The Chicago Marathon
The 26.2 Mile Race, Registration, and Course
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon began in 1977 with just over four thousand participants. More than thirty years later, registration has grown to 45,000 runners, including elite athletes and charity fundraising team members.
Registration and Pre-Race Information for the Chicago Marathon
Registration for 45,000 runner slots begins in early February and fills quickly. The 2009 event was closed to new registrants by the end of April, so runners hoping to participate should be prepared to register early. Race fees (accurate as of 2009) are $125 for U.S. runners and $150 for Non-U.S. citizens.
The Chicago Marathon Health and Fitness Expo begins on the Friday before race day and continues on Saturday. The expo, held at McCormick Place, has had 175 exhibitors in recent years, showing and selling the latest in running shoes, gear, apparel, nutrition, and gadgets.
The Expo also serves as the packet pick-up location. Registrants must present themselves for packet pick-up (no packets are mailed). Packets include the runner’s bib number, timing chip, bag, and shirt.
On Saturday evening, Chicago Marathon participants are invited to attend a pasta buffet dinner.
Race Day at the Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has a 7:30 a.m. start time, with the race beginning in Grant Park. The event course, known as “flat and fast” covers the marathon standard 26.2 miles, winding through 29 Chicago neighborhoods. A complete course map can be downloaded.
Twelve thousand runners can qualify for start corrals, based on finishing times in marathon and half marathon races. The majority of runners will begin in a mass start. Course records (current as of 2009) are 2:05:42 for the men, held by Khalid Khannouchi of Morocco and set in 1999 and 2:17:18, set in 2002 by Paula Radcliffe of the United Kingdom.
The Chicago Marathon has a required finishing time of 6:30:59. After six and a half hours, the course must be reopened to normal traffic. Runners finishing after that time (averaging more than 15 minutes/mile) will not receive official finishers’ status or an official time.
Race day temperatures average a high of 66 degrees and a low of 48. However, temperatures in the Midwest in October can fluctuate wildly, as in the 1997 Chicago Marathon where temperatures reached almost 90 degrees by mid-morning.
Celebrities Who Have Completed the Chicago Marathon
Information is scarce on celebrities who have competed in the Chicago Marathon. The New York Marathon and the Boston Marathon seem to draw more famous entrants. Oprah Winfrey was rumored to be participating in the Chicago Marathon in 1994, but ran in the Marine Corps Marathon a few weeks prior to the Chicago event. Actor Anthony Edwards completed the Chicago Marathon in 3 hours, 55 minutes, and 40 seconds. Country music singer Jo Dee Messina is planning to run the 2009 Chicago Marathon.
The 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 11th. Complete details regarding the event can be found at the race website.
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
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