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Chicago Marathon

Sunday, October 11, 2026 · Chicago, USA

Updated May 2026

Exceptionally flat through 29 neighborhoods. Tied with Berlin as the marathon course with the most world records in the modern era. Two recent world records: Kelvin Kiptum's 2:00:35 (2023) and Ruth Chepngetich's 2:09:56 (2024).

Kenyan Running Difficulty Index2.6 / 10How the course actually runs

Kenyan Running Elite Field Index9.0 / 10How deep the field around you is

The score breakdown

The Kenyan Running Difficulty Index combines four weighted factors. The heaviest weight (35%) is on Tactical Brutality. That is what a Kenyan coach watches first: where the field actually blows up.

Topographic Stress (30% weight)2.4 / 30

Atmospheric Stress (20% weight)7.0 / 20

Course Friction (15% weight)3.5 / 15

Tactical Brutality (35% weight)10.0 / 35

Lowest topographic stress among WMMs alongside Berlin.

Score confidence: preliminary. Computed from public course, weather, and prize data; calibration against 5K split data and coach review is in progress.

Course profile

Elevation gain: 74m / 242ft
Elevation loss: 73m / 240ft
Highest point: 186m
Surface: paved smooth
Late-stage climbs (after mile 18): Roosevelt Road bridge — the sole incline of note, a short rise approximately 500 meters before the finish on Michigan Avenue.
Profile notes: No concentrated zones of elevation gain anywhere on the course. Optimized for unbroken cadence.

Race day

Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026
Field size: 54,351
Entry: Guaranteed entry via age/gender time standards; general lottery for others.

Weather (historical)

Median temp: 13.5°C
Temp range: 7°C to 18°C
Humidity: 68% at start
Wind: Variable due to Lake Michigan proximity; 2023 record edition had ~7mph W/NW wind providing drafting advantage.

Prize money

Total purse: $913,000+ (2025)
Winner: $100K
2nd / 3rd: $75K / $50K
Course record bonus: $50K

Course records

Men's record2:00:35Kelvin Kiptum (KEN), 2023

Women's record2:09:56Ruth Chepngetich (KEN), 2024

Recent winners

Top East African winners (Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda) across the last 10 verified editions: 8 men, 9 women.

Year	Men's winner	Time	Women's winner	Time
2025	Jacob Kiplimo (UGA)	2:02:23	Hawi Feysa (ETH)	2:14:56
2024	John Korir (KEN)	2:02:43	Ruth Chepngetich (KEN)	2:09:56WR
2023	Kelvin Kiptum (KEN)	2:00:35WR	Sifan Hassan (NED)	2:13:44
2022	Benson Kipruto (KEN)	2:04:24	Ruth Chepngetich (KEN)	2:14:18
2021	Seifu Tura (ETH)	2:06:12	Ruth Chepngetich (KEN)	2:22:31
2019	Lawrence Cherono (KEN)	2:05:45	Brigid Kosgei (KEN)	2:14:04WR
2018	Mo Farah (GBR)	2:05:11	Brigid Kosgei (KEN)	2:18:35
2017	Galen Rupp (USA)	2:09:20	Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)	2:18:31
2016	Abel Kirui (KEN)	2:11:23	Florence Kiplagat (KEN)	2:21:32
2015	Dickson Chumba (KEN)	2:09:25	Florence Kiplagat (KEN)	2:23:33

Other races worth a look

Marathons with related profiles, fields, or training windows.

Berlin Marathon

Berlin, Germany

Difficulty1.0Elite Field9.5

Other flat-fast world-record venue

New York City Marathon

New York, USA

Difficulty9.2Elite Field9.0

Other US-based WMM

Training for Chicago Marathon?

A static plan is a starting point. What changes when a Kenyan coach reads your week-by-week training is the part a generic plan can't do. Take the free 5-question quiz to get matched.

Take the free coach-match quiz See Chicago marathon coaching

Sources

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