The Complete Chicago Marathon Packing List (2026)

The Chicago Marathon is coming up, and we wanted to put together everything we could think of so you can double check your packing list before you land in the Loop.

We threw everything we could think of on here, for pre-race, during race, and post race. Do you need it all? Probably not. Will it hopefully jog your memory to include something you forgot? That's our hope! We also throw in some of our go-to recommendations, but remember, nothing new on race day. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

Your Race

• ☐ Bib - You'll need your bib to get into your corral, and your results won't count without it. Pick it up in person at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place, typically open Thursday through Saturday before race day. Bring a photo ID and whatever confirmation email the organizers send you. No mail-in or friend pickup, it has to be you.
• ☐ Racing Shoes - Seems obvious, but that's what makes them so easy to forget. If you're flying in, pack your racing shoes in your carry-on or wear them. Chicago is flat and fast with no cobblestones or tricky surfaces, so whatever you've trained and raced in before is the right call.
• ☐ Running Shirt - Singlet, tshirt, whatever you prefer. Make sure it's something you've run in before and is comfortable.
• ☐ Sports Bra - Simply put, if this is something you wear, don't forget it! The Senita Athletics Back Pocket Sports Bra is highly recommended.
• ☐ Running Shorts / Tights - Same as the above, make sure they're comfortable and you've run in them before.
• ☐ Running Underwear - If you wear something under your shorts (instead of a built-in liner), don't forget to bring yourself a clean pair to start with. Runderwear makes running specific underwear to prevent chafing and for maximum comfort.
• ☐ Running Socks - We all have a weird preferred pair of socks that we race in. Everything from a basic PUMA sock to Balegas, with Feetures worth a look too.
• ☐ Running Watch - Almost as important as the shoes on your feet, don't forget your watch! The Garmin Forerunner 965 is a great option with an AMOLED screen and long battery life. Set it to manual lap before race week, not just on race morning. Chicago has the worst GPS blackout of any Abbott World Marathon Major: the skyscrapers downtown block satellite signals for the first 2-3 miles, and your pace data will be junk until you're clear of the Loop. Hit the lap button yourself at the mile 1 marker and run off that hand-timed split until GPS comes back around mile 3-4. And don't forget your charger!
• ☐ Watch Charger - In fact, this deserves its own bullet point. Don't forget your watch charger! If you've got the 965 above, they make a cute little one on a stand.
• ☐ Know the Blue Line - Chicago paints a blue line on the road marking the shortest certified route, and it matters more here than at most majors. The streets downtown and through the neighborhoods are extremely wide, often 4 to 6 lanes, so drifting off the tangents and running the natural middle-of-the-road path can add 0.3 to 0.4 miles over the full marathon. Not something to pack, but worth knowing before you're weaving through the crowd at the gun.
• ☐ Hat / Visor - If you wear one, of course! Our recommended hat is the Ciele Athletics GOCap SC.
• ☐ Sunglasses - Rain or shine, sunglasses protect your eyes from wind too, and Chicago's downtown wind tunnels give you plenty of both. Goodr sunglasses are a reliable, inexpensive pick.
• ☐ Anti-Chafe - Better safe than sorry. We've had good success with Squirrel's Nut Butter Anti Chafe Salve.
• ☐ Handheld Bottle - If you've been training with a handheld and want your own hydration on course. The Nathan SpeedDraw Plus is a solid everyday choice, and their commonly sold out soft flask is worth grabbing if you can find it in stock.
• ☐ Nutrition - Something new on race day could really screw you up here. Bring what you've trained with, and don't try anything new even if it's offered on course. Think about what you need mile by mile and pack a few extra in case of a gel disaster in your bag. Our marathon fueling guide covers gel timing and rate if you're still dialing in your plan.
• ☐ Headphones - Try running Chicago without headphones at least once. Boystown, Pilsen, and Chinatown alone are worth hearing at full volume, mariachi bands, DJs, and roaring crowds included. If you'd still rather have music, open ear Shokz headphones let you hear the crowd anyway.
• ☐ Arm Band - If you've been holding your phone in an arm band while you run, this is a race where you'll want it with you before and after. The TRIBE Cell Phone Armband works well for race day and most training runs.
• ☐ Flip Belt - Armband not your style? Our recommended Flip Belt can hold your phone and nutrition.
• ☐ Heart Rate Strap - If you're tracking your heart rate with a separate monitor and want to use it on race day, don't forget to bring it. Our top HR monitor is the Polar H10.
• ☐ Safety Pins - They'll have these at the expo, but it's worth bringing your own just in case you lose them.
• ☐ Bib Holder - If you don't like the safety pins and have your own method of attaching your bib, bring it along. Just don't try one for the first time on race day.
• ☐ Sunscreen - October sun sits at a low angle and large stretches of the course have no shade. Sun Bum is vegan and reef friendly.
• ☐ Chapstick - Protect your lips from the sun and wind. Chapstick with SPF is a good idea.
• ☐ KT Tape / Medical Tape - Pick this up at most drugstores near the expo, but if you have a specific brand you like, bring it along. KT Tape is a popular choice.
• ☐ Bobby Pins / Hair Ties - These are so easy to forget! Bobby Pins and Hair Ties are a must if you have long hair.
• ☐ Use the Gear Check (Grant Park) - Don't skip this one. Chicago's gear check is genuinely generous, close to both the start and finish, and unlike Boston or NYC there's no restrictive bag policy. You can bring a full bag of post-race gear and warm clothes, so pack that dry change of clothes without second-guessing it.

Before The Race

Grant Park is where everyone waits before heading into their corral, and October mornings in Chicago can be anywhere from crisp to genuinely cold. Here's what to bring and know before you get there:

• ☐ Food & Drink - Bring your tried and tested pre-race fueling, breakfast included. Don't try anything new the morning of.
• ☐ Hat & Gloves - Keep your extremities warm with a donatable pair. Throwaway clothing left behind gets donated.
• ☐ Long Sleeve Hoodie - Warm, donatable, and has a hood in case it's breezy while you wait.
• ☐ Sweat Pants - A warm pair to keep your legs comfortable. Strip and donate them right before heading into the corrals.
• ☐ Clear Poncho - Cheap warmth and, if it rains, a layer to keep you dry while you wait.
• ☐ Clear Garbage Bags - Something to sit on, extra warmth, and a rain layer in a pinch.
• ☐ Mylar Space Blanket - Small enough to fit in a pocket and genuinely effective for a cold wait outdoors. Reuse one from a previous race if you've got it.
• ☐ Hand Warmers - If the forecast is on the cooler end, hand warmers in your gloves or shoes make a real difference during the wait.
• ☐ Sunscreen - Worth reapplying right before the start if it's a sunny morning, since you'll be out for a few more hours.
• ☐ Chapstick - Protect your lips from the sun and wind while you wait.
• ☐ Dude Wipes - Handy in case the porta-potties run out of toilet paper. Not just for dudes.
• ☐ Two Complete Gear Plans - This isn't optional in Chicago. October is one of the most volatile weather windows in major marathon racing. In 2007 it hit 88°F and organizers stopped the race mid-course, the only time a World Marathon Major has ever been halted for heat. In 2019 runners dealt with freezing rain in the 30s. 2018 was a near-perfect 45°F. Temperatures can swing 15-20°F between the 7:30 AM start and a late-morning finish. Lay out a warm-weather kit and a cold-weather kit the night before and make the call race morning based on what it actually feels like outside.
• ☐ Expect Downtown Canyon Wind - The first three miles run through the Loop's skyscraper corridor, and the finish stretch runs back through it too. Wind gusts in there can run 10-15 mph stronger than the open-air forecast suggests. The rest of the course runs inland through the neighborhoods, not along the lakefront, so the wind is much less of a factor once you're clear of downtown.
• ☐ A Sharpie - Write your meeting letter and your emergency contact's phone number on the back of your bib the night before. Cell service near the finish and inside Grant Park is unreliable on race day with that many people packed in.

A few things worth knowing before you're standing there:

• ☐ The finisher chute is nearly half a mile - After you cross, you'll walk through medal, mylar blanket, and food bag before reaching gear check pickup by bib number. It takes longer than you'd think, so tell whoever's meeting you not to panic if you're not out right away.
• ☐ Decide your post-race meeting plan now - The Family Reunion area is in Butler Field, organized alphabetically by last name with large A-Z signs. Agree on your letter and a backup time with anyone meeting you before race day. You will not be in a state to problem-solve this after 26.2 miles.

More Chicago Marathon Guides

• Chicago Marathon Weather History: what race day conditions have actually looked like over the years, including 2007 and 2019.
• Chicago Marathon Race Strategy: mile-by-mile course breakdown and pacing tips from Grant Park to Mt. Roosevelt.
• Race Day Gear Guide: dial in your full gear plan by temperature, rain, and chafing risk.
• Race Morning Guide: a full timeline for the hours before the gun, including caffeine timing.

Thanks for reading! We'll update this article if we have any new tips to share. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us via email contact@racecast.io or Instagram. Good luck!