Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a 26.219 miles (42.195 km) race and one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. This race is certified platinum by the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label Race. The Chicago Marathon start time is divided into three waves: at 7:30, 8:00, and 8:35 on October 9, 2022 (Sunday) from the intersection of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street in Grant Park.
The limit for participants is 45,000 people. To be included in the list of the elite, you need to finish the Chicago Marathon at least five times over the past 10 years or fulfill the qualifying standard or participate in charitable programs. For all others, a lottery is available.
Who Won the Chicago Marathon 2021?
The winner of the Chicago Marathon in 2021 was Ethiopian Seifu Tura (2:06:12), to whom the American favorite, Galen Rapp, lost by 23 seconds.
Men
- Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:06:12
- Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:35
- Eric Kiptanui (KEN) 2:06:51
Women
- Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) – 02:22:31
- Emma Bates (USA) – 02:24:20
- Sara Hall (USA) – 02:27:19.
Among the women, world champion Ruth Chepngetich was immediately considered the clear favorite, but things were not so clear for the men. Çepngetich was ranked fourth in the women’s marathon rankings thanks to her personal best of 2:17:08, which she achieved in Dubai in 2019, and in her world-record performance of 1:04:02 in the half marathon in Istanbul in April. The one downside for the 27-year-old Kenyan was that she failed to finish the Olympic Marathon in Tokyo.
Chicago Marathon Registration
The general application for the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon closed at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30th. But still available via:
- Guaranteed participation through an official tour operator
Registration for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2022 is included in the tour package from the official tour operator of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2022 (see the list). Registration through the tour operator is open until August 16, 2022. More details here.
- Guaranteed participation through a charitable organization
Registration for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2022 is still available by raising money for a charity (see the list with an entry fee of $1,250. Registration through the tour operator is open until September 14, 2022.
If the organizer cancels the race, participants will receive a partial refund of the entry fee and a discount for registration in 2023.
Chicago Marathon Lottery
After the applicants are registered, the program randomly selects participants for the race.
You can apply for the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Lottery here.
The lottery application window was available from 10:00 (Chicago, UTC -6:00) on October 19 to 14:00 (Chicago, UTC -6:00) on November 30, 2021.
Participation in the lottery is free. Only the winners pay the race registration cost. It is automatically debited from the bank card specified in the application for the lottery. You can only fill out one application. Duplicate applications cannot participate in the lottery.
Lottery results were announced by email on December 9, 2021.
How Much Does the Chicago Marathon Cost?
The cost of registration for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2022 for foreign participants is $240, and for residents of the United States, it is $230.
Chicago Marathon Qualifying Times
Guaranteed entry to the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon based on previous races for fast runners.
The application window was from 10:00 (Chicago, UTC -6:00) October 26 to 14:00 (Chicago, UTC -6:00) November 30, 2021.
Men’s qualifying times shown after January 1, 2019:
16-29 years old – 3:05
30-39 years old – 3:10
40-49 years old – 3:20
50-59 years old – 3:35
60-69 years old – 4:00
70-79 years old – 4:30
80+ years old – 5:25
Qualifying times for women shown after January 1, 2019:
16-29 years old – 3:35
30-39 years old – 3:40
40-49 years old – 3:50
50-59 years old – 4:20
60-69 years old – 5:00
70-79 years old – 5:55
80 and over old – 6:10
Before the start of the race, you can leave your personal belongings at the storage facilities near the start line in Grant Park. Belongings must be packed in a luggage bag with a sticker marked with the competitor’s start number. The bag and sticker are included in the participant’s starter pack.
Chicago Marathon Map and Route
The race begins and ends in one of Chicago’s most famous parks, Grant Park, and is held through 29 blocks of the city.
Chicago marathon start line – Grant Park, located in the south of the New Eastside neighborhood, is home to the Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park. Grant Park and the New Eastside feature prominently in the city’s history as being among the first to be built.
Heading north, the route passes through Streeterville, a lively area that combines luxury hotels, high-end shops, and fine dining.
Further, the runners find themselves in the northern area of the city. Tree-lined streets filled with many residential buildings, shops, restaurants, parks, and educational institutions await them. Here you can see the campus of the private Jesuit University Loyola Marymount and the Culinary and Hospitality Institute of Chicago.
Lincoln Park is next for the marathon runners. In addition to many shops and restaurants, Lincoln Park is home to a zoo, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and a conservatory.
Continuing south along the marathon route, runners will find themselves at the gates of the Old Town, which is a mix of pretty boutiques, restaurants, and many charming Victorian houses and buildings. The Old City with St. Michael’s Church, partially preserved after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, will appear to participants at 9.94 miles (16 kilometers).
Heading west, the marathon runners will run near the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks.
As the Chicago marathon route returns east, runners pass through Pilsen, Chicago’s largest Hispanic community. Pilsen is known for its colorful and socially significant wall paintings and has been central to the muralist movement for many years.
Shortly before the finish line, participants move along Michigan Avenue and run past the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology, adjacent to Bronzeville, an area rich in African American history and culture. They then finish on the other side of Grant Park.
