General Info
Price: $35 was the early registration price (2022)
Date I ran it: 10/8/22
Participants: 7,316 (2022)
Weather: 40s and cloudy (2022)
Overall Opinion:
This is a 5K that is like a mini version of the Chicago Marathon. The packet pickup and expo is shared with the Chicago Marathon, the course goes along the same streets, and it starts in the same area. This race is on Saturday and the Chicago Marathon is on Sunday. In my opinion it is a perfect race for someone that just wants to take pictures and enjoy the scenery. If you are primarily focused on running a fast time, you are better off doing a race that isn’t in downtown Chicago because it’s way less hassle. If you are ok with the giant hassle of going to downtown Chicago twice, then it’s a great race with everything you need.
Pros
- Nice medal and hat.
- It’s cheap for a 5K in downtown Chicago.
- There are two water stops and a lot of porta potties at the start and on the course.
- It’s a great route with perfect photo opportunities. You go through the most scenic parts of downtown Chicago.
- It’s a good race for people that just want to jog slowly or walk. I walked/jogged it with my wife and she had a great time and loved the photos we took. There were a lot of walkers and a lot of kids.
- There is quite a bit of crowd support for a 5K.
- You go to the same expo as the Chicago Marathon. The expo is a good place to shop for running apparel, shoes, food, accessories, etc. There was no line for bib pickup.
- It’s a good race to run if you are going to the Chicago Marathon to root for someone else the next day (this 5K is the day before the Chicago Marathon). Packet pickup for this 5K and the Chicago Marathon are at the same place and the same time.
Cons
- I’m sorry if I’m repeating myself but races in downtown Chicago are a big hassle. It’s nice to go downtown but you’re going to have to pay for parking or take public transportation twice just to run 3.1 miles.
- Packet pickup at the McCormick Place is a crowded hassle. There isn’t much parking close and traffic is always bad around there. Unless you live downtown, it is going to take up a large chunk of your day.
- It didn’t start on time.
