Race day kicks off with a one-loop half marathon course through Chicago’s historic and scenic museum campus alongside Soldier Field with a finish at Maggie Daley Park.
Course Map
The Chicago Spring Half Marathon & 10K will start and finish along Columbus Drive, adjacent to our new race venue, Maggie Daley Park. The course will utilize a combination of closed street* and Lakefront Path giving way to sweeping views of Chicago’s famed skyline and Lake Michigan.
*Course pending final approval by the City of Chicago and Chicago Department of Transportation.
Start Corrals
The start line for the Chicago Spring Half Marathon is located along Columbus Drive. The start line is approximately one-third of a mile from the Gear Check area within Maggie Daley Park. Please allow extra time to check gear and walk to the start line.
To lessen course congestion and to provide each participant with a quality experience, the Chicago Spring Half Marathon will utilize a corral wave start. Participants must assemble in their assigned corral (corral letter located on the race bib). Half Marathon corrals will begin to close, following the below schedule, promptly at 6:45 a.m.
Half Marathon Wave 1 (Corrals A – F) line up in your corresponding corral along Columbus Drive, north of Monroe Street. Wave 1 Corrals will close at 6:45 a.m. Those who are in wave 1 and not in their assigned corral by 6:45 a.m. will be directed to wave 2 corrals and must start with wave 2.
Half Marathon Wave 2 (Corrals G – I) line up in your corresponding corral along Monroe Street, east of Columbus Drive. Wave 2 Corrals will close at 7:05 a.m. Half Marathon runners not in their corrals when half marathon corrals close will not be allowed to start the half marathon and will be moved to the 10K race.
10K (Corrals J – L) will line up along Columbus Drive after the Half Marathon has cleared the start line and race staff open 10K corrals at 7:25 a.m. 10K corrals will close promptly at 7:40 a.m. 10K runners not in their corral when corrals close will not be allowed to start the race.
The timing chip (located on the back of the bib) will record the official race time. The participant’s time does not start until they cross the start line and stops when they cross the finish line. Corral A will start at 7:00 a.m. with subsequent corrals being released in waves. Participants will follow the corral volunteers to the start line as the corrals are released.
Please Note: Participants may move back a corral, however you may not move ahead a corral*. Participants displaying unsportsmanlike conduct will be disqualified and possibly banned from future Life Time events.
*Need to change your corral? Corral changes are to be made in person during packet pick- up hours at the Solutions desk, pending space availability only. Please make sure to have proof of a time faster than the one submitted during your registration.
CORRAL ASSIGNMENTS
Elite/Wheelchair: Corral A
13.1: Corrals B – I
10K (Self seeded): Corral J
For safety reasons this course is not open to strollers of any style. Anyone with special needs is encouraged to reach out to athlete services at info@chicagospringhalf.com prior to race day to make proper arrangements based on your individual needs.
TIME LIMIT
For your safety and the timely reopening of the streets to vehicular traffic, all participants must cross the finish line by no later than 11:30 a.m.
On-Course Information
Aid stations
Participants’ safety and experience is Life Time’s number one goal. In order to ensure all participants stay hydrated, there will be 10 fluid stations featuring Gatorade Endurance and water, on course as well as the Start and Finish lines. Each station will also have portable restrooms, medical personnel and dozens of enthusiastic volunteers!
Gatorade Endurance is proud to be the Official Sports Drink and Energy Gel of the Chicago Spring Half Marathon, hydrating athletes on race day. Gatorade Endurance is a portfolio of products created specifically for endurance athletes who are training and racing for prolonged periods of time when fluid and electrolyte losses can be significant. Grounded in years of hydration and sports nutrition research conducted by world renowned experts and the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI), Gatorade Endurance products help deliver critical fluids and nutrients endurance athletes need during training or racing. Consuming 12 oz. of Endurance Formula contains 22 g of carbohydrate and the Endurance Gels contain 20 g. Gatorade Endurance Formula (Lemon-Lime) is served on-course at all Aid Stations and and Energy Gel at Aid Station G (Approx. Mile 8). Learn more about the Gatorade Endurance Line of products at www.GatoradeEndurance.com
Medical support
Medical personnel, first aid supplies and AED equipment will be available at all nine medical tents on course and at the main medical tent in the Finish area. Medical tents on course will be easy to identify by their red canopies and are conveniently located next to an aid station. Race guards (First-aid certified volunteers) will be participating in the race and can be identified by the red bib labeled MEDICAL affixed to the backs of their shirts. Participants are encouraged to utilize race guards as they are available and trained for general first aid needs.
Mobile medical (EMS and BLS) units will also be stationed throughout the course to effectively respond to emergency medical situations. In the event of a medical emergency where you do not have access to a medical tent, course/volunteer personnel or a race guard, call the Medical Emergency Hotline at 888-543-3133 (number is located on the back of the bib).
Portable toilets
A large number of portable toilets will be positioned in the park and at least two at every aid station on course.
Timing Clocks
There will be timing clocks at the start line, at every mile marker and at the finish line. Please note that these time clocks will display Gun Time (the time elapsed since the initial start of the race.)
Course Safety
Participants should keep right while running on the course. Due to the popularity of the Lakefront Trail, the course is open to the public and participants should expect general public traffic during the race. For your safety and the safety of others, please be courteous and yield at all intersections.