A Guide to Running in Chicago for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon, held the second Sunday in October, is one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors. It’s known as a flat and fast course, and thus has been the setting for several world and national records.  

In honor of this ‘marathon major’, we’ve put together this handy-dandy guide to running in Chicago. This should be very helpful to those who are tapering for the race, and for friends & family of those who are running the race who are inspired themselves to explore Chicago on a run. 

Chicago is one of Great Runs’ top 10 cities for running in North America. Chicago offers wonderful scenery and variety for running, including extensive waterfront trails, beautiful parks, and great neighborhoods. Given the city’s large geographic area, we’ve divided our Chicago running guide into Central, defined by the city limits; and Suburbs, known as ‘Chicagoland’.

Best Runs in the Chicago City Limits

Chicago Lakefront Path. This 18-mile trail along Lake Michigan is one of the most spectacular urban runs in the country. Great views of the lake, the city skyline, and key sights such as Navy Pier and Museum Campus. Especially festive in good weather. Recent improvements include separate paths for pedestrians & cyclists! In winter, with a cold wind blowing off the water, the Lakefront path can be…invigorating. 

Central Chicago Parks. This scenic loop combines historic Grant Park with the newer Millennium Park. Also, make sure to include Lincoln Park as part of the Beaches section of the Lakefront Trail. 

Chicago Riverwalk & Loop. Combine the Riverwalk path with our map of the Chicago Loop for a great ‘runseeing’ tour of Chicago’s fantastic architecture!

Hyde Park Area. At the southern end of the Lakefront Path, one can put together a fabulous run combining Jackson Park and Promontory Point. Then, take the famous Midway Pleasance, which connects to the scenic University of Chicago campus and Washington Park.

The 606 Trail. Chicago’s answer to New York’s High Line is the latest addition to the city’s running scene. Combine with Humboldt Park, which has 2 miles of green trails around a couple of ponds. 

North Shore Beauty. Follow all or part of the North Shore Classic Half Marathon course, which features some of the gorgeous, tree-lined streets made famous by film director John Hughes (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club). Beautiful residential areas,. 

Great Chicago Neighborhoods for Running. Create your own route in some of Chicago’s attractive residential neighborhoods, which feature tree-lined streets and historic homes. Some of our favorites are on the north shore & northwest of the city: Highland Park, Fort Sheridian, Glencoe, Winnetka, and Buffalo Grove. West of the city, we love running around Oak Park and Riverside. 

Best Runs in Chicago’s Suburbs (Chicagoland)

Greater Chicago covers a huge geographic area. The suburbs feature a large collection of trails in numerous Forest Preserves, as well as an extensive network of multi-use paths. Here are some of our favorites, organized by geographic area.    

Destination Run: Indiana Dunes National Park.  Located only an hour from Chicago and also accessible via public transportation, Indiana Dunes National Park and adjacent Indiana Dunes State Park feature some wonderful running options through a variety of terrain, including spectacular dunescapes, marshlands, forests, and many miles of beachfront along Lake Michigan

The Chicago Marathon Course

The Chicago Marathon course is flat and fast. Four world records have been set over the years!  Runners will enjoy a course on closed streets running through 29 neighborhoods, with 1.7 million spectators lining the route.  

The Marathon course overlaps with some our running routes in Grant Park and a couple of neighborhoods, but isn’t along the Lakeshore at all. The path just doesn’t have the capacity to accommodate the numbers. On the other hand, runners do get to experience some of Chicago’s wonderful neighborhoods and iconic streets, such as Michigan Ave., in a way they would never ordinarily be able to do on a daily Chicago run!

The race begins in Grant Park, and heads uptown for 7 miles through the Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, and Fort Sheridian neighborhoods, making a turn to head back south at Mile 8, essentially doubling back for 5 miles but along different streets. At the half-way mark, runners cross the Chicago River, turning west through West Loop, through Greektown toward the United Center, and then north through Little Italy and Chinatown. The final 2 miles are, fittingly, along Michigan Ave. & the Magnificent Mile, with the finish line in Grant Park. 

Good luck on race day!