Chicago Marathon

Chicago Marathon
Logo for the Chicago Marathon.
Date	October 8, 2017
Location	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Event type	Road
Distance	Marathon
Established	1977
Course records	M: 2:03:45 (2013 – Dennis Kimetto) F: 2:17:18 (2002 – Paula Radcliffe)
Official site	chicagomarathon.com

The Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo Marathons, it is one of the six World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race. The Chicago Marathon is the fourth-largest race by number of finishers worldwide.

The October 9, 2016 running was the 39th anniversary of the race. The first race was held on September 25, 1977 under the original name the Mayor Daley Marathon, which drew a field of 4,200 runners. The race has been held every year since, except in 1987 when only a half-marathon was run. It is among the fastest growing marathon road races in the world, due in part to its largely fast and flat course which facilitates the pursuit of personal records and world record performances. The race has achieved its elite status among marathons by developing relationship with sponsors who provide prize money to lure elite runners who have produced American and world record performances. Since 2008 the race has been sponsored by Bank of America, and is officially known as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

The race is limited to 45,000 runners and only runners who finish within 6½ hours are officially timed. Those wishing to participate can register after either meeting a time qualifying standard or being selected through a general lottery. Although the race has limited registration, exceptions include elite runners and charity representatives. Increasingly, local (e.g., Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital), national (e.g., American Cancer Society) and global (e.g., Global Business Assist, Team World Vision) charities and humanitarian organizations encourage sponsored participation in the event as a means of fund raising.

The first marathon at the 1896 Games of the I Olympiad generated interest in the sport which led to similar races throughout most western countries and across the United States. While marathons sporadically occurred in New York City and St. Louis, the Boston Marathon had established an annual marathon in 1897, soon to be followed by Chicago. Beginning in 1905, the Chicago Marathon (organized first by the Illinois Athletic Club 1905 to 1909, then sponsored by the Chicago Daily News after 1910) was held annually, with significant community and spectator support, until the early 1920s.