The Holiday Chi City Marathon will take place on Thursday, December 24, 2026, starting at 6:00am in Wheaton, IL, and ending around 10:00am at Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, IL.
Will weather or winter conditions impede the event?
While we may need to adjust the route or the pace for the run, we will be out there on the streets heading into Chicago, no matter what!
What do I need to bring for the run?
You don't need anything in order to join us. However, we suggest bringing a handheld water bottle if you get thirsty, gels/other forms of nutrition to keep you fueled, and your phone for after the run is over.
How much does it cost to participate in this event?
It is completely free to join us! However, we plan to design and sell shirts for distribution on the morning of the event. If this is something that interests you, then place an order for a shirt once we have released the design for 2026.
What do I need to do in order to participate?
Although it costs you nothing to join us on the run, we do ask that you complete the registration Google Form so that we can get a headcount of people planning to join us.
Can I bring other people to join along with me?
We would love any and all people to join us, bring as many people as you would like! If they are able, please ask them to also fill out the registration Google Form.
What pace is the group going to be running?
We aim to hold an average of 8:15 min/mile or 5:08 min/km, which would equate to a 3:36 final marathon time. Depending on the weather, conditions of the route, and overall vibe of the group, this is subject to change. However, our plan is to finish before 10:00am, including all breaks taken throughout the run.
At what point during the run can I join?
Join us whenever is most convenient for you! The Wheaton Train Station at the start is the ideal place to begin in order to complete the entire marathon distance, however there are many other logical start points along or close to other train stops throughout the course of the route.
Do I have to run with the group the entire time?
Absolutely not. We welcome people of that are in many points of their fitness journey, so we ask that you run as long as you feel comfortable and strong. We understand that a marathon is a marathon, so join us at whichever point makes sense for you. Know your limits, so if you need to slow down or take a break, please do so and then either catch back up with the group or continue alone.
We do ask that you do not push the pace of the group nor run ahead of the group, as we want to get through each of the checkpoints together, finally entering Grant Park as a unified group.
How do I get back to where I parked after finishing the run?
Fortunately for us, there are a handful of train stations along the route and within a few blocks of the route. This makes it easy to get back to your original start point once we finish in downtown Chicago, where you can either take the CTA L blue/green lines or the Metra UP-W line.
Additionally, we recommend that you coordinate someone picking you up somewhere in Grant Park near the end of the run, as many participants have done this too.
If those options aren't convenient for you, we recommend communicating with your friends/family in order to figure out exiting Buckingham Fountain. Have a plan before you begin the run.
Where can I find pictures and videos after the event?
You can find all of this under the 'Photos' tab of this site, which includes Google Photos albums from all of the years of the event, and it's where we will add this year's photos. We aim to upload all photos within 48-72 hours after the run.