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Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.7

Organization 4.3

Spectators 4.9

Number of comments: 949 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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C. J. from Austin, TX (10/13/2015) "Lives up to the hype!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chicago Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 21st marathon but my first time to run Chicago. I enjoyed everything about it; it was as good as advertised! You don't need me to convince you to run it, so I'm just going to offer a few observations about my experience: - Transportation to/from the airport was easy. I took the Blue Line train from O'Hare to within 3 blocks of my hotel. - I stayed near Michigan/Wacker, about a mile from the start line. I found it to be an easy walk on race morning. I had considered possibly taking the Red Line back to the hotel after the finish, but I ended up just walking back. - I took one of the free shuttles to the expo from the Hyatt, but I would not recommend it. I ended up taking the train back. There was a long wait to board the shuttle at the hotel, and an even longer line at McCormick Place for the return trip. I don't know; maybe it was because it was fairly late on Saturday. - Yeah, this is a really, really flat course. There were just a few inclines; I wouldn't really call them hills. Just be aware that one of these inclines is right at the end, as you take that last right turn into the park. - The weather was ok but not ideal; it was in the 50's at the start and in the 70's at the end. The last part of the race was in full sun and it seemed to take a toll on a lot of the runners. I've never passed that many people walking in the last few miles of a marathon. The last 7-8 miles were like a scene from The Walking Dead. - The medal is sorta weird; it depicts runners going by a sculpture in the park, but if you don't know the sculpture it looks like the runners are being eaten by The Blob or a land whale. - Loved the race shirt but be aware they run SMALL.
r. A. from pa (10/13/2015) "This one can't be topped!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chicago Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Chicago was 5 stars all the way! Cheering spectators lined the course the whole way! Water & Gatorade stations had cool water even when the temperatures got a little warm at the end of the race. The port-a-potty lines before the race were not bad even considering the amount of runners. I had plenty of running room around me the whole race. We met people from all the world. The only negative I have was in the signing up process. The automatic time qualifying entry is a flat time. 3:15 for men. 3:45 for women. No age factor. I believe most time qualifying marathons factor age into automatic entry. I did send an email to the marathon questioning this. They replied very nicely explaining they want the time qualifiers to fill their elite corral, and I didn't feel I was elite corral material so I appreciated that response.
G. F. from Houston, Tx (10/12/2015) "Fun but waaaaaay too big" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Chicago Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is the racing equivalent of the 100 foot sandwich. Unique, eye catching, entertaining but bordering absurd. It's 45,000 runners in front of 2,000,000 spectators. Organizers did a great job handling all the logistics. Packet pick up was akin to hitting the mall on Christmas Eve. Shuttle service to/from was welcome. Great spectators two and three deep seemingly the ENTIRE course. I don't know how you'd improve it but post race sucked. Waves of runners funneled into the far corner of Grant Park. Very difficult to find friends and family. Great race but it's too big.
L. H. from Chicago, USA (10/12/2015) "Great Race only one complaint" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 6+ Chicago Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 First the positive. The Chicago Marathon organization really knows how to take care of its runners. This year was on the warm side. By my count they had 20 aid stations, each 2 blocks long, two gu stations, two cold sponge stations, numerous sprinklers and numerous portapotties on the course. As a result I ran this race over 30 minutes faster than I had run Fox Valley just three weeks earlier under similar weather conditions. Each year I have run this race they seem to manage to fill in more and more of the 'dead' spots with more cheering spectators. One final example of the care they take, as I was leaving Grant Park to go home I noticed that they had stationed volunteers at the stairs leading out of Grant Park offering to help the runners down the stairs. Now for the criticism. Since the Boston bombings Chicago has required every single runner to attend the Expo, no exceptions. Friends can not pick up your packet no matter how much documentation you provide. Although I live in the Chicago area, I am often out-of-town on business the week before the marathon and this has meant I have had to leave meetings early in order to get my packet. To make matters worse attending the expo can be an ordeal. Through experience I have learned to go either early on Friday or very early on Saturday (and leave very early) or find some place other than McCormick place to park. Friends of mine, coming from out-of-town, had no choice but to go late Saturday afternoon. It took them one and a half hours to get out of the McCormick Place parking structure (this after driving most of the day to get here). If they insist on forcing everyone to attend this event they should at least make it easy to attend. McCormick Place is capable of handling conventions of hundreds of thousands of people. Why can't they efficiently manage the parking for this (relatively) small event?
H. K. from Sydney, Australia (11/23/2014) "Amazing!" (about: 2014) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Chicago Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Earlier this year I decided I would run my first marathon and I wanted to make it spectacular. I picked Chicago and I'm glad I did as I couldn't have imagined a better experience. Despite being terribly jet-lagged, everything was perfect (especially the weather). The course was a really good and interesting run (the tight curves and rough road that others have mentioned didn't bother me, in fact, I didn't even realise there were such tight curves until reading these reviews), the crowd was fantastic and so full of energy (I high-fived so many people along the way) and all the volunteers were so supportive and friendly. It was such a well-organised and incredible experience for me that I wish I lived closer so I could make it an annual event.
J. F. from Massachusetts (11/21/2014) "Outstanding Marathon Experience!" (about: 2014) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Chicago Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was attracted to this race because it was an easy course, very well run and had great crowds in a big city. It did not disappoint! The event was very well run, the volunteers were awesome, and the crowds were great. The only thing to be aware of is that the crowds are a little sparser late in the course. If you have friends watching, encourage them to cheer for you in the homestretch along Michigan Ave. But, in short, a great race and I'm really glad I ran Chicago
Robert Gottfried from Plano, Texas (11/18/2014) "Perfect Weather in Chicago!!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Chicago Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run the Chicago Marathon 4 times now. Everything about this Marathon is First Class. The course, the expo, the volunteers, the people of Chicago, and this year the weather was perfect!! I would highly recommend for someone running their First Marathon. You will not be disappointed!!
James Cavallo from Downers Grove, Illinois, USA (11/11/2014) "Enjoyed the Marathon; well-organized" (about: 2014) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Chicago Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run Chicago once before. Both times have been a blast. The spectators make it a kind of carnival with each neighborhood being different.
L. P. from Overland Park, KS (11/8/2014) "Did not disappoint!" (about: 2014) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Chicago Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I'd heard great things. After registering & getting injured in 2013 , I had to try again. I PR'd by 4 minutes despite cramps slowing me down the last 3 miles. Crowd support is AMAZING. You simply cannot walk with so many people watching. I was quite worried about feeling crowded as I have never run a mega race before. I was in corral D. I have felt much more crowded in 7,000 participant half marathons in my hometown. The crowds never slowed me down. My only cons. Too many turns. Gear check pickup. Trying to get out of Grant Park when you are just over it! ( I was still cramping.). These are all minor given this amazing experience. I will return!
G. P. from New Albany, OH (10/27/2014) "Outstanding race!" (about: 2014) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Chicago Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My first time running Chicago and I absoltely loved it. Great course, great support, and extremely well organized. I'll definitely return to run this race again in the future. Put this race on your to do list!

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