One of the Windy City's most beloved annual events is coming back this weekend.
The 2025 Chicago Marathon will take over the city's streets on Sunday. As expected, the participant list is stacked with some of the world's greatest talents for the 47th edition of the race.
The men's field will feature defending champion John Korir, who also won this year's Boston Marathon and is shooting for a sub-2:02 finish in Chicago. Other notable competitors include Belgium's Olympic silver medalist Bashir Abdi and Kenyans Timothy Kiplagat and Amos Kipruto.
Ethiopians Megertu Alemu and Hawi Feysa headline the women's field. Defending champion and world-record holder Ruth Chepngetich will be notably absent from the competition because of a provisional suspension.
Here is everything you need to know about this year's race in Chicago, including TV and streaming options for the annual event.
How to watch the 2025 Chicago Marathon
- TV channel: NBC 5 Chicago
- Live stream: Fubo (local)
The 2025 Chicago Marathon will air locally on NBC 5 Chicago beginning at 7 a.m. local time (8 a.m. ET). Local viewers can also stream the entire race on Fubo, which carries NBC 5 Chicago.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Chicago Marathon 2025 start time
The Chicago Marathon will begin at 7:20 a.m. local time (8:20 a.m. ET) on Sunday, Oct. 12. The runners will begin in four different waves:
| Date | Event | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| Oct. 12 | Wheelchair (Men's) | 8:20 a.m. | NBC 5 Chicago, Fubo (local) |
| Wheelchair (Women's) | 8:21 a.m. | NBC 5 Chicago, Fubo (local) | |
| Handcycle | 8:23 a.m. | NBC 5 Chicago, Fubo (local) | |
| Wave 1 (corrals A-E) | 8:30 a.m. | NBC 5 Chicago, Fubo (local) | |
| Wave 2 (corrals F-J) | 9 a.m. | NBC 5 Chicago, Fubo (local) | |
| Wave 3 (corrals K-N) | 9:35 a.m. | NBC 5 Chicago, Fubo (local) |
Chicago Marathon prize money
The official payouts for the 2025 Chicago Marathon have not yet been revealed, but here's a look at last year's breakdown:
Open Division (Men/Women)
- 1st place: USD $100,000
- 2nd place: USD $75,000
- 3rd place: USD $50,000
Overall Wheelchair (Men/Women)
- 1st place: USD $25,000
- 2nd place: USD $18,000
- 3rd place: USD $12,000
The Chicago Marathon also offers a bonus of $50,000 to any runner who breaks the course record and a bonus of $15,000 to the first American runners to cross the finish line in each division.
Chicago Marathon race route
The Chicago Marathon begins in Grant Park, then passes through several of the city's historic neighborhoods.
Runners will cross over the Chicago River six times and go through Wrigleyville and The Loop before finishing back at Grant Park.
The Chicago Marathon is known for its flat and fast course.
Past Chicago Marathon winners
The course record is 2:00:35, a world and course record set by Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum in 2023. Below is a list of the five most recent winners for the men's and women's divisions.
Men
| Year | Runner (Country) | Time |
| 2024 | John Korir (Kenya) | 2:02:43 |
| 2023 | Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) | 2:00:35 |
| 2022 | Benson Kipruto (Kenya) | 2:04:24 |
| 2021 | Seifu Tura (Ethiopia) | 2:06:12 |
| 2020 | Canceled (COVID-19) | — |
| 2019 | Lawrence Cherono (Kenya) | 2:05:45 |
Women
| Year | Runner (Country) | Time |
| 2024 | Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:09:56 |
| 2023 | Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) | 2:13:44 |
| 2022 | Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:14:18 |
| 2021 | Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) | 2:22:31 |
| 2020 | Canceled (COVID-19) | — |
| 2019 | Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) | 2:14:04 |