Chicago Half Marathon: Course

Course Entertainment

The Course

Here is your chance to run on Lake Shore Drive! Our scenic 13.1 mile course will start and finish at the Museum of Science and Industry and showcase the south lakefront, the Jackson Park Golf Course and the Midway Plaisance on the University of Chicago campus.

Aid stations are located approximately every 1.5 miles. Water will be served at all aid stations and Gatorade Endurance Formula will be served at multiple stations.

In addition to being a scenic course designed just for you, our 13.1 mile route is extremely spectator friendly. Friends and family can see you at the start, as you head out to mile 3, as you wrap around the front of the museum near mile 4 and as you return from your lakefront run along Lake Shore Drive and pass by the east side of the museum near the 57th Street beach just south of the 10 mile mark.

We thank the City of Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the Museum of Science and Industry, Alderman Hairston and Alderman Preckwinkle and the residents of their wards who have been very generous in their support of this exciting route.

CLICK HERE to download course map.

EMERALD FINAL FIVE

From mile 8.1 and beyond, the sights and sounds of the Emerald Final Five, brought to you by Emerald Premium Snacks, will power your journey to the finish line. At each station, cheer squads and heart-pumping music will propel you towards your ultimate goal with that extra boost of energy your body and spirit needs! So if your sights are set on a PR or you just want your feet to cross the finish line, you can count on Emerald Premium Snacks and their nutricious source of natural energy to break through the wall!

SALONPAS Pain Relieving Spray available between Mile 9 and 10 and at Post Race Celebration!

SALONPAS is proud to be the Official External Pain Reliever of the 2007 Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon presented by Farmers Insurance. We will provide relief to any of your aching and cramping muscles between Mile 9 and 10 and at the Finish Line by utilizing the SALONPAS Pain Relieving Spray. Look for your free sample of the SALONPAS Pain Relieving Patch in your goodie bags! And be sure to also visit us at the Quality of Life Expo Booth 225 or visit www.salonpas-usa.com for more information about SALONPAS Pain Relieving Products.

We will have entertainment on the course and hope that friends and family will come out to cheer you along as you run out and back past the Museum of Science and Industry!

If you know anyone interested in performing along the route, have them email us their contact information to

Pace: On behalf of the Chicago Police Department and the residents of the community, we ask that you maintain a pace of 13 minutes per mile. This pace translates to a finishing time of 2:50:21. If you run at a pace slower than 13 minutes per mile, you may be asked to run on the adjacent sidewalk along the course. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Safety: Bicycles, in-line skates, baby strollers, roller skates and all other wheeled vehicles are not allowed on the course. Thank you for making race day safe and fun one for all!

Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon Pace Team

As a service to all runners we will be offering race day pace teams led by experienced pacers for a wide variety of pace times. We hope you will find this support useful as you strive to achieve your half marathon goals!

You’ve been training hard for months and now on race day you'll have an experienced leader to help you through your biggest 13.1 miles. The Pace Team is designed for athletes new and experienced. Whether this is your first long distance race or you've done several, the benefits of running with a Pace Team will help you have a more successful race day experience. From the start line through the finish line, you'll have someone to focus is on you, making sure that you're not going out too fast or running sporadically.

While the pace leaders will maintain an exact per-mile average pace, the first 1 or 2 miles may be a bit slower until the field thins a bit. Don't worry - these experienced leaders will do their job to keep you on pace!

Take advantage of the following half marathon finish paces: 1 hour 20 minutes (6:06 minutes per mile pace), 1:25 (6:29 minutes per mile), 1:30 (6:52 minutes per mile), 1:35 (7:15) , 1:40 (7:38), 1:45 (8:00), 1:50 (8:23), 2:00 (9:09), 2:10 (9:55), 2:20 (10:41), 2:30 (11:27), and 2:40 (12:12).

On race morning look for the pace group of your choice near the start area. The faster groups will be closer to the start line, moving back accordingly. Pace leaders will be carrying pace signs attached to a 3 foot stick that will be held up in the air to be seen above the crowd. The two-sided signs will display the finishing time of the pace group on the top (i.e. “1:20”), with the I-Run logo underneath. Pace leaders will be wearing the yellow singlets and black shorts. Pace group leaders are set to arrive at 7 a.m., thirty minutes before the start of the race. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to find your group!