The most important/recent updates, if any, will be listed here. Everything else will be listed below.
RACE EXPO PACKET PICKUP
You must present your Packet Pick-up ticket (digital or printed) at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo, along with one form of photo ID to receive your race packet (bib number and timing device).
PARTICIPANT GUIDE
The Participant Guide is now available. See below.
RACE DATE
October 8, 2023
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
It is up to each person to ensure they meet all travel requirements, including but not limited to vaccine status, passport validity, travel visas, etc.
YOUR BOOKING DETAILS
Everyone received their booking details which lists your hotel, hotel address and dates of stay. It is critical that you ensure that everything is correct and as early as possible to avoid issues.
HOTEL CHANGES/DATES OF STAY CHANGES
Group hotels will only let you change/alter the nights you wish to stay up until one month prior. We will always do our best to help, but ultimately it is up to the hotel to decide.
RACE BIB COLLECTION
Each runner must pick up their own bib at the race expo using either their driver’s license or their passport. There is no race day bib collection.
RACE EXPO
The race expo will be at McCormick Place
Where: 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive
When:
Thursday Oct 5 from 11AM – 6PM
Friday Oct 6 from 9AM – 6PM
Saturday Oct 7 from 9AM – 6PM
*dates and times are subject to change
Click here for more information on the expo.
PARTICIPANT GUIDE
The 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon participant guide is now available online. Please take time to review this document prior to race weekend. The participant guide includes everything you will need to know to have a successful race experience, including schedules, policies and detailed information on the weekend’s events.
As part of our ongoing sustainability efforts, the participant guide will be available in a digital-only format this year.
Click here for the guide.
SIX START PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS w/ ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS
Any runner who is completing their Six Star journey must have a complete profile on the Six Star website, claim all previous results and register no later than 14 days before the sixth race. If you fail to do this, you will NOT receive the Six Star medal at the finish line.
Please click here to register or access your runner portal and complete the “Set for No.6” section.
DREAM TRAVEL REPS
Both Yumi (Lola) and Stephen will be onsite all weekend long.
EMERGENCY CONTACT
In case of an emergency only, you can call us on the office cell number which is 323-379-9893
If it is not an emergency, please email.
Offline Maps
It’s recommend that you download an offline map of Chicago so that you are able to search for directions upon arrival, even if you don’t have WiFi. Services like Google Maps works well for offline maps.
Getting to the group hotel from Chicago O’Hare ORD Airport
You can take take a taxi/Uber/Lyft from the airport to the hotel. For public transportation, take the Blue Line from the airport to Clark/Lake, then transfer to the Green Line and take that until Roosevelt. From there it’s a 3 minute walk. We recommend that you use a map service like Google Maps to plan your journey.
The Group Hotel
Our group hotel is the Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown South Loop which is located at 59 E 11th St, Chicago. This hotel is across the street from the start/finish areas of the marathon.
Checking in to Your Hotel
As this is a group booking, no booking number/reference is required. Simply check in by name, with ID and with a credit card for incidentals.
FINISH LINE VIEWING
Invite your friends and family to cheer you on as you make the turn onto Columbus Drive in the final stretch of the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. New this year, spectators can purchase East Side Viewing tickets to access an exclusive spectator viewing area at the finish line. Tickets are $20 per person. Youth eight years of age and younger will be able to access the East Side Viewing Area for free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. For more information visit chicagomarathon.com/
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
-Check into the hotel.
-Go to the Race Expo early to avoid the long lineups and especially if you want to purchase items as they will sell out certain sizes!
Group Run
What: A casual, slow 5K jog with Dream Travel
When: 7:30AM
Where: We’ll depart the lobby of the Homewood Suites (group hotel) at 7:30AM sharp
Who: Anyone/everyone
This will be a ‘run at your own pace’ group run, but we’ll run slow and easy.
Meet and Greet
When: 10AM – 12PM
Where: Homewood Suites Lobby (group hotel). Look for the Dream Travel banner!
Who: Anyone/everyone
This will be a casual get together, meet up and Q and A’s
Race Day! Be sure to get to the race start early enough to find your wave and corral!
After Party
When: TBD
Where: TBD
Who: Anyone/everyone
To avoid potential issues, this is an unofficial “meet us here if you want” evening to celebrate your achievement.
Our artist rendition
Finished sample product from the Berlin Marathon.