You've spent months training. Your legs feel like lead, your bank account is lighter from all those gels, and you’ve probably developed a very specific love-hate relationship with your foam roller. Now, the big question hits you as you're staring at your hotel booking: where does the chicago marathon start, exactly?
It's Grant Park.
But saying "Grant Park" is like saying the ocean is "water." It's technically true, but it doesn't really help you navigate the 300-acre urban sprawl on race morning. If you show up at the wrong corner of the park, you’re looking at a mile-long sprint just to get to your security checkpoint. Trust me, you don't want those to be your first miles of the day.
The Heart of the Loop: Breaking Down the Start Line
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a loop. It begins and ends in Grant Park, nestled between the towering skyscrapers of the Michigan Avenue skyline and the cool, blue expanse of Lake Michigan.
The actual, physical start line—the place where you’ll finally cross the timing mats—is located on Columbus Drive, right near the intersection with Monroe Street.
👉 See also: Slam Dunk Contest 2025 Date: When to Watch and What to Honestly Expect
It’s iconic.
To your right, you have the Art Institute of Chicago. To your left, the lake. Overhead, the skyscrapers act like a canyon, usually messing with your GPS watch before you even take your first step. This is one of those things veterans will warn you about; don’t panic when your Garmin says you’re running a 3-minute mile or a 15-minute mile in the first few blocks. The tall buildings confuse the satellites. Just run by feel until you hit the open air near LaSalle Street.
Getting there isn't just about walking to a line, though. The "start" is actually a massive security operation. You have to enter through specific gates based on your bib color and wave assignment. If you're in Wave 1, you’re likely entering near Congress Parkway and Michigan Avenue. Wave 2 and 3 might find themselves further south toward Roosevelt Road.
Basically, the city shuts down blocks and blocks of prime real estate just so 45,000+ people can shiver in some throwaway hoodies together.
Getting to Grant Park Without Losing Your Mind
Chicago is a public transit city. On race morning, the "L" trains are filled with the scent of BioFreeze and nervous energy. It’s actually kinda beautiful in a weird, sweaty way.
Most runners take the Red or Blue lines. If you're staying in the North Side, the Red Line to Jackson or Monroe is your best bet. From the West, the Blue Line to Clinton or Jackson works. Just follow the sea of plastic gear bags and Vaporflys. You can’t get lost.
If you try to take an Uber or Lyft? Honestly, don't.
Street closures start as early as 1:00 AM on race day. By 5:00 AM, the area around Grant Park is a fortress. Drivers will drop you off half a mile away anyway because they can’t get through the gridlock. Save the $30 and take the train. Plus, the walk from the train station to the gear check is a good way to wake up your glutes.
The Gear Check Dance
Once you're inside the "secure area," the scale of the event hits you. Grant Park is divided into color-coded zones: Red, Orange, and Blue.
- Red Zone: Usually the faster corals (Waves 1).
- Blue Zone: The middle of the pack (Wave 2).
- Orange Zone: The party in the back (Wave 3).
Each zone has its own gear check tents. You drop your bag—only the clear ones provided at the Expo, please, or security will have a meltdown—and then you head to the port-a-potties.
The bathroom lines at the Chicago Marathon start are legendary. Not "good" legendary. More like "I might miss my wave start" legendary. Pro tip: walk further into the park. Everyone crowds the first row of toilets they see. If you keep walking toward the lake or deeper into your coral area, the lines usually thin out. Usually.
💡 You might also like: Finding the Next Test Match Cricket Schedule Without Losing Your Mind
Why the Start Location Matters for Your Strategy
The Chicago start is flat. Extremely flat. Unlike New York, where you immediately grind up the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, or Boston, where you’re dodging potholes in rural Hopkinton, Chicago just... goes.
Because where the Chicago Marathon starts is at the bottom of a concrete canyon, the wind can be a factor right away. The "Windy City" nickname is actually about politics, but the lakefront gusts are very real. Depending on which way the wind is blowing off Lake Michigan, Columbus Drive can either feel like a vacuum or a wall.
You’ll head north first.
You cross the Chicago River almost immediately. Listen for the "thump-thump" of the metal grates on the bridges. It’s a rhythmic, mechanical sound that defines the first few miles of this race. They cover the grates with carpets so you don't trip or get your shoe caught, but you can still feel the vibration of thousands of runners crossing the water.
Common Misconceptions About the Start
People think they can just show up 20 minutes before their wave. You can't.
The security screening at Chicago is intense. Metal detectors, bag checks, and the sheer volume of humanity mean it can take 30 to 45 minutes just to get inside the park. If your wave starts at 7:30 AM, and you’re stepping off the "L" at 7:10 AM, you’re going to be starting with a different group of people.
Another mistake? Thinking you can meet your family at the start line.
Grant Park is locked down. Spectators aren't allowed in the runner-only zones. If you want your cheering squad to see you at the beginning, tell them to head to Grand Avenue or State Street. They’ll see you around Mile 1 or 2. Trying to find a "civilian" in the start village is like trying to find a specific grain of sand on North Avenue Beach. It’s not happening.
📖 Related: Lakers Trade News: Why the Front Office Is Chasing Wings (and Draft Picks) Right Now
The Weather Factor
The Chicago weather in October is a chaotic neutral. I've seen it 35 degrees and snowing at the start; I've seen it 80 degrees with 90% humidity.
Since you’re starting in a park, there isn't much cover. If it’s raining, you’re getting wet. If it’s windy, you’re getting cold. Most people bring "throwaway" clothes—old sweatshirts or bathrobes from Goodwill—that they ditch in the corals. The city collects these and donates them to local charities, so don't feel bad about tossing that hideous 1994 fleece. It’s going to a good cause, and it kept you warm during the two-hour wait for the starter pistol.
Navigating the Corals
When you finally get into your coral (the fenced-off pens where runners wait), stay toward the back if you're nervous, or push to the front if you’re chasing a PR.
The energy is electric. The announcers are screaming, the music is pumping, and the smell of Gatorade is everywhere. When the elite wheelchair athletes take off, the roar from the crowd nearby is deafening.
The waves are staggered.
Wave 1 starts around 7:30 AM.
Wave 2 around 8:00 AM.
Wave 3 around 8:35 AM.
These times shift slightly every year depending on the city’s permits, so always double-check your final mailing from the organizers. But the location—that beautiful, intimidating stretch of Columbus Drive—stays the same.
Actionable Steps for Race Morning
If you want to survive the start of the Chicago Marathon without a panic attack, follow this checklist.
- Pin your bib the night before. Do not be the person fumbling with safety pins in a dark park at 6:00 AM.
- Arrive 90 minutes early. Yes, it feels excessive. Yes, you’ll be standing around. But the peace of mind is worth it.
- Use the "hidden" bathrooms. Walk past the first three banks of port-a-potties. Go deep into the park toward the lake side.
- Identify your gate. Your runner info packet will list a specific Gate Number (e.g., Gate 3). Go to that one. Don’t just follow the crowd; they might be going to a gate that doesn't accept your bib color.
- Ignore your GPS for Mile 1. The start is under and around heavy infrastructure. Trust your manual lap button or just look at the clocks on the course.
- Discard strategically. Wait until the very last second to toss your warm clothes. The wind on Columbus Drive can sap your body heat fast while you're standing still.
The Chicago Marathon start is a sensory overload. It’s loud, it’s crowded, and it’s beautiful. By the time you cross that mat on Columbus Drive, the hard part—the waiting—is over. Now you just have 26.2 miles of the best city in the world to explore.
Check your official participant guide for the exact gate entrance assigned to your bib color, as these can change slightly to manage foot traffic flow. Once you know your gate, map out your walking route from the nearest "L" stop today so you aren't guessing on Sunday morning.