The modern race begins
The current Chicago Marathon traces its founding to 1977. Its results archive connects today’s field to decades of runners who have finished in the city.
Chicago Marathon results archiveChicago · October 11, 2026
Chicago’s marathon history
A few milestones place the 2026 race in context: the modern event’s founding, a canceled edition, and a record-setting morning.
Selected milestones
A year without the in-person race
The marathon was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. That year should not appear as a completed race in a historical comparison of starting temperatures or finish times.
ABC7 Chicago, July 2020Kiptum runs 2:00:35
Kelvin Kiptum won in 2:00:35, becoming the first runner under 2:01 on a record-eligible marathon course. Sifan Hassan won the women’s race in 2:13:44. The same city streets held two exceptional performances that morning.
World Athletics race reportA race through the city
The organizer describes the 2026 course as a tour of 29 Chicago neighborhoods. For a runner, those changes in streets, crowds and exposure give the distance a sequence of recognizable places.
Official 2026 participant information