Chicago is the flattest big Major and a real PR course: one loop through 29 neighborhoods, about 57 meters of total climb, and crowds nearly the whole 42.2 km. The 2024 race drew a record 52,150 finishers. The catch is getting in. It's a non-guaranteed drawing now, roughly 1-in-4 odds, and mid-October can still hand you a warm, exposed afternoon.
Better info coming — we're still verifying 3 fields on this race.
Major race decision brief
Know the catch before you book the flight.
Four facts shape this weekend: entry, course load, the start-to-finish problem, and whether your crew gets a good trip too.
01 · Secure the bib
Closed · Lottery
$250 listed entry. Treat travel as refundable until your place and any qualification requirement are confirmed.
02 · Read the load
57 m climbing
Flat, fast, and a loop through 29 neighborhoods that feels like a single block party. The only hill is the short ramp up Roosevelt to the finish, and it always hurts more than it should.
03 · Solve the base
Compact race geography
Start and finish sit within roughly 1 km. A central base can simplify race morning and reunion, but road closures still decide the useful side of the course.
04 · Pack the range
9–17°C typical
Historical rain signal: 25%. Use it for packing, then switch to the live forecast inside race week.
Crew fit is 5/5. Use the spectator guide to decide whether this is a shared city weekend or a runner-first operation.
Why we'd pick it
- The 57 m climbing estimate is useful for planning, not a verified pacing number.
- The ballot is closed for this edition.
- A non-racing partner gets a real weekend here — 5/5.
- Race day usually sits 9–17°C, about 25% chance of rain.
The course
Flat, fast, and a loop through 29 neighborhoods that feels like a single block party. The only hill is the short ramp up Roosevelt to the finish, and it always hurts more than it should.
