Chicago is a vibrant city that boasts some of the country’s most exciting running scenes
Every year, Chicago hosts special marathons, with thousands of athletes from different parts of the world showing up to participate.
Chi-Town’s most prominent race is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, one of six World Marathon Majors. It’s one of the fastest-growing marathon races in the world and continues to attract runners from different parts of the world.
The Chicago Marathon was established in 1977 and has been held every year since except in 1987 (half-marathon) and 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic). This year’s edition is set to be held on October 13, with runners set to coast through the iconic flat and fast loop course that starts and ends at Grant Park. The course stretches 26.219 miles through the heart of the city, cutting through 29 neighbourhoods.
This event ranks as one of the largest races in the United States. It features more than 12,000 volunteers spread across the course. There are also 20 aid stations located across the flat course to provide participants in need of welfare with amenities such as a medical tent, portable toilets, energy drinks, and water. Medical staff and ambulances are in place to transport participants who are unable to continue in the race back to Grant Park.
World Records at the Chicago Marathon
Since its inception, the marathon has registered the fourth most number of finishers in the world, recording no less than 11,000 finishes in every race since 2000.
Six world records have also been broken at the Chicago Marathon since 1977. Steve Jones was the race’s first record-breaker, finishing the race at 2:08:05 in 1985. He was surpassed by Khalid Khannouchi who completed the race at 2:05:42 in 1999.
The event did not see another world record until over a decade later when Dennis Kimetto ran the entire course in 2:03:45 in 2013.
The current world record-holder is the late Kelvin Kiptum, who beat the world record at last year’s Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2:00:35.
Kelvin Kiptum (Getty)
Women’s records have also been broken at this event four times. Catherine Ndereba recorded a time of 2:18:47 in 2001 but was surpassed the following year by Paula Radcliffe (2:17:18). Brigid Kosgei also set a world record in 2019 (2:14:04) but that was bettered by Sifan Hassan, who ran the course in 2:13:44 last year.
Community Support and Impact
There’s an immense level of community support at the Chicago Marathon, with…
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