Chicago Marathon 2019: Street closures, route, schedule, and more – Curbed Chicago
Chicago Marathon 2019: Street closures, route, schedule, and more Curbed Chicago
On Sunday, October 13, the 42nd edition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon returns to the Windy City, winding 26.2 miles through downtown Chicago …
Filed under:
Here’s everything you need to know about the 42nd Bank of America Chicago Marathon
By Jay Koziarz Updated
On Sunday, October 13, the 42nd edition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon returns to the Windy City, winding 26.2 miles through downtown Chicago and the city’s North, West, and South sides. Whether you’re participating in the race, rooting for an athlete, or simply trying to avoid the crowds and street closures, here’s what you need to know about the 2019 race.
What time does the race start?
Grant Park opens to runners at 5:30 a.m. Competition kicks off promptly at 7:20 a.m with the wheelchair race followed by three waves of runners stepping off at 7:30, 8:00, and 8:35 a.m. Participants are expected to complete the race distance within the allotted time requirement of 6 hours and 30 minutes. For more information, check the official event schedule.
What is the marathon route?
Starting and finishing at opposite ends of Columbus Drive in downtown’s Grant Park, the course follows the same basic layout as in years past: runners snake their way through 29 Chicago neighborhoods and cross the Chicago River fives times.
The course stretches as far north as Sheridan Road, west to Damen Avenue, and south to 35th Street. A detailed map of the marathon shows the exact route plus the locations of aid stations, medical tents, cheering areas, food, and other concessions.
What streets will be closed?
Over the weekend—and especially on Sunday—motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians can expect to experience congestion and longer travel times due to closed streets and large crowds along the racecourse.
Street closures begin at approximately 7:00 a.m. on Sunday. Most neighborhood streets will reopen in the afternoon or early evening, or when officials deem it safe to do so. A handful of roads near the Grant Park start/finish line will be closed before the event and reopen later.
A parking ban will be in effect along the course starting late Saturday night. Vehicles not removed from these streets by 1 a.m. Sunday, October 13 will be ticketed and towed to the city’s nearest auto impound.
Where is the best spot to watch?
General spectators will not be granted access to Grant Park’s start and finish areas on race day. Event organizers encourage viewing elsewhere on the course including recommended spots on Grand Avenue between Columbus Drive and State Street, State Street between Grand Avenue and Jackson Boulevard, and the official Bank of America Cheer Zone near the finish at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road.
Spectators looking to reunite with their runners after the race are welcome to do so at the Biofreeze 27th Mile Post-Race Party, located at Butler Field along Columbus Drive. Here, alphabetical signs will allow friends and family to track down their athlete by name. Guests will be required to pass through security and bag screening checkpoints.
How do I get to the race?
With crowds and street closures expected to snarl vehicular traffic, your best bet is to take public transit. The CTA provides convenient access to multiple spots on the course including the finish line at the southern edge of Grant Parka nnd the following locations can be accessed using the L:
- Grand Red Line station – Miles 1, 3, and 12.5
- Monroe Red Line station –Mile 2
- Chicago Red Line station – Miles 3.5 and 12.25
- Clark/Division Red Line station – Miles 4 and 12
- Sheridan Red Line station – Mile 8
- Addison Red Line station – Mile 8.5
- Sedgwick Brown Line station – Mile 11
- Washington/Wells Brown, Pink, Orange lines stations – Mile 13.5
- UIC-Halsted Blue Line station – Miles 14.25 and 17
- 18th Pink Line station – Mile 19
- Cermak-Chinatown Red Line station – Mile 21.5
- Sox-35th and 35th-Bronzeville-IIT Red and Green Line stations – Mile 23
- Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line station – Mile 25
- Roosevelt Red/Green/Orange Lines station – Finish line
The CTA recommends pre-purchasing fare cards in advance to avoid long lines at vending points. The agency will also offer a limited number of souvenir marathon-themed Ventra cards at select locations.
If you must bring your car into the city, the Millennium Garages offer the closest parking options. Drivers can consider booking marathon parking in advance using a service like SpotHero. The CTA also provides Park & Ride facilities to ditch your vehicle far from the crowds around Grant Park.
The Metra commuter system will run extra inbound and outbound trains on race day in addition to regularly scheduled Sunday service. Another good option for getting around town on Marathon weekend is Chicago’s Divvy bikeshare system.
Can I watch the marathon on TV or livestream?
On race day, NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago will provide TV and live streaming coverage of the event. The televised broadcast airs from 7 to 11 a.m. while the online streams will go live at 7 a.m. and conclude 3 p.m.
Fans outside of Chicago can follow the action on NBC Sports Network or the NBC Sports Gold subscription service. Live broadcast streaming is also available on the Chicago Marathon mobile app which will be available to download prior to race day.
Live audio commentary can be found on AM radio station 670 The Score between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. The station will air a Chicago Marathon preview show at 7 a.m. on September 28, October 5, and 12.
What to leave at home
Participants, volunteers, staff, and spectators will have to pass through security to enter Grant Park. Prohibited items include: oversized bags (backpacks, suitcases, rolling bags), hard-sided coolers, selfie sticks, costumes covering the face, pets (except for service animals), alcohol, illegal substances, weapons, chairs, bicycles, and drones.
Where to stay
According to race organizers, runners from 50 states and more than 100 countries travel to Chicago each fall for the event. The Chicago Marathon has partnered with Experient to provide room blocks at dozens of hotels convenient to the race route.
Fancy a stay at a hotel packed with history and architectural intrigue? Check out this list of 16 historically significant Chicago hotels. While you’re at it, take a look at our seasonal city guide or things to do with kids if you’re traveling with family.