​​Travel

• Location:

  • Start Line: Montrose Wilson Track (Wilson Drive and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago)​

  • Finish Line: Jackson Park Grove 19a/b (Hayes Drive and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago)

• Additional travel information (directions, parking, rideshare, bike/DIVVY) may be found in the Participant Guide​

 

Course

• No loops! The Ready to Run 20 Miler features a point-to-point course, starting at the Montrose Wilson Track on the north end of the Lakefront Trail and finishing on the south end of the Lakefront Trail at Jackson Park. Shuttle buses are available to bring runners back to start line parking, as well as a Grant Park downtown stop.

• Aid Stations: There will be on-course aid stations approximately every 2 miles. Each on-course aid station will offer both water and Gatorade Endurance. Each aid station will also have access to restrooms or portable toilet units nearby. Most aid stations will have full medical support on-site.

 

Finish Cut-Off

• Participants must finish within five (5) hours after the last on-time start (15-minute pace per mile).

• Aid stations and course marshals will support a 15 minute pace per mile at each location.

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Start Wave Assignments / Procedures

• Participants may self select their starting corral on event morning. Corrals are NOT assigned. Corral choice should be selected by expected run pace per mile.
  Signs with paces per mile will be displayed along the track from fastest first, to slowest last. Pace signs will include Under 7:00, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, Over 13:00. All paces will start in approx. 10 minutes.
  CARA training program group leaders will pace their training site groups within each corral. Participants not part of a CARA training group may join in with any training site group of their choice. Group leaders will have back bibs indicating their pace. Group leaders are offered from 7:30 to 13:00 paces only. 
  At the start time, the announcer will send off each pace (all runners for that pace) group. A short gap between each group will be provided to avoid congestion on the path and at initial aid stations.

 

Post-Run Shuttle

• Buses will transport runners between the finish line (Jackson Park) and the starting line (Montrose Beach-Wilson Parking Lot) after the run. Buses will go directly to the start line with no stops on the way.

• A limited number of additional buses will provide a route directly to a downtown stop in the Grant Park area.

• ​Buses from the finish to the start will depart approximately every 15 minutes beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

• Buses from the finish to downtown will depart approximately every 30 minutes beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

• Runner transport buses are for participants only. Friends and family will not be permitted to ride buses.

 

Gear Check

• Gear check will be available at the start line. Gear will be transported to the finish line for pick up. Runners will need their bib as identification to retrieve their checked gear.

• Please use any bag that is of standard backpack or duffle bag size. Please attach your gear check tag (from your bib) prior to checking your bag (zip ties will be provided).

• We are unable to provide a covered gear check. Please plan accordingly in case of inclement weather. If wet weather is forecast, we recommend using a waterproof bag for your gear check.