-Standard and ADA portable restrooms
-Lemon-lime flavored Gatorade
-Water
-Public address announcer
-Aid Station 10 (Mile 13.6) will offer both caffeinated and non-caffeinated Gatorade energy gels
-Aid Stations 15-17 (Miles 19.5-23.5) will offer bananas.
Where are the Chicago Marathon cheer zones located?
Spectators will not have access to start or finish lines in Grant Park. Those who are not registered for the race will not be allowed to bring runners to the start line or welcome them at the finish line.
Dozens of different community cheer zones, though, which consist of run clubs, nonprofit organizations, businesses, neighborhood associations and international groups, will be situated throughout the course. They can be located on a map in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon App .
Four themed cheer zones will be staged at 8K, Mile 13.1, Mile 15 and Mile 26. They are:
- Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Cheer Zone : Located at the 8K mark in Lincoln Park along Stockton Drive, north of LaSalle Drive
- Bank of America Chicago 13.1 Cheer Zone : Located at the 13.1 mile mark — the halfway point of the race — in the Loop along Wacker Drive and Washington Street
- Charity Block Party : Located at the Mile 15 mark at Adams Street and Loomis Street, near Whitney Young High School
- Bank of America Cheer Zones : Located at the Mile 13 mark on North Wacker Drive in front of the Bank of America Tower, as well as at Mile 26, near the finish line, on Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road.
Should I download the Bank of America Chicago Marathon app?
The free Chicago Marathon app is certainly useful for spectators and racers alike. Spectators can monitor a runners’ progress in real-time. The app also includes athlete profiles and an interactive course map.
Users can submit a digital cheer in the app, with the message possibly being shown on the course.
New this year in the app: A donate button, which will enable the user to send money to a participant who’s running for charity. Plus, 11 major leaderboards will display race leaders in all tracked categories, from the pros to the open field.
What happens after the Chicago Marathon is over?
Friends and family can meet up with runners at the Runner Reunite Area in Grant Park, which is located at the 27th Mile Post-Race Party at Butler Field. It will open at 9:30 a.m.
Spectators must pass through security and bag screening at Entrance Gate No. 1, which is located at Jackson Drive and Michigan Avenue, or Entrance Gate No. 4, which is located at Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue.
Alphabetical signs will be posted in Butler Park to match each racer name. Marathon organizers say getting from the finish line to the Runner Reunite Area could take up to 30 minutes.
The 27th Mile Post-Race Party will include music and food and beverages for purchase. Participating runners, 21 years and older, can receive a free beer by turning in the tear-off portion of their bib number. The party will be open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with beer sales lasting until 3:30 p.m.
How can I use public transit to get around or enjoy the Chicago Marathon?
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management is encouraging the use of the CTA, both downtown and throughout the marathon course.
Spectators can view the race near numerous CTA train stations:
-Grand Red Line Station: Miles 1, 3 and 12.5
-Jackson (Red or Blue Line) Station: Mile 2
-Chicago Red Line Station: Miles 3.5 and 12.25
-Clark/Division Red Line Station: Miles 4 and 12
-Sheridan Red Line Station: Mile 8
-Addison Red Line Station: Mile 8.5
-Sedgwick Brown Line Station: Mile 11
-Washington/Wells (Brown, Pink or Orange Line) Station: Mile 13.5
-UIC-Halsted Blue Line Station: Miles 14 and 17
-18th Pink Line Station: Mile 19.25
-Cermak-Chinatown Red Line Station: Mile 21.5
-Sox-35th Red Line Station: Mile 23,23.25 and 23.5
-35th-Bronzeville-IIT Green Line Station: Mile 23, 23.25 and 23.5
-Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station: Mile 25
-Roosevelt (Red, Green and Orange Line) Station: Finish line
Metra will have both extra early morning inbound and early afternoon outbound trains on Marathon day for its Milwaukee District North , Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West lines. Metra’s regular $7 Sunday Day Pass, providing unlimited rides all day, will also be available.
2023 Chicago Marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum to be posthumously honored at this year’s race
The Chicago Marathon will be honoring Kelvin Kiptum, who set a world record and became the first person to ever run a marathon in under 2:01:00 when he won the 2023 marathon. On Feb. 11, 2024. Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, were killed in a car crash in western Kenya.
The 2024 Chicago Marathon will honor Kiptum’s legacy with a moment of silence at the start, and runners will be able to pick up free memorial stickers to wear on race day.
Where can I listen to the 2024 Chicago Marathon?
WBBM sister-station 670 the Score will broadcast the 2024 Chicago Marathon live. Listen in as it plays out on the free Audacy app .
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