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11 October 2026

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Running trips

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Come to America’s third largest city and run one of the world’s most iconic marathons. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon offers a flat and fast course, an unrivalled spectator experience and a city full of contrasts, culture and character.

Speed, history and people – welcome to The Bank of America Chicago Marathon!
With its flat and fast course, Chicago is a favourite for personal bests and records. Four world records have been set here, and every year many new personal bests are recorded. The start and finish are beautifully located in Grant Park, where runners then make their way through 29 colourful neighbourhoods with around 1.7 million spectators along the way – a world-class experience!

As always, we travel with experienced leaders who guide, inspire and create a safe and memorable experience all the way from start to finish.

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Chicago Marathon

Travel facts

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The following is important information regarding the race and the number bib distribution. Please read the organiser’s own runner information.

There is also a spectator information section which has very good information for travelling supporters.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon also has a downloadable app. It will be released just before the race. Check your app store during race week.

Number plate distribution / Expo

Start certificates will be emailed directly to you from the organiser at the end of September

The bib package includes a bib and safety pins, timing chip, luggage tag, a runner’s t-shirt and a bag to keep your belongings in case you need to hand them in at the start/finish area.

To collect your race number, you will need a valid photo ID or your passport and race card.

For those who want to get to the fair themselves, the opening hours are as follows:

Thursday 11-18, Friday 09-18 and Saturday 09-18.

Mc Cormick Place Convention Centre
Lakeside Centre, Hall D
2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive
Chicago, IL 60616

Please note that it is up to each person to collect their own licence plate.

Take-off and transport

Our three hotels are perfectly located to the start and finish. Just over 1 – 2 km from the start and finish.

3 different start times.

The first start of the race is at 7.30am

Second start is 8.00

Third start 8.35

You can see on your number tag which start you are in.
Feel free to ask the tour guides what time you should go.

Clothes drop-off

Clothing drop-off will be available at the start for those who want to drop off any outerwear and other items. Important to use the bag you get at the expo. A tip for those who do not want to hand in clothes is to bring an old warming sweater and trousers to wear at the start that you can then throw away.

Starting area and track

The Chicago Marathon start area is located in Grant Park, where thousands of runners gather in clearly marked starting pens that open on schedule. There are plenty of toilets, bag drop, medical services and volunteers to help runners into the correct lane. Security checks ensure that many runners arrive on time, and the large grassy areas of the park are great for warming up before the start on Columbus Drive.

The track itself is a fast and completely flat tour through Chicago. It first heads north through River North and Lincoln Park before turning south towards the West Loop. It then continues through culturally rich areas such as Little Italy and Pilsen, known for large crowds and high spirits. Towards the end, runners will pass Chinatown before following Michigan Avenue north to Grant Park again. After a short final climb on Roosevelt Road, the finish line is reached and the medal is received in the centre of Chicago.

See the course map for exact locations. Kilometre markers are located every 5 kilometres along the entire course.
Maximum time is 6 hours and 30 minutes.

The crowds are fantastic, with the organisers expecting around 1.7 million spectators along the course, which runs through 29 different Chicago neighbourhoods.

The temperature in October ranges from 8 to 17 degrees centigrade.

BANK CARD

Hydration and energy during the race

There are 20 hydration stations with water and sports drinks, Lemon-Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula, toilets and medical assistance along the course. Chiquita bananas are available at 3 points after just over 32 km.
Maurten Gel is distributed at mile 13, 18 and 23.

The objective

After the finish you will receive a bag of snacks. If you have handed in a change of clothes, you will pick them up from the storage bus you left them in. The finish line is in Grant Park about 1-2 km from the hotels.

Immediately after the finish, the organisers will host a nice post-race party that everyone who has run and is over 21 years old is welcome to attend. There will be live bands and beer, drinks and food available for purchase.

PS.
After the race, those who want to will meet in the park for the “Post-Race Party”. We have decided on a meeting point for Springtime runners in the north-west corner where we hope to celebrate the finish with you. DS.

App and website

We recommend downloading the Chicago Marathon app when it is released, where the latest information about the race can be found. The organiser’s website also contains comprehensive information.

Chicago – the city of contrasts on Lake Michigan

Chicago is, in our opinion, one of the most exciting cities in the USA. Located on glittering Lake Michigan, the city offers a unique blend of nature, architecture and pulse. Here, marinas and green parks coexist with the world’s tallest skyscrapers – and a city centre full of life.

During your stay, you can enjoy a rich cultural offering, world-class restaurants, shopping for all tastes and a vibrant nightlife. Chicago is also a city with strong Swedish roots – once called “the second largest Swedish city in the world”. Today, charming Andersonville is a living memory of that era.

About the race

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is not only one of the world’s biggest marathon events – it’s also a place where history is made. On the flat, fast course through the heart of Chicago, not one but two world records have been broken in recent years.

In 2023, Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum shocked the world by becoming the first man to run a marathon under 2:01, with a time of 2:00:35 – the fastest time ever. And the following year, in 2024, it was time again: Ruth Chepngetich made history when she crossed the finish line in 2:09:56, becoming the first woman ever to run under 2:10.

But the Chicago Marathon is more than just a record. It’s a celebration of people with over 45,000 runners, a course that passes through 29 unique neighbourhoods, and a crowd of up to 1.7 million people lining the streets and cheering every step. From start to finish in leafy Grant Park, you’ll be taken on an energetic journey through the city’s diversity – from Chinatown to Lincoln Park, from glittering skyscrapers to bohemian neighbourhoods.

One of the six classic Abbott World Marathon Majors, the race is a destination for both elite and recreational runners. It’s a perfect choice for those who want a fast course, an incredible atmosphere and a trip to one of America’s most exciting cities.

Chicago awaits – is this the year you run the race of your life?

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Do you dream of running among the world’s top marathon cities and joining an exclusive group of runners? Then the Abbott World Marathon Majors is your ultimate challenge – a journey that takes you across six iconic cities, six unforgettable races and a destination that symbolises pure running joy and determination.

The Abbott World Marathon Majors consist of six of the world’s most prestigious marathons: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Together they form the ultimate marathon journey – a chance to experience new cultures, atmospheres and courses, while challenging both body and mind.

Each race you complete earns you a star on your way to the coveted Six Star Medal, proof that you have completed all six. The journey requires careful planning, perseverance and passion – but each goal you cross becomes a memory for life.

Beyond the races, you also become part of a global community of runners through the World Marathon Majors system, with rankings, virtual challenges and the opportunity to track your progress against the world’s best in your class.

When you run your last of the six races and receive your Six Star Medal, it’s more than a race you’re finishing – it’s a journey you’ve conquered.

The TCS Sydney Marathon has officially become the seventh member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors from 2025. The race has undergone a multi-year evaluation process in which the organisation, safety, spectator support and participation numbers have been improved to meet the high standards required to become a Major. The course takes runners through the city’s most iconic settings, including running across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing at the world-famous Opera House.

Looking ahead, further expansion of the series is planned. Two marathons are currently in the candidate phase: the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in South Africa and the Shanghai Marathon in China. If the races fulfil all the criteria, they are expected to become official Majors in 2027.

With these additions, the Abbott World Marathon Majors could comprise a total of nine races, and there has already been discussion about the possibility of introducing a new Nine-Star Medal for those runners who complete all the marathons in the expanded series.

Programme

Preliminary programme (Please note that the programme is subject to change)

Thursday 8 October

Arrival from Arlanda & Copenhagen

Friday 9 October

Morning jog
09:30 Joint trip to the licence plate fair (Autograph)
10:00 Joint trip to the number plate fair (Best Western)

Saturday 10 October

07:00 Morning jog
09:30 Boat sightseeing (pre-booked option)

Sunday 11 October

05:45 Meet in the lobby for the walk to the start
19:00 After Run Dinner! (Pre-booked option)

Sunday 12 October

11:00 Check-out from the hotels
Transfer to the airport for your return journey

Our tour guides

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Our hotels

Hotell

Best Western Grant Park Hotel

Best Western Grant Park Hotel 1100 S Michigan Avenue A simple but good 2-star hotel in a perfect location within walking distance of both the start and finish of Grant Park. We offer travellers in a group to share a room at an affordable price. Mode of the race The location for running the Chicago …

Hotell

Congress Plaza

Congress Plaza 520 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605 Congress Plaza Hotel is one of Chicago’s most iconic hotels, dating back to 1893, with an atmosphere that blends historic elegance with modern convenience. It is located right in the centre of Chicago – walking distance from the start and finish of the Chicago Marathon and …

Hotell

Chicago Autograph Collection

Chicago Autograph Collection 333 North Dearborn Street Elegant, stylish and luxuriously modern, Hotel Chicago Downtown, Autograph Collection, is located in the heart of the city’s upscale River North neighbourhood. As part of “Marina City”, the hotel has direct access to the Chicago River and some of the most prestigious dining, shopping and entertainment venues that …

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11 October 2026

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Chicago Marathon

Travel facts

Tab Contents

Chicago – the city of contrasts on Lake Michigan

About the race

Abbott World Marathon Majors

Programme

Our tour guides

Our hotels

Best Western Grant Park Hotel

Congress Plaza

Chicago Autograph Collection

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