7-Oct-15 – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will once again take thousands of runners on a tour of Near North neighborhoods.

The 38th running of the marathon starts and finishes in Grant Park on Sunday. Runners will pass through 29 Chicago neighborhoods along a 26.2-mile-long course.

The course (left) goes north on Columbus Drive into Streeterville, turns west on Grand Avenue and into River North, then south on State Street, west on Jackson Boulevard, and north on LaSalle Street. It leaves the Near North Side, goes to Addison Street, comes back, gets onto Wells Street, goes south on Wells, west on Hubbard Street, south on Orleans Street and across the river, continuing south on Franklin Street. Then west on Adams Street and into the West Loop, winding south to 35th Street, then north on Michigan Avenue, east on Roosevelt Road, and finally north on Columbus Drive.

About 45,000 runners are expected. More than 71,000 applied but a lottery system was introduced last year after the marathon was overwhelmed with applications. Lucky runners were notified in April.

On Wednesday, city officials reminded the public of security measures affecting both participants and spectators. Uniformed and plainclothes police officers will be in the crowd. Anyone carrying a backpack or large bag will be subject to a search.

Last year, an estimated 1.7 million spectators watched 40,659 runners compete. They represented 100 countries and all 50 states. The marathon, say organizers, had an economic impact on the city of $253 million.

Start times…

• Wheelchair race – 7:20 a.m.
• Marathon Wave 1 – 7:30 a.m.
• Marathon Wave 2 – 8:00 a.m.