What Time Does The Chicago Marathon Start
In short
The 2026 Chicago Marathon begins today, Sunday 11 October, with staggered start times for different groups. Wheelchair athletes and elite runners start first, followed by various participant waves throughout the morning.
In plain words
The race does not start for everyone at once. It begins with specialised athletes and then moves through several waves of regular runners to manage the large crowd.
A simple example
A wheelchair athlete might start at the very beginning of the morning, while a runner in the final wave will start much later.
Why it matters
Knowing your specific wave time is essential to ensure you are at the starting line when your group is called. Arriving at the wrong time can lead to missing the race or facing heavy security delays.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse the general race day with your personal wave start time provided in your runner registration.
Sources
- Chicago Marathon 2026: LIVE Updates on route, street closures, weather, Abbott expo
- What Time Does the Chicago Marathon 2026 Start? Full Schedule and How to Watch Live
- Chicago Marathon: Street closures, race route and everything you should know
- Chicago Marathon 2026: Route, start time and how to track runners