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Chicago Marathon

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Event information

Chicago Marathon

Oct 07, 2012

4.8

Organizer`s website

Where

Chicago, IL, United States

Start time

09:00

Distances

Marathon

Sub-events

26.2

Marathon

October 07, 2012 Sunday

Distance: Marathon·Start time: 09:00

MarathonPoint to pointWheelchair race

Race Results

Top 3

1. Tsegaye Kebede 02:04:38

2. Feyisa Lilesa 02:04:52

3. Tilahun Regassa 02:05:27

Top 3 Women

1. Atsede Baysa 02:22:03

2. Rita Jeptoo 02:22:04

3. Lucy Kabuu 02:22:41

Top 3 Men

1. Tsegaye Kebede 02:04:38

2. Feyisa Lilesa 02:04:52

3. Tilahun Regassa 02:05:27

SEE ALL RESULTS

Race Details

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Training Plan

Free 20 week Basic Marathon Training Plan

A detailed plan created by our Head Coach designed for help you prepare for your first marathon.

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Reviews

4.8

Based on 4 Reviews from other runners - tap or click to see all!

By: Gordon Celender

Posted: January 05, 2025

One of the best marathons in the world

I've run this marathon twice (2021 and 2024) and as a virtual race in 2020. After Boston, it's probably my favorite marathon. Sadly I lost my bib early on race morning (2021) so I had to get a replacement bib. It was quite an ordeal, but staff issued me a new bib. The crowd support is amazing all along the route.<Š

4.7

By: gary lok

Posted: November 21, 2022

Great organization and experience

Great weather and course. However, a little disappointed we didn't run by Wrigley Field nor Guaranteed Rate Field being a baseball guy.

5.0

By: KN T.

Posted: October 12, 2022

City of the Big Shoulders and a Big Heart

A Chicagoan, I ran this race for the 16th time. It is huge. The only organizational flaw was that there was no signage to guide runners from the parking lot to the expo for packet pickup. Volunteers and staff did a great job getting 40K+ runners to where they should be on race day. Aid stations were plentiful (22 of them). Fans lined the entire course (the Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen had the most color, music, and enthusiasm). There were plenty of distance markers and clocks on the very flat course. Start and finish areas were well organized with toilets and refreshments. Bravo, Chicago, my kind of town.

5.0

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Training Tips

The Hidden Injury You’re Ignoring: Why IT Band Syndrome Derails Marathoners and How to Stop It You’ve logged the miles, built your base, and finally feel like a real marathoner — until a sharp, burning sensation flares up on the outside of your knee, and...

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Fueling the Long Run: A Race-Tested Nutrition Plan for Miles 1–26.2 Running a marathon is a 26.2-mile test of endurance, determination, and — often underestimated — nutrition strategy. No matter how well your legs are trained,...

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Running Through the Wall: Mental Strategies for Miles 18–26 There’s a moment in nearly every marathon — somewhere between mile 18 and 22 — when your legs stop listening and your mind starts negotiating. The crowd thins....

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See all training articles

Atsede Baysa narrowly won the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2 hours 22 minutes and 3 seconds. Baysa just clipped Rita Jeptoo at the line by one second.

General News Chicago Tribune

Oct 08, 2012

Ritzenhein Runs His Race, Is Top U.S. Finisher In Chicago Marathon

Dathan Ritzenhein opted to fall off the leader pace in the Chicago Marathon and in return for his decision he scored a 2 minute personal best in the marathon and ran faster than his coach, Alberto Salazar, had done.

General News Chicago Tribune

Oct 08, 2012

Kebede's Course Record and Thrilling Women's Finish Highlight 35th Running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Today's 35th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon witnessed historic performances by men's champion Tsegaye Kebede and women's champion Atsede Baysa, both of Ethiopia, as an event record 37,455 participants crossed the finish line under cool conditions in Grant Park. Kebede's time of 2:04:38 broke the previous course record by nearly a minute, while Baysa's one-second margin of victory over Rita Jeptoo of Kenya in the closest women's finish in race history.

General News

Oct 07, 2012

Ethiopian Sets Course Record For Chicago Marathon

Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia won the Chicago Marathon with a new course record of 2 hours 4 minutes and 39 seconds.

General News Chicago Sun-Times

Oct 07, 2012