How much does it cost to run the Chicago Marathon 2024? Everything about the Qualification criteria, Distance and Course

The 2024 Chicago Marathon is one of the biggest marathon competitions that will take center stage this weekend, on Sunday, October 13. Regarded as one of the six World Marathon Majors (WMM), alongside the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, and New York marathons, the course is fast and flat, making it ideal for runners.

The Chicago Marathon kicks off at Grant Park, with the start line located at the intersection of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. The marathon will end at Columbus Drive south of Balbo Drive in Grant Park, where the finish line is located.

Chicago Marathon 2024 Registration

To participate in the 2024 Chicago Marathon, the entry fee was set at $240 for American runners and $250 for international participants. However, the registration window for the event closed on November 16, 2023.

The registration for the 2025 edition of the marathon will open on October 22, following the conclusion of this installment. For the 2025 edition of the marathon, the entry fees have been set at $245 and $255 for the U.S. participants and international runners respectively.

Qualification Criteria for the Chicago Marathon 2024

The following qualification criteria were established for the marathon across various age groups:

• 16 - 29 age group: 3:05:00 (men), 3:35:00 (women and non-binary)
• 30 - 39 age group: 3:10:00 (men), 3:40:00 (women and non-binary)
• 40 - 49 age group: 3:20:00 (men), 3:50:00 (women and non-binary)
• 50 - 59 age group: 3:35:00 (men), 4:20:00 (women and non-binary)
• 60 - 69 age group: 4:00:00 (men), 5:00:00 (women and non-binary)
• 70 - 79 age group: 4:30:00 (men), 5:55:00 (women and non-binary)
• 80 and over - 5:25:00 (men), 6:10:00 (women and non-binary)

Distance for the Chicago Marathon

Notably, the marathon has a course limit time of 6 hours and 30 minutes, between which the runners have to finish the 26.2-mile or 42.195 km distance.

Course for the Chicago Marathon 2024

Runners in action at the 2017 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. PHOTO: Getty Images

Here is the course route for the marathon -

• Grand Ave.: Columbus Dr. to State St.
• State St.: Grand Ave. to Jackson Blvd.
• Jackson Blvd.: State St. to LaSalle St.
• LaSalle St.: Jackson Blvd. to Stockton Dr.
• Stockton Dr.: LaSalle Dr. to Fullerton Dr.
• Fullerton Dr.: Stockton Dr. to Cannon Dr.
• Cannon Dr.: Fullerton Dr. to Sheridan Rd.
• Sheridan Rd.: Diversey Pkwy. to Belmont Ave.
• Inner Lakeshore Dr.: Belmont Ave. to Sheridan Rd.
• Sheridan Rd.: Inner Lakeshore Dr. to Broadway
• Broadway: Sheridan Rd. to Briar Pl.
• Broadway: Briar Pl. to Diversey Pkwy.
• Clark St.: Diversey Pkwy. to Fullerton Pkwy. p.m.
• Clark St.: Fullerton Pkwy. to Webster Ave.
• Webster Ave.: Clark St. to Sedgwick St.
• Sedgwick St.: Webster Ave. to North Ave.
• North Ave.: Sedgwick St. to Wells St.
• Wells St.: North Ave. to Walton St.
• Wells St.: Walton St. to Wacker Dr.
• Wacker Dr.: Wells St. to Adams St.
• Adams St.: Wacker Dr. to Damen Ave.
• Damen Ave.: Adams St. to Jackson Blvd.
• Jackson Blvd.: Damen Ave. to Halsted St.
• Halsted St.: Jackson Blvd. to Taylor St.
• Taylor St.: Halsted St. to Loomis St.
• Loomis St.: Taylor St. to 18th St.
• 18th St.: Loomis St. to Halsted St.
• Halsted St.: 18th St. to 21st St.
• 21st St: Halsted to Canalport Ave.
• Canalport Ave.: 21st St. to Cermak Rd.
• Cermak Rd.: Canalport Ave. to Wentworth Ave.
• Wentworth Ave.: Cermak Rd. to 26th St.
• 26th St.: Wentworth Ave. to Michigan Ave.
• Michigan Ave.: 26th St. to 35th St.
• 35th St.: Michigan Ave. to Indiana Ave.
• Indiana Ave.: 35th St. to 31st St.
• 31st St.: Indiana Ave. to Michigan Ave.
• Michigan Ave.: 31st St. to Roosevelt Rd.
• Roosevelt Rd.: Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr