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Your Complete Guide to the 2025 Chicago Marathon on October 12.
Seven years after the inaugural New York City Marathon, the first Chicago Marathon was held in 1977 when 4,200 runners paid just $5 to enter and run in what was then known as the Mayor Daley Marathon.
Believe it or not, that made it the largest marathon in the world at the time. But as the running boom exploded, so, too, did the popularity of the Chicago Marathon. Over the past 20 years, the Chicago Marathon has consistently been the second largest marathon in the world behind the New York City Marathon, averaging close to 45,000 finishers in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic and tallying record-breaking numbers in 2023 (48,574 finishers) and 2024 (52,150).
More than 53,000 runners are expected to toe the starting line for the 47th running of the Chicago Marathon on October 12.
One of the best things about the Chicago Marathon is its flat, fast course that starts in Grant Park, sends runners through sections of downtown and neighborhoods on the north, west, and south sides of the city, then finishes back in Grant Park. The course’s average elevation is 600 feet above sea level, and it has a net gain of just 243 feet. There is really only one hill on the course—albeit near the 26-mile mark— where runners run up a slight incline on Roosevelt Road (known as “Mount Roosevelt”) just before the finish line on Columbus Drive.
The course takes runners through 29 of the city’s neighborhoods, including Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, Old Town, The Loop, Greektown, Little Italy, Pilsen, Chinatown and Bronzeville, and passes within a block of the Lincoln Park Zoo, Willis Tower, United Center and Guaranteed Rate Field.
2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon course map
The lack of hills and long straightaway sections can help runners lock into a rhythm and hold it without fluctuating, which is one of the reasons the course has produced five world records—including both the existing men’s and women’s world records.
In 2023, 23-year-old Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum dashed his way to a new world record in Chicago, averaging 4:36 mile pace to finish in a stunning 2:00:35. The even more stunning women’s world record of 2:09:56 was set last year in Chicago by Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich, but she was later busted for performance-enhancing drugs. The Athletics Integrity Unit announced on July 17 that the 30-year-old Kenyan tested positive for the banned substance diuretic hydrochlorothiazide on March 14, 2025, five months after setting the women’s marathon world record. However, the record will remain because the urine sample exposing her doping was taken five months after the race.
The Chicago course typically delivers thousands of shiny new PRs for age-group runners, but the big unknown every year is what the weather will be. In 2023, the weather was ideal, with morning low temps in the low 40s and afternoon highs in the mid-50s and 68 percent humidity. Last year started cool (49 degrees), but it quickly became much warmer, with temps peaking in the upper 60s and humidity approaching 80 percent. That’s still mild compared to what it was in 2007 (87 degrees), 2008 (86 degrees) and 2021 (79 degrees).
The forecast for this year’s race is trending on the warmer side, with morning temperatures expected to be in the upper 50s and afternoon highs expected to approach 70 degrees.
The October 9-11 Abbott Health & Fitness Expo features exhibitors offering 2025 Chicago Marathon merchandise and the latest in running footwear, apparel, nutrition and technology. Held at the McCormick Place convention center, the three-day expo is where all marathon participants will pick up their race packet and bib number, and it’s free and open to the public.
The Chicago 5K on Saturday morning is already sold out, but you can join a shakeout run with Believe in the Run and New Balance and Endorphins Running on October 11 at the New Balance Pop Up at 1150 S. Delano Court. Bandit is also organizing shakeout runs and pre- and post-marathon events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from its Chicago Simulation Research Center pop up store at 435 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 110, while YouTuber Kofuzi is hosting a shakeout run with ASICS and 2012 Boston Marathon champion and 2011 Chicago Marathon runner-up Wesley Korir at 1023 S. Delano Court.
On is teaming up with Waldorf Astoria Chicago up to celebrate with marathoners On Sunday, they’ll co-host a big Marathon After Party at Brass Tack at 11 E. Walton (located on the 3rd floor at the hotel) from 1 to 4pm for an unforgettable celebration designed for runners, fans, and our Chicago community.
The elite men’s field for the 2025 Chicago Marathon includes defending champion John Korir (2:02:44), who also won this year’s Boston Marathon (2:04:45) in April and says he wants to run faster than 2:02 in Chicago. Other speedy runners include Belgium’s Bashir Abdi (2:03:36), the silver medalist at the Paris Olympics, Kenyans Timothy Kiplagat (2:02:55) and Amos Kipruto (2:03:13), and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who lowered the world record in the half marathon (56:42) in February and placed second in the London Marathon (2:03:37) in his 26.2-mile debut in April.
In all, there are 14 runners in the men’s field who have run 2:07 or faster, including Americans Conner Mantz (2:05:08), who was fourth in the Boston Marathon this year and plans to go after a new American record, and Galen Rupp (2:06:07), a 39-year-old runner who won the race in 2017 in 2:09:20 and also finished fifth in 2018 (2:06:21), second in 2021 (2:06:21), and eighth in 2023 (2:08:48). Other top U.S. runners include Ryan Ford (2:08:00), CJ Albertson (2:08:17), and Casey Clinger, a Utah-based training partner of Mantz and Clayton Young, who is making his marathon debut.
On the women’s side, Ethiopians Megertu Alemu (2:16:34) and Hawi Feysa (2:17:00) headline the field. Alemu finished second in the 2023 London Marathon and set her PR en route to winning the speedy Valencia Marathon last December, while Feysa won the Frankfurt Marathon in 2024 and placed third in this year’s Tokyo Marathon. Other top runners include Kenya’s Irine Cheptai (2:17:51) and Mary Ngugi-Cooper (2:20:22), Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa (2:18:27) and Haven Hailu Desse (2:19:17), and British runner Calli Hauger-Thackery (2:21:24). Top American women include Lindsay Flanagan (2:23:31), who set her PR in Chicago last year while finishing ninth, Natosha Rogers (2:23:51), Gabi Rooker (2:24:29), and Dakotah Popehn (2:24:40).
Deena Kastor was the last U.S. woman to win the race in 2005 (2:21:25), however Americans Emma Bates and Sara Hall placed second (2:24:20) and third (2:27:19), respectively, in 2021, and Emily Sisson placed second in 2022 en route to her new American record (2:18:29) and seventh in 2023 (2:22:09).
Randy Burt, 76, Henry Kozlowski, 74, and George Mueller, 76, have started and finished every Chicago Marathon since its inception in 1977, and will be seeking their 47th finishes this year. Other notable runners entered in this year’s Chicago Marathon include Bryan Arenales, the winner of season seven of Love Island USA, retired NFL players Justin Britt and Otis Hudson, former professional soccer player Heather O’Reilly, who has already run Boston, New York and Berlin, and Chicago chefs and owners of popular Avondale bakery Loaf Lounge Ben Lustbader and Sarah Mispagel.
The men’s wheelchair division will begin at 7:20 a.m. CT and followed shortly by the women’s wheelchair start at 7:21 a.m. and the handcycle start at 7:23 a.m. CT Runners in the first starting wave—including the elite men’s and women’s divisions—will begin at 7:30 a.m. CT. The second wave will kick off at 8 a.m. CT, followed by the third wave at 8:35 a.m. CT.
NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago will provide complete live local TV coverage of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in English and Spanish from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT. The Chicago Marathon will be streamed live on nbcchicago.com and telemundochicago.com from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. CT.
To track runners in this year’s Chicago Marathon, download the official race app for iPhone or for Android. Users can track up to 20 runners through the app, which also includes an interactive course map, a schedule of events and race photos. To add registered participants to a tracking list, search for a name and add the runner to “favorites.” Runner tracking will also be available on the marathon’s website race day, allowing spectators to view the race leaderboard, and follow friends and family by getting real-time updates and splits.
To get into the 2026 Chicago Marathon, you must apply for the lottery during the application window. The application for guaranteed or non-guaranteed entry to the 2026 Chicago Marathon will open at 10 a.m. (U.S. Central Time) on Tuesday, October 21. The application will close four weeks later at 2 p.m. (U.S. Central Time) on Tuesday, November 18. The 48th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
There are several ways to get a guaranteed entry for the 2026 Chicago Marathon, including via a time qualifier, running on behalf of a charity, meeting the criteria of a legacy finisher, entering through an international tour program, earning a time qualifier or running all three races of the Chicago Distance Series events (Shamrock Shuffle 8K Run, Chicago 13.1 and Chicago Marathon).
Ciele has made special editions of its high-performing GOCap for several big city marathons, including moisture-wicking lids for Chicago and New York City.
Made from a lightweight wicking woven polyester material, this Chicago-themed hat provides a layer of protection from Mother Nature on the front and top panels, Ventilator mesh side panels will keep your head cool for the length of your run and a soft polyester mesh wicking sweatband on the inside helps move sweat away from your head.
Feetures has created Chicago, Boston, New York, and Charlotte special editions of its Elite Light Cushion Tab and Mini Crew socks with colors and iconography to match each of those cities.
Rep the Chicago Marathon in this classic trucker hat, which is designed with a high depth and sweat-wicking tech to help keep you comfortable.
This slim-fitting, 100 percent polyester singlet for men and women is built with advanced sweat-management tech to help keep you ultra-cool and dry. Nike’s Dri-FIT ADV knit fabric levels up the sweat-wicking ability with advanced cooling zones and vent holes for breathability to help you stay dry and comfortable.
The Chicago Singlet is cut from a breathable, lightweight mesh, crafted in a performance silhouette. This year to commemorate the Fall Marathons, we’ve taken note from some of our favorite athletes’ race day rituals—the paint-smeared sash is inspired by the likes of marathon legends Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit, and the painter’s accessories that became routine in their race day kit.
This ultra-lightweight, quick-drying tank has a 100 percent recycled polyester front and an 89 percent polyester and spandex back with a racerback style cut that serves up a tailored fit in men’s and women’s styles.
Saucony’s Chicago Kinvara 16 is inspired by the iconic city flag, featuring its blue and white colors and four six-pointed red stars symbolizing significant events in the city’s history. This edition of the shoe has an upgraded version of Saucony’s PWRRUN cushioning for better bounce and durability, plus a refined geometry for fluid transitions.
The soft and bouncy Vomero 18 everyday trainer is built on a midsole of lightweight ZoomX foam stacked on top of responsive ReactX foam in the midsole, while a redesigned traction pattern offers a smooth heel-to-toe transition. This Chicago Marathon edition includes the blue, black and red colors of the Chicago flag, the race name printed on the sockliners, and a Chicago marathon tag on the lateral side of each heel.
Whether you’re looking for post-race recovery or seeking ultimate comfort for casual wear, this adjustable style limited edition Chicago 2025 Ooahh Sport Flex Slide provides optimal fit and revolutionary OOfoam technology.
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