# 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. Page: https://www.createrunplan.com/chicago-marathon-training-plan. Race day: Sunday 10 October 2027 (Chicago, USA). ## 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. | Length | Start by | Suits | | --- | --- | --- | | 12 weeks | Monday 12 July 2027 | You run regularly now | | 16 weeks | Monday 14 June 2027 | A common length for a marathon | | 20 weeks | Monday 17 May 2027 | More 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](https://www.chicagomarathon.com/). ## Week 1 of a sample marathon plan For someone running about 4 h a week now. | Day | Run | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | Monday | Easy run | 30 min | | Tuesday | Hill repeats | 47 min | | Thursday | Easy run + strides | 40 min | | Saturday | Easy run | 35 min | | Sunday | Long run | 90 min | Total: 4 h 2 min. ## 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. | Week | Running time | Phase | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 4 h 2 min | Build | | 2 | 4 h 24 min | Build | | 3 | 4 h 48 min | Build | | 4 | 5 h 18 min | Build | | 5 | 5 h 18 min | Build | | 6 | 4 h 2 min | Easier | | 7 | 5 h 19 min | Race-specific | | 8 | 5 h 51 min | Race-specific | | 9 | 6 h 19 min | Race-specific | | 10 | 4 h 43 min | Easier | | 11 | 6 h 16 min | Race-specific | | 12 | 6 h 47 min | Race-specific | | 13 | 6 h 58 min | Race-specific | | 14 | 5 h 26 min | Taper | | 15 | 4 h 21 min | Taper | | 16 | 7 h 13 min | Race week | ## 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. ## Other race plans - [London Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/london-marathon-training-plan): 24–25 April 2027. - [Boston Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/boston-marathon-training-plan): 19 April 2027. - [Paris Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/paris-marathon-training-plan): April 2027. - [Berlin Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/berlin-marathon-training-plan): 26 September 2027. - [New York City Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/new-york-city-marathon-training-plan): 7 November 2027. ## Other plans - [Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/marathon-training-plan): 16 weeks. A marathon plan that builds your long run and weekly time from the runs you log, with marathon-pace weeks and a taper before race day. - [Sub-4 hour marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/sub-4-hour-marathon-training-plan): 16 weeks. Sub-4 means 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile). Your coach plans each week from your current fitness and what you log, with marathon-pace work and a taper. - [12-week half marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/12-week-half-marathon-training-plan): 12 weeks. Twelve weeks to a half marathon: your coach checks the date fits your running, then plans each week from what you log, with a taper at the end. [All plan guides](https://www.createrunplan.com/examples) ## 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. [Start your 14 free days](https://www.createrunplan.com/start?goal=marathon&days=4): 14 days free, no card, then $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year.