The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the 42.195 kilometers that make up the well-known concept of the World Marathon Majors, along with the New York, Boston, Berlin, Tokyo, and London marathons. This 2024 marks the 46th edition of the race.

The race begins in waves at 7:30 a.m. (Chicago time) in Grant Park and follows a route through 29 neighborhoods. It is a flat and fast course.

It is important to note that the Chicago Marathon has a time limit of 6 hours and 30 minutes. After that time, the course will be reopened for vehicular traffic.

Music devices with headphones are permitted during the race; however, participants should be aware of their surroundings and pay attention to important announcements in Grant Park and along the route.

Read more: Where to watch the Chicago Marathon

Altimetry Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon has no significant variations or curves, which makes this race very fast on a practically flat course since the bridges crossed in the first kilometers and then in the second half of the marathon do not have a high elevation, unlike those of the New York Marathon.

The race course starts in Grant Park, which is 183 m above sea level. Since the finish also occurs in this park, the altitude is virtually the same: 182 m above sea level.

For many runners, the most challenging part of the Chicago Marathon is turning right onto Michigan Avenue at the Roosevelt Road overpass. It’s not very steep, but it’s an incline when you’re close to completing 42 km, and your legs are tired.

Download the route in .GPX format, forecast, and time calculator for the Chicago Marathon

If you want to download the Chicago Marathon course in . You can visit the GPX format here: running.COACH Calendar:

Download the course in .pdf format

A unique marathon for spectators

The magnitude of this race is evidenced by the thousands of spectators who come from all corners of the planet to cheer on every kilometer of the course. This popular celebration is complemented by the modern high-rise architecture and the runners’ passage through the city’s different areas, allowing them to observe the competition from various angles and instances. Thus, the city and the course make this a unique marathon.

How do you train for the Chicago Marathon?

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Photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris.