2021 Chicago Marathon scheduled for Oct. 10
The Chicago Marathon is working on plans to return for 2021 after this year’s race was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns.
The 2021 race is scheduled to take place on Oct. 10 with a tiered entry process to ensure registered runners who deferred — as well as charity-fundraising runners — would be prioritized. Registration began Thursday, with a second application window planned in January for the general public.
An event spokesperson said the race will be similar in size to past Chicago Marathons, which usually welcome about 45,000 participants.
Marathon organizers are “working closely with the city of Chicago on raceweekend plans that align with Chicago’s public health and safety guidance,” according to the marathon website.
Participants had the option to defer their 2020 entries to a future race in 2021, 2022 or 2023 because of the cancellation.
If the 2021 Chicago Marathon is canceled, registered participants will receive the option for a par-
tial refund or can defer their entry to 2022 and receive a discount on the entry fee.
The entry cost for 2021 is $205 for United States residents and $230 for international participants.
The 2020 race was canceled for just the second time in history, which would have been the 43d year of the event. The only other time it was canceled was in 1987 because of sponsorship-funding issues.
In 2007, the marathon was called off midrace because of high temperatures and water stations running out of supplies as more than 300 runners were
taken from the course in ambulances.
Arecord 45,786 finishers from 50 states and more than 100 countries competed in 2019. Organizers estimate about 1.7 million spectators line the 26.2mile course that starts and ends near Grant Park and winds through the city, going as far north as Wrigley ville and as far south as Bridgeport.
The Chicago Marathon was one of six Abbott World Major Marathons to cancel in 2020, along with Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin and New York.
Many runners competed in virtual marathons instead this year.