Contemplative
21.1 km
5:45 /km
Loop through Millennium Park.
Photo · Chicago Marathon Race Library
Chicago, USA·North America·OctoberWorld Major
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
City, flat, grid.
Snapped to real footpaths · Garmin · Strava · AllTrails · Komoot · Coros · Wahoo · Apple Watch · outdooractive
- Official distance
- 42.195 km
- Elevation gain
- +60m
- Mindful tempo
- 5:05 /km — steady
- Character
- City, flat, grid
Since 1977 a fast, flat lakefront loop through 29 neighbourhoods — a working city's race.
Because uninterrupted rhythm is medicine — this course lets the body forget the clock.
Grid running invites metronome breath; 4-in / 4-out for the first 30 km.
Course
Open in OpenStreetMap Map & elevation profile
Course line · live Xymove map
Xymove · rendering the line
Xymove Map
42.195 km loop
Live · pinch, drag, zoom41.878, -87.630
Elevation profile
+60 m gainPeak 60 m · 42.195 km
Elevation profile: total gain 60 metres, peak 60 m above start, low 0 m.A gentle profile — the course rewards patience rather than power.
Chicago41.878, -87.630
Race Day
Practical & atmospheric notes
Kind shoulder-season conditions — mild mornings, arm-sleeves off by kilometre eight for most runners.
A Major start line: elite corrals, live broadcast helicopters overhead, a hundred thousand hearts syncing. Arrive early, breathe long, let the noise be weather rather than pressure.
World-class crowd support — dense from start to finish, with famous cheer corners that will lift you when the legs won't.
A quieter stretch usually opens up between km 17 and km 23 — an interior mile to return to yourself before the final push.
Sealed city tarmac — closed to traffic on race day
The official road is fully sealed and step-free on race day. Handcyclists routinely start with the elite wave; strollers welcome in the shakeout events.
WheelchairStroller
Recovery
Lakefront Trail float, deep-dish and darkness.
Along the line
Course imagery
Soul-Tuned Variations
One race, three ways to run it.
Recovery echo
6 km
6:30 /km
Lakefront shuffle.
Stronger
42.195 km
4:20 /km
Negative split from mile 20.
One shared standard · Four tempos
The PureSoul family moves with the same heart. Choose the tempo the day is asking for.
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PureSoul Walking
Soft, restorative · step-free, wheelchair friendly
Open
You are here
PureSoul Running
Only forward · run with the land
Continue here
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PureSoul Hiking
Forest-grounded · deeper trails, longer days
Open
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PureSoul Cycling
Long, open lines · quiet lanes, long horizons
Open
Visit the PureSoul Family hub
Shared maps · shared GPX engine · shared Soul Signature language. Whichever door you enter, the craft standard is the same.