On Sunday, Oct. 7, around 45,000 people will zig-zag through Chicago’s neighborhoods as they participate in the annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Throngs of spectators will line the course; the start, finish and festival will take over Grant Park; transit agencies will beef up service and many roads will be closed. Here’s a guide to the event for runners, watchers or those looking to avoid the traffic tie-ups.
The course
Description: Runners start and finish the race in Grant Park, and the course has spurs out through the city. The fast, flat course is home to four world records and several national records. Organizers have made changes to the course this year (mainly in the portions in Uptown, the Loop, Chinatown and Bronzeville), though it retains the same general configuration. (Note: The route is subject to change.)
Start times:
- Wheelchair race: 7:20 a.m.
- Handcycle: 7:22 a.m.
- Athletes with disabilities: 7:23 a.m.
- Three waves of runners start at 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m. and 8:35 a.m.
Duration: The men’s wheelchair winner is estimated to finish at 8:45 a.m. The women’s winner in that division by 9 a.m. The overall men’s winner should finish by 9:35 a.m., with the overall women’s winner done by 9:50 a.m. Beyond that, the course is open for six hours, 30 minutes.
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KEY
Route
Mile markers
SHERIDAN
Lake
Michigan
BelmoNT
CLARK
fullerton
WELLS
columbus
DAMEN
adams
halsted
MICHIGAN
lake shore
SLUG:
cermak
wentworth
INDIANA
35TH
Miles
½
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KEY
SHERIDAN
Route
Mile markers
BROADWAY
BelmoNT
When roads
will reopen
CANNON
webster
Lake
Michigan
NORTH
WELLS
DIVISION
CHICAGO
columbus
monroe
adams
halsted
loomis
DAMEN
MICHIGAN
SLUG:
lake shore
cermak
STATE
ARCHER
wentworth
INDIANA
35TH
Miles
½
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SHERIDAN
KEY
Route
ADDISON
Mile markers
BROADWAY
BelmoNT
When roads
will reopen
diversEy
CANNON
CLARK
fullerton
webster
Sedgwick
Lake
Michigan
NORTH
WELLS
DIVISION
CHICAGO
LASALLE
grand
columbus
state
monroe
adams
jackson
DAMEN
taylor
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halsted
roosevelt
loomis
ASHLAND
MICHIGAN
SLUG:
18th
cermak
lake shore
STATE
ARCHER
wentworth
INDIANA
35TH
Miles
½
Avoiding the traffic
If you are looking to stay clear of race traffic Sunday roads, here’s how.
Road closures: Roads on the course close at 7 a.m. and begin opening at 9 a.m. in the Loop. Lincoln Park roads reopen around noon, Near West Side around 2 p.m., Pilsen around 3 p.m., Bronzeville around 4 p.m. and the entire course around 6 p.m.
Grant Park: Roads in Grant Park will close Thursday and most will reopen Sunday evening. Parts of Columbus Drive will remain closed until Monday morning and parts of Balbo Drive will remain closed into next week depending on how fast the tear-down goes.
Parking on the course: No-parking zones along the course will go into effect at 1 a.m. Sunday. Vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed.
Getting there
CTA: CTA will add service on the Blue, Red, Brown, Orange, Green and Purple lines as well as a Yellow Line shuttle. Some buses will be rerouted. See the CTA website for more information.
Metra: Metra will run extra trains in addition to regularly scheduled Sunday train service on the BNSF Railway, Metra Electric District, Milwaukee District North, Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West lines. See the Metra website for more information. The South Shore Line will operate an extra early morning train and an extra eastbound train on race day. See the South Shore Line website for more information.
Prohibited items
Participants, volunteers, event staff and spectators must pass through security before entering Grant Park. Dangerous or inappropriate items will be confiscated or denied access. Here are prohibited items:
- Wheeled devices, including non-registered wheelchairs and handcycles, baby joggers, strollers, skateboards, rollerblades and bicycles
- Selfie-sticks, camera mounts, video devices, computers or any similar devices
- Remote-controlled aircrafts and drones
- Large bags (backpacks, suitcases and rolling bags)
- Hard-sided coolers
- Costumes covering the face, any non-forming bulky outfits extending beyond the perimeter of the body, props and non-running equipment
- Pets/animals (except for service animals)
- Chairs
- Alcoholic beverages
- Illegal substances
- Weapons
Participants
Download: The official race participant guide at chicagomarathon.com.
Tracking: Runners can sign up to track live results. Or, download the official mobile app. Results will also be available at chicagomarathon.com.
Security and safety: As in years past, only participants displaying their race bibs, event staff with proper credentials and ticketed guests will have access to the race start and finish areas in Grant Park. Marathon participants are asked to use the transparent bags they will receive from the pre-race expo to expedite the security screening process. Runners are required to register with a government-issued photo ID. The event website has information on the event alert system.
Spectators
Starting line: Spectators will not be able to escort runners to the start line or greet runners at the finish line. The closest viewing area to the start is on Grand Avenue, between Columbus Drive and State Street, or anywhere along State Street between Grand Avenue and Jackson Boulevard.
Throughout the course: A list of suggested spectator viewing areas, including mile markers and CTA train lines, is available on the race’s official website.
Finish line: To view runners closest to the finish of the race, go to the Bank of America Cheer Zone at Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road. After the race, spectators should plan to meet runners at the runner reunite area in Butler Field, located north and south of Jackson Drive.
Watch on TV: WMAQ-Ch. 5 and Telemundo Chicago will broadcast live from 7-11 a.m. and livestream at nbcchicago.com and telemundochicago.com from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Listen: WSCR-AM 670 from 7-11 a.m.
Post-race party: Spectators can reunite with runners at the 27th Mile Post-Race Party at Grant Park’s Butler Field. Access to this area will be available to spectators starting at 9:30 a.m. through gates on Jackson Boulevard and Congress Parkway. Bag screening is required.
Source: Chicago Marathon
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