CHICAGO – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has been awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque by World Athletics. The award was announced today, the anniversary of the inaugural race on Sunday, September 25, 1977. The plaque is awarded for “an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport”.
Executive Race Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Carey Pinkowski commented: “It is an honor to receive such a prestigious recognition from World Athletics. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon started as an idea and has grown into one of the greatest road races in the world.”
“Since its founding, the Chicago Marathon has been about the participants who commit to running 26.2 miles through the heart of Chicago and the community members and city agencies that come together to transform our city into a world-class racing environment. This recognition is a testament to their contributions.”
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented: “The Chicago Marathon has an illustrious world record history poignantly highlighted in February this year by the tragic death of Kelvin Kiptum. The young, prodigiously talented Kenyan had set the current men’s world record in the city last October coming just 35 seconds short of the two-hour mark.”
“A member of the World Marathon Mayors and a Platinum level World Athletics Label Race, Chicago is a jewel in the international marathon calendar, boasting the newly crowned Olympic champion Sifan Hassan as it’s women’s course recordholder.”
“Coupled with a marathon history in the city dating back to 1905, the Chicago Marathon thoroughly deserves the heritage plaque which recognizes an outstanding contribution to the history and development of road running.”
In 1976, a small band of running enthusiasts met at the Metropolitan YMCA on LaSalle Street to discuss and plan a marathon in Chicago. This founding group realized its vision on September 25, 1977, when it hosted 4,200 local participants in the first Chicago Marathon.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has since expanded to more than 50,000 runners and an estimated 1.7 million on-course spectators. The flat and fast course begins and ends in historic Grant Park, sweeping through 29 diverse and colorful neighborhoods including Lakeview, Greektown, Little Italy, Pilsen, Chinatown and Bronzeville. The loop course and abundance of public transportation options enable friends and family to cheer their runners on at many locations along the course.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has a long history of hosting the world’s fastest runners and has been the site of three men’s world records (Steve Jones, 2:08:05, 1984; Khalid Khannouchi, 2:05:42, 1999 and Kelvin Kiptum, 2:00:35, 2023) and three women’s world records (Catherine Ndereba, 2:18:47, 2001; Paula Radcliffe, 2:17:18, 2002 and Brigid Kosgei, 2:14:04, 2019).
Since 2002, Bank of America Chicago Marathon participants have raised more than $322 million through the Charity Program. The Charity Program has grown from 14 charities with 1,674 runners in 2002 to over 200 charities with more than 16,000 runners in 2024. In 2023, charity runners raised a record $30.4 million to fund causes ranging from healthier school initiatives, medical research and animal assistance to foreign aid/humanitarian efforts and assisting families of those in the armed forces.
The 46th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 13, 2024.
For the latest event updates, registered participants and community members are encouraged to visit the Event FAQ which is available at chicagomarathon.com.
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomes thousands of participants from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class professional field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut marathoners and charity participants. The race’s iconic course takes participants through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. The 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant Park on Sunday, October 13, 2024. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 10, Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to chicagomarathon.com.
