CHICAGO – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon, in partnership with city officials, today announced a few important changes to participant procedures.
Designed to enhance the safety of all participants, volunteers, spectators and staff members, the following updates were communicated to the 45,000 registered runners today. These modifications to previously existing policies will be strictly enforced at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo and on race day in Grant Park.
- Runners must pick up their own Participant Packets-which include their event-issued bib numbers, timing devices, event T-shirts and Participant Bags-at the Health & Fitness Expo (Oct. 11 – Oct. 12). The event will no longer allow individuals to pick up packets on behalf of others.
- Individuals entering Grant Park on race day will pass through one of four designated security and bag screening checkpoints located off of Michigan Avenue. Runners should affix their event-issued bib number to their attire in a visible manner to ease entry into the Park, and spectators are strongly discouraged from carrying bags into Grant Park to maintain an efficient flow of pedestrians.
- Runners will only be able to bring inside the perimeter of Grant Park on race day a clear, plastic event-issued Participant Bag. This bag is the only one that will be accepted at the designated Gear Check tents, and will help expedite the bag screening process.
- As in years past, general spectators will not have access to the race start and finish line areas within Grant Park on race day, as these areas will only be accessible to participants displaying their event-issued bib numbers, event staff with proper credentials, and ticketed guests (where applicable).
- The Marathon recommends spectators support runners from elsewhere on the course, and meet runners after the race at the designated Runner Reunite Area in Grant Park’s Butler Field, which will be open to spectators at 9 a.m.
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