The Chicago Marathon is the ideal first marathon – flat and fast, and incredibly well organized, as befitting a World Major Marathon. Quite a few world records have been achieved here, including the American woman’s record of 2:18:29 in 2022 by Emily Sisson (who is running Chicago again this year.) With the marathon coming up in less than 2 weeks, we wanted to share our thoughts on our hometown marathon.
THE COURSE
First, a little bit about the course. It is a beautiful course that starts in Grant Park, runs north, then west, south, and then back up north to finish in Grant Park, taking runners through 29 diverse neighborhoods of Chicago. It is pancake flat, with the exception of ‘Mt Roosevelt’ at the very end just before you enter Grant Park. It may seem cruel to have a hill at mile 26, but this is the only real hill. After this short hill, you enter the park again and the finish line is in sight!
Chicago Marathon Course Map and Elevation
Support
The course is very well-supported. Aid stations are located every 1-2 miles, stocked with Gatorade and water. Medical support is available at 22 on-course locations, at all 20 aid stations, with additional medical tents at around mile 14 and the final mile. All stations are very well-marked and well-staffed. After the finish, there is the main Medical tent, Podiatry tent, and Ice Station within Grant Park.
The course is also very easy for spectators to navigate, as it loops through the city, and your friends and family can see you 4-6 times just navigating the city on the L.
Good to Know...
Camelbaks and hydration backpacks are NOT permitted at the Chicago Marathon. Fuel belts and handheld water bottles are allowed. You may be asked to empty out the bottles before entering Grant Park (they can be refilled once you get through the security checkpoints.) Headphones are permitted for general runners (non-elite) but it is encouraged that you be aware of your surroundings at all times. For this reason, we love Shokz and other bone conduction headphones, which allow you to hear your surroundings and music at the same time. Plus, you will not want to miss the crowds cheering you on when you need it most!
JANET’S EXPERIENCE
The Chicago Marathon was my first marathon ever. I ran it in 2021, when it was unseasonably hot, with temperature starting at 68F in the morning and going up to 79F. It was a good thing we trained in the summer and were used to running in higher temperatures. I ran it with a friend who was also raising money for Imerman Angels, and to be honest, my only goal was to have fun and finish.
Start Line
There are 3 start waves, with Wave 1 starting at 7:30am, Wave 2 at 8:00am and Wave 3 at 8:35am. They are fairly efficient at moving through the waves, but be prepared to wait for some time in the corrals, especially if you are in one of the later ones. We ended up waiting in the corral for over 45 minutes, so I was glad I had brought a banana and a Honey Stinger waffle to snack on.
Mile 1: Lower Wacker
After clearing the Start line, the course leaves the park and goes into Lower Wacker Drive. We had to adjust our eyes immediately to the darker surroundings and it felt like running through a weaving tunnel. It can get a bit crowded here, as runners are full of adrenaline and trying to surge ahead in a tight space, so watch your footing and try not to get bumped. Also, Lower Wacker seems to be a popular area for some early pee stops, so don’t be surprised at what you see!
Miles 2-4: Downtown Loop
Upon leaving Lower Wacker, we get back into daylight, cross the bridge over the river, and are running north through the downtown Chicago Loop area. The roads are pretty wide, although this early on, it may still feel crowded. With all the tall buildings in downtown Chicago, this area will play with your GPS watch so your distance reading may be off by a bit. Even our pacers could not get an accurate read on their watches at mile 3. Because of this, some runners prefer to do manual laps on their running watches.
Miles 4-7: Heading North
After leaving the Loop, it gets a bit quieter as the tall buildings are replaced by the open green areas of Lincoln Park. The crowds are not as dense in the north. Here you can start to get into your stride, although be careful not to run too fast as it is still the first part of the marathon. It felt almost peaceful as we ran through the park, before turning back south at mile 8.
Miles 8-13: Party Time!
Miles 8 to 13 are a party! We ran through popular neighborhoods like Wrigleyville, Northalsted (formerly known as Boystown), Lincoln Park, and Old Town. There are musical performances, dancing, and announcers along this stretch. Wells Street is a popular area for spectators and the crowds are boisterous and fun. We were treated to spectators holding up hilarious signs that made us laugh out loud. My favorite might have been ‘I like your stamina. Call me ☺’ LOL.
Miles 14-18: Heading West
After the halfway point, runners head west through West Loop, Greek Town, Little Italy, and University Village. These are good areas to meet family and friends as they are easy to get to and located within a condensed area, so they can meet you at multiple points (my friends saw us at mile 14, then crossed over a few streets to see us again at mile 17.) It gets a little quieter towards University Village.
Miles 19-21: Pilsen & Chinatown
At mile 19, the party begins again as the course heads south, taking us through Pilsen and Chinatown. Running through Pilsen was a blast as we were treated to live music, DJ’s, and offers of tequila shots from the spectators (who encouraged us with signs like ‘Alcohol has carbs!’) Pilsen was probably my favorite part of the course – it was such an energy boost to interact with the fun crowds here at a time when my body was starting to tire. After Pilsen, we headed to Chinatown, ran to the thunderous beat of drums, and passed under the Chinatown welcome gates. Note: there is a bridge near Chinatown that has a slight incline. At this point, my feet and legs were very swollen (the humidity?), so this bridge with the slightest of inclines was surprisingly difficult for me.
Miles 21-24: Cheer Zones!
Many cheer zones are located along this stretch, so if you are running with a charity or a local run club, chances are you will get a boost from seeing some of your friends here. Importantly, there is also a Biofreeze Pain Relief station for those sore muscles around mile 21. I had never used Biofreeze before the marathon, but at this point, my legs were hurting so much that when they asked me where to spray, I responded ‘Everywhere!’ This part of the marathon also features an out-and-back part of the course. This was newly added in 2022, where runners cross each other going north and then south on Michigan Ave around mile 24. (Last year, this resulted in a few people who cheated by crossing over the barrier – don’t do this!)
Mile 25-26.2: The Final Stretch!
The final stretch! At around mile 25, crowds get denser and the cheers get louder as we get closer to the finish. After turning north at 35th Street, the course goes all the way up Michigan Ave, through South Loop, until “Mt Roosevelt”, the short hill at mile 26. This is the last spectator point, as the crowds are not allowed by the finish line inside Grant Park. After reaching the top of Mt Roosevelt, we turned left into Grant Park towards the finish. First marathon done!
ZHENYA’S EXPERIENCE
I have now run the Chicago marathon twice - in 2021 and 2022. Being only 2 weeks out from my 3rd consecutive Chicago marathon, I will be reflecting on my 2022 race. If you want to read about my 2021 experience, you can find it here.
My 2022 Chicago marathon came 2 weeks after I set my PR in Berlin. I flew home from Germany a week before the race, I was jet lagged and brought a nasty cold from Europe. I didn’t know how my race day was going to turn out!
Before the race
As a CARA participant, we had space at the Hilton, where we were able to leave our gear, use a nice bathroom and meet up with other runners before the race. The marathon weather was perfect and a total 180 from the 2021 marathon day.
The Race
Once in the corral I set out to run with the 3:15 pacers just like in Berlin. I had my Maurten gels, my water bottle and I was ready to go. I was pretty congested, breathing wasn’t easy and my Nike Alphaflys were rubbing against the top of my foot (started in Berlin). Sam was also sick at home, and I wasn’t expecting to see him on the course that day (I told him to stay home).
The miles flew by quickly. Somewhere between miles 6 and 7 I drop the pace group and continue on my own. Just as expected, once I got moving, breathing got easier.
I make it to West Loop, and this is when I do something I have never done before in a marathon or a race. I have to use the bathroom. The 2 Imodiums I took in the morning either didn’t work, or wore off, or I have just been consuming too much caffeine between coffee and Maurten gels. Either way I have to go. I get back on the course in less than 2 minutes, but I just can’t seem to pick up the pace again. To date this is the only time I’ve ever used the bathroom on the course.
I see my friend Rachel right after mile 15, and then surprise, Sam is in West Loop at mile 17. That makes my day and I keep pushing.
The last 6 miles of the marathon are familiar. I ran the route a few days ago, as there was a change to the course from 2021. Not a drastic change, more of a mental one. Now instead of running down Wentworth to 31st and over to State St and IIT campus, we were all taking 26th St to Michigan Ave. Michigan Ave became a 2 way traffic street from 26th to 31st. This route is in place for 2023, and I know a lot of runners don’t like the 2 way section. Trust me, it is not as bad as you may think. There is nothing worse than the last 8 miles of the LA Marathon, when you pass the finish line around mile 18, and still have to run 4 miles out and then back. Also, the Michigan Ave section is only miserable going south, by the time you hit it going north, you are so close to being done, it doesn’t matter.
I always recommend trying to run the last few miles of the course if you can, look for something that stands out to you, remember how close you are to the finish.
I see more friends from the racing team and the November project, the turn around comes faster than I think and I tap into my “home stretch” mode. I live on the course and look forward to running past my house, knowing that I will be going home very soon. Sam is at the 41km marker, and it is great to see him again. (That same 41 Km marker ended up at my house for a few months after the marathon!)
The Finish
My friend Austin passes me 800 meters out, I yell - go get your sub 3:15! The finish line comes sooner than I expect, and it is over just a few hours after it began. Deena Kastor is at the finish line handing out medals and I beeline for her with tears in my eyes. It is to date my favorite marathon experience - getting my Chicago marathon medal from her! I finish in 3:20:24, which is 3 minutes faster than my finish time from 2021 and I am incredibly happy and grateful to my body for lasting as long as it did despite the sickness.
At the post race resort I get a good stretch, snacks and meet up with Sam. We walk home happy and grateful for another strong run.
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