The 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon kicks off Sunday with a record 53,000 plus runners headed to the starting line in Grant Park, a favorable weather forecast of mostly clear skies with temperatures peaking in the early 70s — and assurances from federal immigration enforcement authorities that operations would not impact the race.
“ICE does not conduct operations at sensitive locations, such as public events, unless there are exigent circumstances,” a statement emailed to the Sun-Times Monday from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement read.
The response came after the Sun-Times asked about concerns that ICE operations, or an impending deployment of National Guard troops, could impact the marathon.
A marathon spokeswoman acknowledged this week that race organizers had spent time thinking about scenarios in which ICE actions could impact the race and how a broad array of contingency plans they have in place for any number of situations could potentially be used.
Race officials and a spokesman for Mayor Brandon Johnson said Monday there’s no crystal ball to predict ICE operations, which have included raids around Chicago in recent days as part of the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz.”
“We’ve gotten no communication from the federal government,” said Cassio Mendoza, press secretary to Johnson. “As far as what federal agents might do, we have no control over that.” At a press conference Tuesday, Johnson said, “We’ve gotten word that roughly 3,000 runners from Mexico have signed up for this marathon, and I want all of them to come. I want them all to come. I believe the best way in which we can demonstrate resistance is not bending to tyranny.”
There was no plan, as of Tuesday, to alter any aspect of the marathon, the marathon spokeswoman said.
Here’s what else you need to know.
The race
Wheelchair and handcycle races are the first off beginning at 7:20 a.m. Minutes later, the world’s best runners — chasing world records previously set on Chicago’s flat course — will kick off at 7:30 a.m. and finish in little over 2 hours. Additional waves of runners will be sent off beginning at 8 and 8:35 a.m. The average time for a non-elite runner is about 4 hours and 20 minutes. The course closes at 4 p.m.
Street closures
Most streets along the marathon will close to traffic at 6 a.m. Sunday, with many streets remaining closed to traffic until 4 p.m. Race organizers suggest using expressways, including DuSable Lakeshore Drive, to traverse the area and avoid street closures. “No parking” zones will be enforced beginning at 1 a.m. on Sunday. Vehicles will be ticketed and towed to the nearest auto pound; check the marathon website for more details. Expect bus reroutes from 6 a.m. through 4 p.m. on routes that normally pass through the race area. Race officials suggest using Chicago Transit Authority trains as an easy way to navigate downtown and surrounding areas on race day.
The course
The 26.2 mile course takes runners through 29 neighborhoods. It starts and ends in Grant Park on Columbus Drive and loops north to Lake View, west to Damen Avenue and south to 35th Street before returning to Grant Park for the finish. As exhausted runners enter the 26th mile — within earshot of cheers coming from the finish line — the cement will slowly and cruelly rise underfoot. Say hello to “Mount Roosevelt.” The 700-foot stretch along Roosevelt between Columbus and Michigan rises 23 feet and can be a challenging and unexpected obstacle for lovers of level land.
Tracking a runner
Spectators can plan where to see particular runners by tracking them on the free Bank of America Chicago Marathon app. It allows for the tracking of multiple runners, professional athlete profiles, live broadcast streaming, real-time weather and an interactive course map. It also allows fans to submit a digital cheer that might be selected to be displayed along the marathon course as your runner passes by.
Watch from home
NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago and TeleXitos will provide television coverage of elite racers from 7 to 11 a.m. Kenyan runner John Korir, who won last year’s race with a time of 2:02:44, will be competing again. On the women’s side, Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich, who set a women’s world record last year in Chicago with a time of 2:09:56, is sidelined this year because of a provisional suspension due to a positive doping test in July. In her absence, a top favorite is Megertu Alemu, of Ethiopia, who finished third in Chicago in 2023. American contenders on the men’s side include Conner Mantz, of Utah, and Galen Rupp, of Oregon. On the women’s side watch for Lindsay Flanagan, who grew up in the Chicago area, and Dakotah Popehn, of Minnesota.
NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago will also provide wider streaming coverage on their websites, apps, and on the stations’ Roku and Apple TV channels, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.