In just a week, over 50,000 plus marathoners will chart the course to and from Grant Park, as part of the 2024 Chicago Marathon. Started in 1977, this is one of the most prestigious marathon events, now entering its 46th chapter. As recently as September 25, the Marathon was awarded the ‘World Athletics Heritage Plaque,’ on the same date as its inaugural run, to commemorate its historic status.

The marathon is scheduled for October 13, 2024. As excitement builds, here are some important details you’ll want to know about this prestigious race. From registration information to street closures, amenities, and prohibited items, consider this your one-stop guide for everything you need to be prepared!

Chicago Marathon Registration details

Registration for the 2024 Chicago Marathon is now officially closed, having ended on November 16, 2023. The race opens registration for each year’s event a year in advance. While you cannot register for this Sunday’s race, you can certainly sign up for the 2025 marathon!

Yes, registration for the 2025 Chicago Marathon opens on October 22, 10 a.m (U.S. central time), and will receive applications for the next 4 weeks, until the window closes on November 21, 5 p.m. While the date for the 47th version next year is decided to be October 12.

Every application made should mandatorily fall into either of the categories, a non-guaranteed entry or a guaranteed entry. Aspirants who are not eligible as per the guaranteed entry criteria can opt for a non-guaranteed version. But they may or may not land a confirmation as the event will select names from a large pool of track and field enthusiasts. On the other hand, to avail of guaranteed entry, the following specifications can come in handy.

• Qualifying through time qualifiers are divided into different age brackets. Or, make it to the event’s High Performance Division.
• If one is a legacy finisher with 5+ Chicago Marathon completions in the past decade.
• A registered applicant who canceled their 2024 entry.
• Charity runners, participate to fundraise for an official charity identified by the Chicago Marathon Charity Program.
• Non-U.S. international runners are part of the International Tour Group Program.
• Participants who have completed the entire 2024 Bank of America Chicago Distance Series.

In addition to these aspects, there’s also an entry fee, set at $245 for residents living in the United States, whereas $255 for those outside America. Now if you live in Chicago, here are the road closure details you might want to glance over.

Chicago 2024 marathon-day street closures

• Columbus Dr.: Start to Grand Ave                                  (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 10:00 a.m
• Grand Ave: Columbus Dr. to State St.                            (10/13/24) 7:00 a.m to (10/13/24) 10:00 a.m
• State St: Grand Ave. to Jackson Blvd.                            (10/13/24) 7:00 a.m to (10/13/24) 10:30 a.m
• Jackson Blvd: State St. to LaSalle St.                              (10/13/24) 7:00 a.m to (10/13/24) 10:30 a.m
• LaSalle St: Jackson Blvd to Stockton Dr.                       (10/13/24) 7:00 a.m to (10/13/24) 11:30 a.m
• Stockton Dr: LaSalle Dr. to Fullerton Dr.                      (10/13/24) 7:00 a.m to (10/13/24) 11:45 a.m
• Fullerton Dr: Stockton Dr. to Cannon Dr.                     (10/13/24) 7:00 a.m to (10/13/24) 11:45 a.m
• Cannon Dr.: Fullerton Dr. to Sheridan Rd.                   (10/13/24) 7:00 a.m to (10/13/24) 11:45 a.m
• Sheridan Rd.: Diversey Pkwy. to Belmont Ave.            (10/13/24) 7:00 a.m to (10/13/24) 11:45 a.m
• Inner Lakeshore Dr.: Belmont Ave. to Sheridan Rd    (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 12:00 a.m
• Sheridan Rd.: Inner Lakeshore Dr. to Broadway         (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 12:00 a.m
• Broadway: Sheridan Rd. to Briar Pl.                               (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 12:15 a.m
• Broadway: Briar Pl. to Diversey Pkwy                            (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 12:30 a.m
• Clark St.: Diversey Pkwy. to Fullerton Pkwy                 (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 12:30 a.m
• Clark St.: Fullerton Pkwy. to Webster Ave.                   (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 12:45 a.m
• Webster Ave.: Clark St. to Sedgwick St.                         (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 12:45 a.m
• Sedgwick St.: Webster Ave. to North Ave.                     (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 01:00 a.m
• North Ave.: Sedgwick St. to Wells St.                             (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 01:00 a.m
• Wells St.: North Ave. to Walton St.                                 (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 01:00 a.m
• Wells St.: Walton St. to Wacker Dr.                                (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 01:15 a.m
• Wacker Dr.: Wells St. to Adams St.                                 (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 01:15 a.m
• Adams St.: Wacker Dr. to Damen Ave.                           (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 01:45 a.m
• Damen Ave.: Adams St. to Jackson Blvd.                      (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 01:45 a.m
• Jackson Blvd.: Damen Ave. to Halsted St.                     (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 02:15 a.m
• Halsted St.: Jackson Blvd. to Taylor St.                         (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 02:30 a.m
• Taylor St.: Halsted St. to Loomis St.                               (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 02:45 a.m
• Loomis St.: Taylor St. to 18th St.                                     (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 02:45 a.m
• 18th St.: Loomis St. to Halsted St.                                   (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 03: 00 a.m
• Halsted St.: 18th St. to 21st St.                                         (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 03:15 a.m
• 21st St: Halsted to Canalport Ave.                                   (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 03:15 a.m
• Canalport Ave.: 21st St. to Cermak Rd.                          (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 03:15 a.m
• Cermak Rd.: Canalport Ave. to Wentworth Ave.          (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 03:30 a.m
• Wentworth Ave.: Cermak Rd. to 26th St.                       (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 03:45 a.m
• 26th St.: Wentworth Ave. to Michigan Ave.                  (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 03:45 a.m
• Michigan Ave.: 26th St. to 35th St.                                  (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 04:00 a.m
• 35th St.: Michigan Ave. to Indiana Ave                          (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 04:00 a.m
• Indiana Ave.: 35th St. to 31st St.                                      (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 04:00 a.m
• 31st St.: Indiana Ave. to Michigan Ave                           (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 04:15 a.m
• Michigan Ave.: 31st St. to Roosevelt Rd.                        (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 04:30 a.m
• Roosevelt Rd.: Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr.            (10/13/24) 7: 00 a.m to (10/13/24) 06:00 a.m

Chicago Marathon 2024 course, amenities, prohibitions

Speaking of the course, the 26.2 mile-long event will have 20 aid stations on the way, each distance from the other by 1-2 miles. Every station will have a medical tent, portable toilets, Gatorade liquids, Water, and a Runner Transport Vehicle. Mile 21.2 will have a special Biofreeze Pain relief zone, to cool the pain and help runners finish. Notably, the total course time limit is 6 hours and 30 minutes. In the case of those runners who finish post 4 p.m., they won’t be published or recorded as official finishers.

Coming to the prohibited items, except for sanctioned wheelchair handcycles, wheeled devices are strictly not allowed. Be it rollerblades, cycles, skateboards, etc, or motorized vehicles. The use of cameras or selfie sticks while running is also banned. Music devices with headphones are allowed but not for those in the American Development Program. No large bags, costumes covering the full face, backpacks, pets, animals, chairs, prohibited beverages, weapons, drones, etc. are not allowed too. In all, these were a few essentials that participants of the Chicago Marathon 2024 need to know.