The Chicago Marathon is my favourite race in the world. Even when it doesn’t go perfectly, I still love it. I’ve now run Chicago seven times. My first marathon was in Chicago in 2012, my marathon PR is from 2014, and my return to running after the pandemic was in the city in 2023. Each year is slightly different and the organizing team work hard to make the experience the best possible for runners. I’ve loved seeing the changes over the years and feeling the crowds and support grow. If you’re considering running the Chicago Marathon next year, this post will give you some insights into the best weekend in the windy city!

Pre-Race Weekend Vibes

Marathon weekend can easily become overwhelming and exhausting, so it’s important to find balance. This year I planned my weekend carefully so I could volunteer at the expo, catch up with friends, and still have some downtime to relax before the race. There were even a few lovely surprises; bumping into an old friend at the ‘L’ station and getting to travel to the start with him, and seeing far more familiar faces out on the course than I’d expected.

We arrived in Chicago on Thursday evening to a very busy O’Hare Airport! Everyone seemed to be wearing running shoes, and it had the buzz of a big party. We hopped on the ‘L’ to my friend’s house in Lakeview, where we were staying. The journey took a little longer than expected because of Cubs traffic, but before long we were catching up on all the news over the dining room table.

I’d planned most of our weekend activities for Friday, knowing I’d want to rest on Saturday. We were up bright and early to volunteer at the expo. I’d worked at a couple of booths in the past but had never volunteered for the Bank of America team, and it was great fun! My husband helped at the 5K packet pick-up while I worked in the marathon packet area. It’s all exceptionally well organised and the volunteers are the best.  It’s a tiring but very rewarding experience and we met so many runners and gave out so much advice. It really got me into the right headspace for race day as I absorbed the energy of the participants.

Our shift finished at noon, after which I dashed to collect my own bib and race shirt. I didn’t linger at the expo as it was loud and busy. Some people love the hype, but it’s not really for me as it zaps my energy, so I made lunch plans with a friend, and we headed to the South Loop to carb-load and catch up.

After lunch, my husband and I found a cosy coffee shop in Printer’s Row to relax for a while. It was the prettiest place with beautiful chandeliers and delicious hot chocolate! 

We then walked up to the Chicago Athletic Association on Michigan Avenue for a live recording of Nobody Asked Us with Kara Goucher and Des Linden. I was so excited! We went to their recording last year and loved it, and this year’s event was in a bigger venue with a happy hour beforehand. I listen to Kara and Des on nearly all my long runs and have learnt so much from them, so seeing them in person again was brilliant. They also had CJ Albertson on stage, and it was awesome to hear about his race expectations and feelings about his competitors.

After the podcast, Alex and I grabbed a quick bite in a local bar in Lakeview, before heading home to bed – we were wrecked!

The Day Before the Race

In recent years, the Chicago Marathon has added the International 5K the day before the main event. My husband ran it with our friend, a tradition they started a couple of years ago. I took the opportunity for a lie-in while they caught the sunrise and came home with bagels and shiny new medals and hats!

A little later, I went out for a short shake-out run. I’ve started running 2.62 miles the day before a marathon, a little ritual a good friend shared with me, which took me out to Belmont Harbor and back. The weather was perfect, my hamstring (which had been niggling me) felt fine, and it was a peaceful chance to clear my head.

Afterwards, I showered and headed to Southport to get my race-day nails done before meeting Alex and some friends for lunch. It was the perfect relaxed day, and we spent the rest of the afternoon lying on the deck, chatting and enjoying dinner together.

Race Morning Magic

Race morning arrived and we were up at 5:15 a.m. Alex was volunteering as a course marshal, and I was heading down to the start. I hate early mornings, so I always get everything laid out the night before;  clothes, shoes, nutrition, the lot. All I had to do was get dressed, do my hair and a bit of makeup (yes, I wear makeup in races because  it makes me feel strong!) and eat breakfast.

At 5:50 a.m. I stepped out into the early morning darkness to make my way to Grant Park. Luckily, the trains were running frequently, and the platform was buzzing with runners. As I looked to my left, I spotted an old friend I hadn’t seen in years! His face lit up, and after a big hug, we spent the train ride catching up. It completely eased my nerves and reminded me how lucky I am to have friends in this city.

Grant Park was already packed when I arrived, but everything moved smoothly. Security was efficient and thorough, and I quickly checked my bag near Buckingham Fountain, hanks to the great signage and helpful volunteers. The sun was rising over the lake and glinting off the skyline and the tall buildings; it’s my favourite time of day in Chicago.

The portapotty queues are always wild in Chicago, so this year I’d planned to just stand in them the whole time, eating my snacks and drinking Gatorade, until I needed to go to my corral. That may seem crazy, but last year I waited for 40 mins and never got to the front of the line.  This year, in 45 minutes I made it to the front twice – success! 

The corrals were a bit of a squeeze as the first wave moved off quite slowly, but the atmosphere was brilliant. Everyone looked amazing in their race outfits and I came away with so many ideas! Music blasted, the announcer counted down, and we slowly shuffled forward until it was time to run.

Just after the start, runners pass through a tunnel. In previous years, it’s been dark, echoey, and full of men peeing against the wall (so gross!). But this year, it brought a huge surprise! There was a DJ, colourful lighting columns, and disco lights hanging from the ceiling. It completely changed the vibe and had everyone buzzing and cheering as we started.

On the Course

From there, the race unfolded just as I remembered it. I know the course so well; every aid station, every band, every cheer group! This year, the crowds were louder than ever. Running through the Loop in the early miles, I couldn’t believe how many people were out cheering for complete strangers. Coming from D.C., where the sense of community currently feels smaller and very stressed, it warmed my heart and reminded me of how much I miss Chicago, which I consider my home.

As we ran north through Lakeview, the crowds grew even thicker. By the time we reached Boystown, it was deafening. There were dancers in hot pants, loud bands, confetti, laughter, and endless high-fives.  I spotted two of my friends out on the course and managed to side-five them both, which gave me a huge boost.

Lincoln Park was a little quieter, but still full of energy. The weather was a tiny bit too warm and the sun was rising so I appreciated the old brick buildings and tree-lined streets providing shade, as well as my favourite aid station, the Fleet Feet one at mile 11! I used to volunteer there, and the Fleet Feet crew, led by Dave Zimmer, was the most welcoming community when I first moved to Chicago, and really made me feel so welcome. 

Like every marathon, my mood and feelings fluctuated; moments of strength, moments of doubt, moments of feeling strong, and some where I wanted to give up.  Even though I’d decided to run Chicago as a relaxed long run ahead of my “A race”, the Philadelphia Marathon, I still hit a bit of a wall around mile 17. Luckily, I had a friend working at an aid station at mile 18.5. I stopped to chat briefly, and she handed me a bag of crisps. I’d never eaten crisps in a race before, but they were exactly what I needed – salty, crunchy, and way more delicious than they’d normally taste! You can even see them in all my race photos as I munched my way through the next couple of miles.

By mile 21, I was feeling strong again. Chinatown was a blur of noise and colour, and even the later miles (22–24), which are often quieter, were full of energy. Cheer squads, charities, the Biofreeze crew –  it was fantastic. I also really appreciated the bananas and extra Maurten gels on course. I’m usually quite robotic about fuelling, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised I sometimes crave more real food during races, something I learned during Big Sur, earlier this year.

By mile 24, I was ready to go! Despite my longest training run being only 17 miles, I felt surprisingly good. Normally I rely on a couple of 20-milers for confidence, but it turns out I don’t need them as much as I thought. The last 10K, especially the final two miles, felt incredible. I absolutely love the final stretch down Michigan Avenue, when you can see the Wrigley Building in the distance and the crowds are roaring.

After the right turn onto Roosevelt (that little hill always bites!), I gave it everything I had left and sprinted as best I could towards the finish line.

The Finish Line Feeling

Crossing the Chicago Marathon finish line will always feel incredible to me, and this year was no exception. I collected my beautiful medal, grabbed a heat sheet, apple, and granola bar, and made my way to gear check. The medical and support teams in the finish chute were, as always, wonderfully kind and attentive,  helping so many exhausted runners with genuine care.

Once I had my bag, I snapped a few photos for ‘medal Monday’ and then headed to the gym for a quick shower before making my way out to Oak Park for my annual tradition: fajitas and margaritas with the best of friends. The perfect ending to a perfect day.

Final Thoughts

Seven marathons later, Chicago still feels exhilarating to me. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon team put on th most incredible race! The city’s energy make it an experience like no other and the pride and support that can be felt from the community is overwhelming. I’ve never felt anything like it!  Whether I’m volunteering, cheering, or running, Chicago will always feel like home.

A couple of days after the marathon, I received a surprise email letting me know that running the marathon this year had given me legacy status. I can’t wait to be back again in 2026!