CHICAGO, IL – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon returns on Sunday, October 12, for the 47th running of one of the world’s most iconic road races.

Here’s a look at some of the top stories from this year’s field and information on how fans from around the world can follow along on race day.

2025 Top Stories

• Record-Setting Field Expected: The Bank of America Chicago Marathon continues to see unprecedented interest with more than 160,000 individuals applying for a chance to participate in the event’s 47th running on Sunday, October 12. Those who secured an entry into the race will join another record-breaking field with more than 53,000 participants expected to cross the finish line in Grant Park on race day.
• Event Generates Significant Economic Impact: The Bank of America Chicago Marathon continues to generate significant impact for the City of Chicago, with the 2024 race contributing a record-breaking $683 million to the city’s economy, according to an independent economic impact study conducted by Jones & Associates Economics. The race continues to grow year-over-year and drives economic success for the city, with a 22% increase in total economic impact over 2023.
• Stacked Professional Field: The world’s greatest marathoners, including three of the four reigning event champions, will line up to chase victory at this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon. In addition to the previously announced field, the following athletes will be competing in 2025: Alex Masai (KEN), Wesley Kiptoo (KEN), Aidan Troutner (USA), Nick Hauger (USA), Tyler Jermann (USA), Fredrick Juma (KEN) and Marta Galimany (ESP). Previously announced athletes Josh Cassidy (CAN), Irine Cheptai (KEN), Lindsay Flanagan (USA), Matt Richtman (USA) and Hideyuki Tanaka (JPN) have withdrawn from the 2025 event. View the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon professional field roster.
• Bank of America Chicago Distance Series: The third edition of the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series culminates at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Participants who completed the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K Run in March, the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 in June and the Chicago Marathon will receive a unique medal and a guaranteed entry into the 2026 Chicago Marathon. Local Distance Series participants and ambassadors Ariel Greenstein, Grezelro Gonzales, Shania Kranz, Henry D Norris and Nimbe Juarez, will be celebrating the achievement on race day along with more than 4,000 runners.

Notable Participants

• Bryan Arenales: Bryan is the winner of season seven of Love Island USA and included his love for running in his show introduction. Bryan is signed up to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, his first Abbott World Marathon Major, with the Mercy Home Heroes.
• Justin Britt: Justin is a retired NFL center who played for the Seattle Seahawks (2014-2019) and Houston Texans (2021-2022). After he retired, he started running to help overcome depression but soon realized how addictive and welcoming the run community is. This will be his first marathon.
• Otis Hudson: Otis is a retired NFL guard who played for the Cincinnati Bengals (2010-2013) and Kansas City Chiefs (2014). Following his retirement, Otis moved back to the Chicago area and discovered running as a way to stay healthy.
• Ben Lustbader and Sarah Mispagel: Chicago chefs and owners of popular Avondale bakery Loaf Lounge are running on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association. Loaf Lounge was made famous when their baked goods, most notably the chocolate cake, were featured in popular Chicago-based TV show, ‘The Bear.’ The Alzheimer’s Association is a special cause to the married couple as Sarah lost her mom to early-onset Alzheimer’s when she was 25. Her mom was always an avid runner, and Sarah feels the best way she can honor her is through running. This will be the first marathon they’ve run since opening Loaf Lounge three years ago.
• Rob Simmelkjaer: Rob has been the CEO of New York Road Runners and a board member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors since December 2022. He’s a native New Yorker who’s been running since high school. Chicago will be his fifth marathon and fourth AbbottWMM star, with London and Boston still to go. He’s being coached for Chicago by Peloton instructor and his co-host on the NYRR Set the Pace podcast Becs Gentry. He’s running to support NYRR’s Team for Kids.

Stories from the Field

More than 53,000 participants from around the world are preparing to take on 26.2 miles through the heart of downtown Chicago. Each individual is motivated by their own reason, running for themselves, their family members and their communities. These inspiring stories make each year’s race special, and this year will be no different. View some of the extraordinary stories from this year’s field.

Tune into the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Watch Live

NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago will provide complete live coverage of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in English and Spanish from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. (U.S. Central Time) on Sunday, October 12. Expert analysts Ed Eyestone, Carrie Tollefson and Amanda McGrory will join Marion Brooks and Stefan Holt on NBC 5 Chicago, with Juan Luis Barrios, Luis Posso and Saul Mendoza joining Raul Delgado and Héctor Lozano on Telemundo Chicago. Covering the leaders and reporting along the course will be top American marathoners Keira D’Amato and Clayton Young. A talented array of NBC and Telemundo reporters will join the broadcast at the start, finish and along the course.

The 47th running of the race, as well as four hours of finish-line coverage, will be streamed live nationally and in Mexico on Peacock and Roku from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (U.S. Central Time), as well as on nbcchicago.com and telemundochicago.com and the NBC Chicago and Telemundo Chicago apps.

International viewers can watch the race via a variety of global broadcast partners, including Eurosport, Eurosport India, SMG China, FloSports, ESPN Brazil and ESPN Latin America.

Listen Live

670 The Score Sports Radio will provide complete live radio coverage of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on race day from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. CST. Fans of the sport can listen to Chicago’s Josh Liss joined by analysts Josh Cox, Jenny Spangler, Treniere Moser and Chris Wehrman for a play-by-play of all the action. Listen from anywhere on Sunday, October 12 at 670thescore.com/listen.

For more information on this year’s race, visit chicagomarathon.com.

 

About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

In its 47th year on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome thousands of participants from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class professional athlete field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut marathoners and charity participants. The race’s iconic course takes participants through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. Annually, more than a million spectators line the streets cheering on tens of thousands of participants from the start line to the final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race’s national and international draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating over $683 million in annual economic impact to its host city. The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 12. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 9, Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to chicagomarathon.com.