If you are asking what time does the Chicago Marathon start, the first race begins early on Sunday, October 11. The men’s wheelchair marathon starts at 7:20am, followed by the women’s wheelchair marathon at 7:21am.
Wave 1 is set for 7:35am, Wave 2 starts at 8am, and Wave 3 begins at 8:35am. The marathon covers 26.2 miles through 29 neighborhoods, and more than 55,000 runners are expected on the course.
Street closures and course timing
Road closures along the Chicago Marathon route begin at 6am and remain in place until 4pm on Sunday, October 11. That means the event affects not just runners, but also traffic and travel across much of Chicago for most of the day.
For spectators, official cheer zones are located at miles 13.1, 15 and 26. Those spots are among the best places to catch runners as the race unfolds from the opening wheelchair starts to the finish.
If you are planning to be near the course, it is best to account for the full closure window and the staggered start times. The Chicago Marathon brings a long race day, and the earliest action begins before 7:30am ET.
