Second Sunday in October. You know the drill: the alarm goes off early, somebody on your block is out there with a cowbell before 8, and half the city forgets which streets they can actually drive on.
This year it’s Sunday, October 11. More than 55,000 runners will start and finish in Grant Park, and the 26.2-mile loop runs through 29 neighborhoods on the North, West and South Sides. Here’s what you need to know if you live here, whether you’re cheering, working or just trying to get to brunch.
The race-morning timeline
Wheelchair athletes start at 7:20 a.m. The first wave of runners goes at 7:30, and the last wave starts around 8:35. Runners have six and a half hours to finish, so the back of the pack will be moving through the late miles well into the afternoon.
If you live near the course
Move your car Saturday night. Parking restrictions along the course start at 1 a.m. Sunday, and cars in no-parking zones get ticketed and towed. If yours disappears, the city’s number is 312-744-4444.
Course streets close at 6 a.m. They reopen as the last runners pass, which organizers time at a 15-minute-mile pace. For most of the course that’s somewhere between mid-morning and late afternoon, and a few spots stay closed into Monday.
Grant Park has been blocked off for a while already. Closures around the park started in late September, and some stretches there stay closed until the Friday after the race.
Lake Shore Drive stays open. If you have to drive across town, it’s your friend. Otherwise, give yourself extra time and expect to be stopped at crossings.
Getting around
Take the train. The CTA is the easiest way to see the race in more than one place. A few stations near the course: Grand on the Red Line (miles 1, 3 and around 12.5), Addison on the Red Line (around mile 8.5), 18th on the Pink Line (around mile 19), Sox-35th on the Red Line (around mile 23) and Roosevelt, near the finish.
Where to cheer
The honest answer: your own neighborhood. Runners remember the blocks that showed up. But if you’re choosing, a few stretches are known for going all out:
Northalsted, miles 7 to 9. Basically a block party, drag queens included.
Pilsen, around mile 19. Mariachi bands, big crowds and some of the best energy of the late race, right when runners need it.
Chinatown, around mile 21. Lion dancers and drums.
Michigan and Roosevelt, near the end. The final push toward the finish, where people who have been running for hours need everything you’ve got.
Bring a sign with a runner’s name on it. Yell for strangers. The people at mile 23 in the afternoon need it more than the elites at mile 3.
Make it a neighborhood morning
Marathon Sunday is rough on the small businesses along the course. Closed streets mean regulars can’t get there, and delivery drivers can’t get through. So walk to them.
Get your coffee from the shop on your corner, not the drive-through. Grab breakfast from the place along the route that’s open early for spectators. And if you’re making a sign, the poster board and markers are a quick trip to your local hardware or art supply store. That’s one less Amazon order right there.
Before you head out
Closures and times can change. Check the official street closure page and course map the week of the race.
See you on the curb.
Like a place in this story? Go see them in person. One less Amazon order a week.
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