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[ Wire ] · Dispatch · Sep 27

Chicago Marathon 2027 Qualifying Times and Proof Rules

Official time qualification standards and entry rules for the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon are now confirmed. Runners who meet the designated age-group times can apply for guaranteed entry to the October 10, 2027 race, subject to verification and payment, without entering the public drawing.

For the 49th running of the marathon, the application window for both guaranteed and non-guaranteed entries opens on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 8 a.m. U.S. Central Time and closes on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 2 p.m. U.S. Central Time.

Official 2027 Chicago Marathon qualifying standards

To qualify for a guaranteed time-qualifier entry, you must meet the standard designated for your age on race day: October 10, 2027. Your qualifying time must be run on a certified course within the designated window of January 1, 2025, through October 29, 2026.

Here are the official age-group standards for the 2027 race:

| Age Category | Men's Standard | Women's Standard | Non-binary Standard | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 16-34 | 2:50:00 | 3:20:00 | 3:20:00 | | 35-39 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 | 3:25:00 | | 40-44 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:30:00 | | 45-49 | 3:10:00 | 3:40:00 | 3:40:00 | | 50-54 | 3:15:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:50:00 | | 55-59 | 3:25:00 | 3:55:00 | 3:55:00 | | 60-64 | 3:40:00 | 4:15:00 | 4:15:00 | | 65-69 | 3:55:00 | 4:30:00 | 4:30:00 | | 70-74 | 4:15:00 | 4:45:00 | 4:45:00 | | 75-79 | 4:30:00 | 5:00:00 | 5:00:00 | | 80 & over | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 | 5:20:00 |

Course certification and proof rules

Meeting the standard is only the first step. During the application, submit an official finisher certificate or an official results page showing a time within the standard for the division in which you apply. Chicago's rules also require:

* Certified course: The qualifying time must be run on a course certified by USA Track & Field (USATF), World Athletics, or a similar governing association. * Marathon distance: A half marathon, 50K, or other distance cannot be substituted for a full marathon result. * Qualifying window: The result must be from January 1, 2025, through October 29, 2026. Chicago makes no exceptions for an earlier race or a near miss.

Approval and payment

Chicago reviews guaranteed-entry applications before confirming them, a process that can take up to 10 business days. If approved, you must pay the entry fee by November 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Central Time to complete registration. Otherwise, you lose the place.

The non-charity entry fee is $250 for U.S. residents and $260 for non-U.S. residents, plus a processing fee. International runners can apply for time-qualifier entry under the same standards.

Track upcoming deadlines or set free opening and closing alerts on the Chicago Marathon page. Check a recent marathon finish against the standards with the qualification checker.

Sources: Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Apply

Sources Bank of America Chicago Marathon