Chicago Half Marathon

The Chicago Half Marathon gives you the chance to run on traffic restricted Lake Shore Drive! This scenic 13.1-mile course starts in Historic Jackson Park, site of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, and winds through the beautiful Hyde Park neighborhood and University of Chicago campus. The course then takes runners along Chicago’s south Lake Shore Drive, taking in the views of Lake Michigan, Chicago skyline and the Science and Industry Museum campus before a triumphant finish at the golden Statue of the Republic.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Chicago Half Marathon course then takes runners along Chicago’s south Lake Shore Drive, taking in the views of Lake Michigan, Chicago skyline and the Science and Industry Museum campus before a triumphant finish at the golden Statue of the Republic.

Aid Stations
Aid Stations will provide water and isotonic drinks approximately every mile.

GEAR CHECK
Gear check is located in Jackson Park. Please use the bag and label provided in your packet.

SAG WAGON AND BACK OF THE PACK
The Back of the Pack Crew and SAG Wagon will signify the end of the field and the maximum 16-minute per mile pace. They will not start until the last person crosses the start line and will be with you throughout the race. If you cannot keep pace, the crew will help you as you board the SAG Wagon.

COURSE CLOSINGS
For your safety and the timely reopening of the streets to vehicular traffic, you must reach key locations by specified times or you will be required to take transportation provided. PLEASE DO NOT START EARLY! Traffic and safety rules prohibit early starts. Early starters will be eliminated from the official results. If you cannot maintain a 16-minute per mile pace, you will be required to board the support buses.

FAMILY REUNION AREA
Meet your friends and family in the Family Reunion Area located in the post-race party after the Chicago Half Marathon and Life Time 5K at Jackson Park. This area will be divided by letter of the alphabet and will feature live entertainment. Please make meeting plans prior to the start of the event.

PACE REQUIREMENT

The Chicago Half Marathon is the city’s only road race to utilize an entirely traffic-free Lake Shore Drive. Witnessing the sweeping views along one of the nation’s most famous and scenic roadways requires intricate coordination with the City of Chicago, the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). In order to lessen the community impact of closing Lake Shore Drive (and surrounding streets), this event offers a 16-minute mile pace requirement. The 16-minute mile pace goes into effect as soon as the last participant crosses the start line and is maintained by the Back of the Pack Crew – a group of volunteer runners who encourage runners to stay on-pace. The Back of the Pack Crew is followed by the SAG bus and a clean-up crew, who work to immediately reopen the course at specific time intervals.

Participants who do not maintain the 16-minute pace and fall behind the Back of the Pack Crew will have two options:
1. Board the SAG van and be transported to the finish line.
2. Move to the Lakefront Trail, which can be accessed at six different locations/checkpoints along Lake Shore Drive. The trail will be completely supported with aid stations including hydration options, restrooms, mobile medical staff and course marshals to guide participants.

The finish line will remain open for those on the Lakefront Trail until 11:30 a.m. Gear check and the finish festival will close at 12:00 p.m.

Beat the Clock
In order to meet the pace requirement, we offer the following mile locations, lake front path access points and times to help you “Beat the Clock”:
Mile 2.6 at Marquette & Lake Shore Drive (North Bound): 8:00 a.m. – Directed to 5K finish
Mile 3.6 at Hayes Dr. & Lake Shore Drive (North Bound): 8:20 a.m. – Directed to 5K finish
Mile 8.7 at 31st Street & Lake Shore Drive (North Bound): 9:30 a.m. – Diverted to Lake Front Path
Mile 9.7 at Oakwood & Lake Shore Drive (South Bound): 9:46 a.m. – Diverted to Lake Front Path
Mile 10.8 at 47th & Lake Shore Drive (South Bound): 10:04 a.m. – Diverted to Lake Front Path
Mile 11.6 at 53rd & Lake Shore Drive (South Bound): 10:16 a.m. – Diverted to Lake Front Path

SEEDING

To ease congestion at the start and improve the runner experience on the course, runners will be assigned to seeded start corrals before the race according to their expected finish time, with the fastest runners in front. Once a corral is assigned, it cannot be changed. Runners wishing to run together must go to the corral of the slower runner. Runners will have to provide proof of pace with previous results to info@chicagohalfmarathon.com. Additional details of qualifying requirements will be provided shortly.

Pace groups are available for the following finishing times: 1:30, 1:45, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30 and 2:45.

There will be a bus following the last participants of the race. Anyone who cannot finish can ride the bus to the post-race party. If you cannot maintain a 16-min/mile pace, you will be diverted from Lake Shore Drive to the Lakefront path, where there will be additional on-course support. The finish line will close at 11:30 a.m.

2017 Life Time 5K

The 2017 Life Time 5K will take place on Sunday, September 24, the same day as the Chicago Half Marathon, and actually uses the same start line and finish line as the Chicago Half Marathon. The race is a great opportunity for friends and families to participate before they cheer their loved ones competing in the Chicago Half Marathon on to the finish.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Life Time 5K will carry a 50-minute time limit for completion, or 16-minute mile pace. The course will take you through beautiful Jackson Park.

AID STATIONS
Aid stations will provide hydration options. All stations on the course are single sided and will have medical personnel and portable toilets located nearby.

FAMILY REUNION AREA
Meet your friends and family in the Family Reunion Area located in the post-race party after the Chicago Half Marathon and Life Time 5K at Jackson Park. This area will be divided by letter of the alphabet and will feature live entertainment. Please make meeting plans prior to the start of the event.