START WAVES and CORRALS
When you arrive at the start area, look for your corral. You may be scanned with a wand before being allowed into the staging areas, so be sure to only bring what’s permitted.
Your corral information will be available to you via your participant account and when you pick up your bib at the race expo.
Once you determine where you should be, you can take some time to eat, use the washrooms, or just sit and relax.
WAVE STARTS
As there will be 45,000+ runners and to alleviate the strain of having everyone start at the same time, the Chicago Marathon will be run in waves.
You will each be assigned a Wave Start based on your estimated completion time and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will email you your wave closer to the event.
Wave Starts are as follows*
Wheelchairs 7:20AM
Wave 1 (red) 7:30AM
Wave 2 (blue) 8AM
Wave 3 (orange) 8:35AM
No one is permitted to change waves or corrals unless you first got it approved by the Chicago Marathon and prior to their cutoff (Aug 8, 2023). Wave changes are only permitted for fast runners with proven times.
THE COURSE
Click here for extensive information on the race course, as well as a map.
PERSONALIZE YOUR SHIRT
Are you interested in having spectators personalize your run? Write your name on your race shirt (or masking tape) in large letters across your chest and people will call out to you and encourage you as you run!
HOTEL PARKING
For parking information, please click here.
HOTEL BREAKFAST
Breakfast is included with your package and is available:
6-9AM Monday through Friday
7-10AM Saturday and Sunday
COMMEMORATIVE WALL PLAQUE
Want to spice up your race medal wall? Add our 2023 Chicago Marathon commemorative wall plaque to your collection!
Our handmade, wood plaques are proudly made in Canada by a local Albertan artist and are the size of a dinner plate with a diameter of 11.8 inches and thick at 5/8 of an inch! Each one will have a keyhole on the back for hanging and are available only to Dream Travel runners at a cost of $135 (CAD) and including shipping and GST anywhere in Canada!
If you are interested in a plaque, please send your full mailing address and phone number. Keep in mind that these are handmade and take time to produce, so order soon!
Plaques will be shipped out in the fall. Rush service is available and can be shipped within 2 weeks from the date of order for an extra $30.