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Chicago Marathon training plan

A Chicago Marathon plan for 10 October 2027: the flat loop through 29 neighbourhoods, when to start, and a coach that plans each week from your runs.

Race day: Sunday 10 October 2027 · Chicago, USA

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Week 1

5 runs4 h 2 min
  • Mon30 minEasy run
  • Tue47 minHill repeats
  • Thu40 minEasy run + strides
  • Sat35 minEasy run
  • Sun90 minLong run

Coach

This first week matches what you're running now, so your body can settle in.

For someone running about 4 h a week now.

The course

  • A flat loop from Grant Park

    The race starts and finishes in Grant Park, and the course is largely fast and flat.

  • 29 neighbourhoods

    The course passes through 29 neighbourhoods, with turning points near Wrigley Field, the United Center and Rate Field.

  • Downtown first

    The first three miles run through downtown before the route heads north along LaSalle Street. Tall buildings can disturb a watch's GPS, so don't trust its pace in those miles.

  • October weather swings

    Race-day weather changes a lot from year to year. In 2007 it reached 88°F (31°C) and the race was partly shut down.

When to start

Count back from race day. The 2027 race is the 49th running.

The Monday to start on, by plan length
LengthStart bySuits
12 weeksMonday 12 July 2027You run regularly now
16 weeksMonday 14 June 2027A common length for a marathon
20 weeksMonday 17 May 2027More room if you run little now

What matters for the Chicago Marathon

  • Train through the summer

    An October race puts most of the plan in the summer. Run early or late in the day, and let your coach know when the heat makes a week harder.

  • Run by effort downtown

    Between tall buildings a watch can show the wrong pace. Use effort and the mile markers for the first miles.

  • Have a plan for a hot day

    If race day is warm, slow down early. Pacing to the weather finishes better than pacing to the plan.

Getting a place

Places come from a lottery application, charity teams and time qualifiers, with applications opening in the autumn before the race. The organisers publish the dates.

The organisers' site

Every week to race day

A sample marathon plan, not one for this race: a runner’s weeks to race day if every week goes as planned. Yours is planned from your race, your days and what you run now.
  1. Week 1: 242 minutes, build
  2. Week 2: 264 minutes, build
  3. Week 3: 288 minutes, build
  4. Week 4: 318 minutes, build
  5. Week 5: 318 minutes, build
  6. Week 6: 242 minutes, easier
  7. Week 7: 319 minutes, race-specific
  8. Week 8: 351 minutes, race-specific
  9. Week 9: 379 minutes, race-specific
  10. Week 10: 283 minutes, easier
  11. Week 11: 376 minutes, race-specific
  12. Week 12: 407 minutes, race-specific
  13. Week 13: 418 minutes, race-specific
  14. Week 14: 326 minutes, taper
  15. Week 15: 261 minutes, taper
  16. Week 16: 433 minutes, race week
Running time each week to race day
  1. Week 6 This is an easier week, so your body can absorb the training.
  2. Week 7 A new 4-week cycle starts, focused on race-specific work at your race effort. Race-specific training: sessions at your race effort.
  3. Week 14 Taper: less running, same intensity, so you start the race fresh.

Questions before you start

When should I start training for the Chicago Marathon?

For a plan of at least 16 weeks, start by Monday 14 June 2027. 12 weeks (Monday 12 July 2027) suits a runner who already runs regularly, and 20 weeks (Monday 17 May 2027) gives more room if you run little now. A race in the autumn puts most of the plan in the summer, so run early or late in the day and carry water on long runs. When you set your race, your coach checks the date against your running and tells you if it comes too soon.

Is the Chicago Marathon flat?

Largely. It is a loop from Grant Park through 29 neighbourhoods that is fast and flat, which is why it suits a runner chasing a time.

How do I get into the Chicago Marathon?

Through a lottery application, charity teams or time qualifiers. The organisers open applications in the autumn before the race and publish the dates.

What if I miss a run?

Skip it with a reason, or just leave it. Missed runs are never made up: next week is planned from what you actually ran.

What happens after the 14 days?

Unless you subscribe, for $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year, your coach stops: no new weeks, logging, check-ins or reminders. You can still see your plan, past weeks and logged runs, and download or delete your data. We never asked for a card, so nothing is charged.

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Other plans

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See your first week in a few questions

Choose marathon, set the days you can run and what you run now. Your plan starts from there, and every week is planned from the one before.

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