Organizers expect more than 55,000 participants in Sunday's Chicago Marathon and say it could be the race's largest field yet. The 48th running starts at 7:20 a.m. in Grant Park, where runners will also finish.
The 26.2-mile course takes runners through 29 of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. Its flat terrain makes it appealing to those seeking personal bests or a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. The race also draws an estimated 1.7 million spectators.
More than 200,000 people applied for the 2026 race. Last year's marathon had 55,744 participants, up 4% from 2024. Choose Chicago counts the event among the city's biggest draws for visitors.
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