# Chicago Marathon
The Chicago Marathon (currently held as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon) is an annual 26.2-mile (42.195 km) road marathon in Chicago that starts and finishes in Grant Park and takes place each year on the second Sunday of October[1](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/about/). It is one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, runs a flat loop course through 29 of the city's neighborhoods, and has been the setting for multiple marathon world records, including the current men's world record of 2:00:35 set by [Kelvin Kiptum](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelvin-kiptum) in 2023[1](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/about/) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First edition | Mayor Daley Marathon, September 25, 1977; more than 4,200 starters, 2,128 finishers; winners Dan Cloeter (2:17:52) and Dorothy Doolittle (2:50:47)[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html) |
| Course | Loop start and finish in Grant Park through 29 neighborhoods; known as flat and fast[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/) |
| Scale | An estimated 1.7 million spectators line the route for 55,000 runners[1](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/about/) |
| Time limit | 6 hours 30 minutes, about a 15-minute mile pace[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/) |
| Sanctioning | World Athletics Platinum Label event[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/) |
| Records | The course has produced several marathon world records, including Kelvin Kiptum's men's world record 2:00:35 in 2023[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) |
| Economic impact | City estimate of close to $550 million for 2023[5](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/10/10/chicago-marathon-economy-tourism-closures) |
| Charity | Record $47.1 million raised by 2025 charity runners for more than 200 charities[6](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/bank-of-america-chicago-marathon-record-economic-2025/) |
## Origins and early years
Planning began in November 1976, when five founders met at the Metropolitan YMCA on LaSalle Street: Wayne Goeldner, physical education director of the Hyde Park YMCA; Wendell "Wendy" Miller, a financial adviser and founder of the Midwest Masters Running Club; Bill Robinson of Friends of Parks; Sharon Mier, director of women's sports at the Loop Center YMCA; and Dr. Noel Nequin, director of cardiac rehabilitation at Swedish Covenant Hospital[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html).
A successful Ravenswood Bank Lakefront 10-Mile Run in May 1977, attended by more than 1,000 runners and supported by Chicago's new runner-mayor Michael Bilandic, persuaded the group to stage a full marathon. Lee Flaherty's company Flair Communications signed on as sponsor, and with the Daley family's blessing the race was named the Mayor Daley Marathon[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html).
The first edition on September 25, 1977 drew more than 4,200 runners, making it the largest marathon in the world at the time; Dan Cloeter of Indiana and Dorothy Doolittle of Texas won[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html). Among the finishers was eight-year-old Wesley Paul, who ran 3:15:20 for a world age-group record[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html).
In 1979 the race was first sponsored by Beatrice Foods, and after two women who had not run the full course were disqualified, the victory went to 15-year-old Laura Michalek of Berwyn, Illinois, in 3:15:45; the youngest winner in race history[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html).
## Growth and professional era
**Prize money arrived in 1982**, when Greg Meyer (2:10:59) and Nancy Conz (2:33:23) took home the first prize checks, $12,000 each from a $77,000 purse[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html). In 1983 the men's finish was decided by half a second, Kenya's Joseph Nzau out-leaning Great Britain's Hugh Jones, 2:09:44.3 to 2:09:44.8[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html).
World records followed on the flat course. Great Britain's Steve Jones set a men's world record of 2:08:05 in 1984, the year of the first official wheelchair competition with five men and one woman, and in 1985 Joan Benoit Samuelson won in 2:21:21, an American and course record, against a field that included [Ingrid Kristiansen](https://www.edgepedia.org/ingrid-kristiansen) and [Rosa Mota](https://www.edgepedia.org/rosa-mota)[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html).
**Modern era.** The 30th anniversary in 2007 closed a 14-year run of title sponsorship by LaSalle Bank; that year's hot race day saw almost 33,000 starters and 31,344 official finishers[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html). In 2008 the race introduced a separate elite start five minutes before the open field, expanded aid stations from 15 to 20, and added its first handcycle division with the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans[3](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html).
## Course and race day
The course begins and ends in Grant Park and passes through 29 neighborhoods, a loop the organizers describe as an architectural and cultural tour of the city[1](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/about/) • [4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/). Runners must maintain roughly a 15-minute mile pace to receive full on-course support; those finishing after 3:30 p.m. are directed to a separate post-finish area[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/).
The race provides 20 aid stations one to two miles apart, each with water, Gatorade Endurance Formula, portable toilets, and a medical tent, with additional medical support at 22 on-course locations including the final mile[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/). Timing checkpoints sit at the start, each 5K, the halfway point, Miles 20 through 25, Mile 25.2, and the finish[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/).
Race day brings extensive street closures, with no-parking zones along the course enforced from the early morning[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/). Weather on race day has ranged widely over the race's history, from temperatures in the upper 80s to lows in the 20s (degrees [Fahrenheit](https://www.edgepedia.org/fahrenheit))[7](https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a62670694/everything-you-need-to-know-chicago-marathon/).
## Fast times and world records
Chicago's pancake-flat course is a principal reason for its fast times[8](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/sports/watch-chicago-marathon-2026-free). The official course page states the route has produced seven world records, several national records, and countless personal bests[4](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/); [World Athletics](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-athletics)' Heritage page and other accounts put the count at six[9](https://worldathletics.org/heritage/plaque/list/chicago-marathon) • [8](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/sports/watch-chicago-marathon-2026-free). A separate review says only Berlin has hosted more marathon world records than Chicago[10](https://www.marathoncourse.com/marathons/chicago/).
The most recent was in 2024, when [Ruth Chepngetich](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-chepngetich) ran 2:09:56 in Chicago, a time that still stands as the women's marathon world record[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) • [15](https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/ratified-world-records-chebet-duplantis-mclaughlin-levrone-chepngetich-kawano). Earlier milestones include Khalid Khannouchi's 2:05:42 at Chicago in 1999, then the world's best time[11](https://apnews.com/article/8481a99809f19e0dd2cafca36bd3676a).
## Field, entry, and the Distance Series
The event draws runners from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including professional elites, Masters runners, debut marathoners, and charity runners[1](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/about/). World Athletics' Heritage page records the field at 50,000 runners[9](https://worldathletics.org/heritage/plaque/list/chicago-marathon).
Entry beyond guaranteed categories is by application and lottery; the event offers an official 18-week training program developed by Nike coaches[12](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/event-faqs/). Runners who complete all events in the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series receive a unique series medal and guaranteed entry into the following year's marathon[13](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/).
## Economic and charitable impact
The marathon is a major economic event for the city. Chicago's own estimate put the 2023 economic impact at close to $550 million, roughly the combined impact of that year's [Lollapalooza](https://www.edgepedia.org/lollapalooza) ($422 million) and the NASCAR Street Race ($128 million)[5](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/10/10/chicago-marathon-economy-tourism-closures). A [Bank of America](https://www.edgepedia.org/bank-of-america) impact report recorded a 22% increase in local economic impact from 2023 to 2024 and a then-record $36 million raised for charity in 2024[14](https://about.bankofamerica.com/content/dam/about/pdfs/2024_Chicago_Marathon-Economic__Impact_Report.pdf).
Organizers reported a record year in 2025: charity runners raised $47.1 million for more than 200 local, national, and global charities, and the event supported more than 5,100 full-time-equivalent jobs[6](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/bank-of-america-chicago-marathon-record-economic-2025/).
## References
1. [About the Event, Bank of America Chicago Marathon](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/about/)
2. [Defending champion John Korir breaks Boston Marathon record..., AP News](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9)
3. [The Chicago Marathon - History](https://www.thechicagomarathon.com/history.html)
4. [Course, Bank of America Chicago Marathon](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/)
5. [Chicago Marathon is a huge economic engine, Axios Chicago](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/10/10/chicago-marathon-economy-tourism-closures)
6. [Bank of America Chicago Marathon had record economic impact on city in 2025, CBS Chicago](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/bank-of-america-chicago-marathon-record-economic-2025/)
7. [Chicago Marathon FAQs, Runner's World](https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a62670694/everything-you-need-to-know-chicago-marathon/)
8. [How to watch Chicago Marathon 2026: Live stream for free, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/sports/watch-chicago-marathon-2026-free)
9. [Chicago Marathon, World Athletics Heritage Plaques](https://worldathletics.org/heritage/plaque/list/chicago-marathon)
10. [Chicago Marathon: course map, elevation & lottery odds, MarathonCourse](https://www.marathoncourse.com/marathons/chicago/)
11. [Marathon milestone shattered: Sabastian Sawe breaks the 2-hour barrier..., AP News](https://apnews.com/article/8481a99809f19e0dd2cafca36bd3676a)
12. [Event FAQs, Bank of America Chicago Marathon](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/event-faqs/)
13. [Participant Information, Bank of America Chicago Marathon](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/)
14. [Bank of America Chicago Marathon Economic Impact Report (2024)](https://about.bankofamerica.com/content/dam/about/pdfs/2024_Chicago_Marathon-Economic__Impact_Report.pdf)
15. [Ratified: world records for Chebet, Duplantis, McLaughlin-Levrone, Chepngetich and Kawano, PRESS-RELEASES, World Athletics](https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/ratified-world-records-chebet-duplantis-mclaughlin-levrone-chepngetich-kawano)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Athletics, gymnastics, and strength sports › Marathon and road racing events*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license