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Ready to Run 20 Miler

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Date & Time

Sunday, September 21, 2025

6:30 a.m.

Description

A fully-supported 20-Mile run with a unique point-to-point course along Chicago's lakefront to help you in your marathon training! Give yourself the best marathon experience by also signing up for PUMA's Marathon VIP Experience.

Location

Start: Montrose Wilson Track

Lake Shore Dr. & Wilson Dr.

Chicago, IL 60640

20 Miler:

  • $55 ($49.50 - MEMBER) - May 2 through June 10 

  • $65 ($58.50 - MEMBER) - June 11 through July 22

  • $75 ($67.50 - MEMBER) - July 23 through August 26

  • $85 ($76.50 - MEMBER) - August 27 through September 19

 

Registration closes on September 19th at 10:00 p.m.

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MEMBER PRICING

  • Become a CARA Supporter Level Member to gain access to the Early Membership Price category and receive 10% off all other price tiers. Discount credited automatically with member login on the registration form.

Summer Marathon Training Program Participants:

  • Registration fee included in Group Training and Virtual Local Training options

  • Must register through the specific link below

  • Must register at least 48 hours prior to bib pick-up to allow time for registration approval. Deadline to register is 9/18 for final bib pick-up date.

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Group Leaders:

  • Must register through emailed invitation link at least 48 hours prior to bib pick-up to allow time for registration approval. Deadline to register is 9/18 for final bib pick-up date.​​​

REGISTRATION LINKS

General Registration:
Summer Marathon Training Participants:
Group Leaders: Register through emailed invitation link.
register

Event Details

​Event Day Schedule

  • 5:45 a.m. - Venue open

  • 6:20 a.m. - Deadline to report to start wave

  • 6:30 a.m. - Start​ waves begin

​​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.

Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering for Ready to Run 20 Miler, please contact Evan DeBock at evan@cararuns.org.

Volunteer
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  • GRIP Outreach for Youth
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  • Illinois Spina Bifida Association
    Illinois Spina Bifida Association works to improve the quality of life of children, adults, and families living with spina bifida. Spina bifida is the failure of the spine to close properly during pregnancy. ISBA works to: promote skills development and independence, improve family resilience and access to resources through outreach, education and advocacy, and provide targeted financial assistance. ISBA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 by a group of parents. We work in partnership with families, service providers, volunteers, and funders throughout the state. ISBA serves more than 900 families and has outreach collaborations with spina bifida clinics at local hospitals. Our programs include: social workers who can do home visits, Camp Independence run by the YMCA, GoBabyGo – electric cars for young kids to improve their mobility, conferences, resource referrals, support groups, play dates, adult groups, scholarships, equipment fund, and research awards. Contact: Linda Faust | info@i-sba.org Website: https://www.i-sba.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • JDRF
    JDRF funds research that transforms the lives of people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We want a cure, and we won’t stop until we find one. Along the way, we will continue to drive scientific progress that delivers new treatments and therapies that make day-to-day life with T1D easier, safer and healthier. JDRF works every day to change the reality of this disease for millions of people—and to prevent anyone else from ever knowing it—by funding research, advocating for government support of research and new therapies, ensuring new therapies come to market and connecting and engaging the T1D community. Contact: Libby Winter | LWinter@jdrf.org Website: https://www.jdrf.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon TCS NYC Marathon
  • Lakeview Pantry
    Lakeview Pantry is excited to join the Bank of America Chicago Marathon as a charity partner for the first time in 2022! If you are a marathon runner, please consider joining Team Lakeview Pantry and you will be a part of a diverse group of people dedicated to providing access to healthy groceries, social services, and free community mental health programs for Chicago families. Your fundraising efforts directly support our work to purchase enough food for our neighbors struggling with food insecurity. Our ultimate goal is a hunger-free Chicago. Contact: Aliya Prescott | aliya.prescott@lakeviewpantry.org Website: Team Lakeview Pantry - Chicago Marathon 2022 - Campaign
  • March of Dimes
    March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy, we support every pregnant person and every family. Contact: Sarah Cook | scook@marchofdimes.org Website: Home | March of Dimes | Healthy Moms. Strong Babies. Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
    Since 1887, Mercy Home has been a solution for kids in crisis. With your support, we can continue the legacy of bringing healing and opportunity to hurting kids for years to come. Our team provides a guaranteed entry, free training, fundraising support, Heroes gear and a pre-race pasta dinner. But the biggest perks come on race day. You will get a Hero's welcome from the children you're helping as you run past Mercy Home at Mile 17. And our Hero HQ provides you with real indoor bathrooms, gear check, food, postrace massages and more! We will even shuttle your cheer squad from HQ to Mercy Home and back via trolley. Contact: Mary Connolly | marcon@mercyhome.org Website: https://marathon.mercyhome.org/chicago2022?promo=CARA Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • The Morton Arboretum
    Team Morton Arboretum runners will achieve an incredible athletic al while championing trees here and around the world. Team Morton Arboretum is furthering the mission of The Morton Arboretum to plan and protect trees for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Team members fundraise to ensure threatened trees here, and around the globe, are conserved and protected. Contact: Natalie Knight | nknight@mortonarb.org Website: https://www.mortonarb.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos
    NPH USA transforms the lives of vulnerable children in Latin America and the Caribbean by supporting the homes, health services and educational programs of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”). Together, we help children overcome poverty and become leaders in their own communities. NPH is fully supporting nearly 3,300 boys and girls in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. An additional 2,800 community children receive scholarships, meals, health care and other support. More than 107,000 services were provided through community outreach programs in 2019. Contact: Stephanie Smithers | ssmithers@nphusa.org Website: https://nphusa.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • National MS Society
    When you join the Finish MS Chicago Marathon team, you are changing the world for people affected by MS. Symptoms of MS range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are leading to better understanding and moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million worldwide, and there is not yet a cure. Every dollar raised matters to those affected by MS. So, lace up your running shoes and support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society! Participate in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon AND Raise awareness and funds for programs and resources for people with MS. It’s easy, it’s fun and you’ll feel good from head to toe! Contact: Shannon Feeny | shannon.feeney@nmss.org Website: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • One Tail at a Time
    End pet homelessness by making pet ownership a joyful and accessible experience for all. We accomplish this by rescuing animals from overcrowded shelters, placing them in loving forever homes and providing support and resources to pet owners in need. As of 2019 One Tail at a Time hosts a bustling dog adoption program at the Adoption Center, an ISO Program focusing on Chicago’s dogs, a Kitten Team that cares for neonate kittens, vaccine clinics in low income neighborhoods, and leads the Chicagoland Rescue Intervention & Support Program (“CRISP”) which keeps pets intending to be surrendered at the city shelter with their loving families. Contact: Laura Slivka | otatmarathonmutts@gmail.com Website: https://www.onetail.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • Open Heart Magic
    Open Heart Magic (OHM) trains and certifies volunteers who work to improve the hospital experience for kids in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Cleveland. By engaging these patients with specially developed magic tricks performed and taught at their bedside, OHM volunteer Hospital Magicians can engage patients regardless of their age, condition, diagnosis, or background. In 2017, our volunteers engaged over 12,000 patients, one at a time, as well as nearly 17,000 friends and family members. Our volunteers' work can turn a scary experience into an exciting one, as patients learn tricks they perform for family and friends (and often, medical staff at the hospital!). Our volunteers’ magic transforms the patients into kids again. Contact: Christine Huge | christine@openheartmagic.org Website: https://openheartmagic.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • Organization for Austim Research
    OAR was founded in December 2001 by seven individuals whose lives and families had been directly impacted by autism. They shared a common vision and set out on a singular mission – to apply science to answer the daily questions and challenges that autism presents to individuals with autism, their families, teachers, and caregivers. There are many organizations dedicated to autism. What distinguishes us from other organizations is our singular focus on applied research and the quality and practical value of its resource materials. The studies we fund and the information resources we provide have meaning in the day-to-day lives of persons with autism and their families. Rather than fund research relative to cause and cure, we funds pilot studies on topics of more every day relevance such as education, parent and teacher training, communication, self-care, social skills, employment, behavior and adult and community issues. In pursuing its efforts to change lives, our ultimate focus is quality of life. Contact: Sean Flynn | run@researchautism.org Website: https://researchautism.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon TCS NYC Marathon
  • PAWS Chicago
    The Mission of PAWS Chicago is to build No Kill communities, starting with Chicago, that respect and value the life of every cat and dog. It is only by engaging people in the cause of homeless pets that we will build No Kill communities. People adopt. People spay or neuter their pets and prevent them from breeding. People volunteer their time, donate financially and spread awareness in their network. By inspiring and mobilizing people, we are able to create collective impact that brings about change. This is why community engagement is the foundation of what we do at PAWS Chicago. Contact: Carrie Cihasky | teampaws@pawschicago.org | 773-475-3308 Website: https://my.pawschicago.org/TEAMPAWSChicago2021 Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon Virgin Money London Marathon BMW Berlin Marathon TCS NYC Marathon Schneider Electric Paris Marathon
  • Respiratory Health Association
    Run for Healthy Lungs & Clean Air! Whether it’s your first triathlon or your 100th 5K, dedicate your efforts to healthy lungs and clean air as a member of Respiratory Health Association’s Lung Power Team. Asthma, COPD, lung cancer and other lung diseases may have touched you personally and clean air affects us all. Make every stride more meaningful in the race of your choice, by raising funds for education, research and policy changes that help people live better. Contact: Jamie Truesdale | jtruesdale@resphealth.org Website: https://resphealth.org/ Opportunities / Bib Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities
    Every day, families face the emotional and economic toll of having a child in the hospital. Together with the support of our community, we provide housing to keep families together, and provide a comfortable, warm, and loving home away from home. For over four decades, Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana has helped more than 100,000 families stay together with their hospitalized children. Our programs have grown as families of children with complex medical issues continue to need comfort and care. Contact: Katie Marchetti | kmarchetti@rmhc.org Website: http://support.rmhc.org/site/TR/TeamRMHC-ChicagoMarathon/TeamRMHC?pg=entry&fr_id=1492 Opportunities / Bib Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • Salute, Inc"
    SALUTE, INC. is dedicated to meeting the financial, physical and emotional needs of injured veterans and their families. SALUTE works individually with each veteran applicant to assess their current situation and determine how we might offer assistance. The most common requests are for help with housing, car, grocery and utility bills. However, sometimes the financial assistance is more specialized, e.g. an adaptive bike so the veteran can rehabilitate or compete, textbooks or tuition assistance to continue their education, or a laptop to facilitate a job search. SALUTE works one on one with every veteran applicant to meet their specific needs, tailoring our response so it will have the greatest impact on their lives. Contact: Sue Hussey | sue@saluteinc.org Website: https://www.saluteinc.org/events/bank-of-america-chicago-marathon/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • The Salvation Army
    Make your miles meaningful. Join The Salvation Army in Doing the Most Good in greater Chicagoland, northern Illinois, and northwestern Indiana. Team Salvation Army runners of all backgrounds will further the mission of The Salvation Army locally by raising funds to relieve hunger, provide shelter, combat addiction, prevent evictions, nurture children, and more to help our neighbors in need. Team Salvation Army runners will receive fundraising tips, technical race shirt, tickets to pre-race pasta party, access to CARA training, and more! Contact: Suzie Brashler | suzie.brashler@usc.salvationarmy.org | 773-853-5331 Website: salarmychicago.org/chicagomarathon Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • Smile Train
    Team EMPOWER is the endurance fundraising program of Smile Train that gives athletes the opportunity to make their race count toward providing free cleft surgery and comprehensive care to children in need. Many children with clefts around the world live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Smile Train provides training and financial support for the treatment of clefts, empowering local medical professionals to treat cleft patients with life-changing surgery and related comprehensive cleft care that they would not otherwise be able to access. Every step, every lap, and every mile means more than crossing the finish line — it means more smiles, new beginnings, and the opportunity for children with clefts to live full and productive lives. Join us and change the world one smile at a time. Contact: Merritt Rinard l mrinard@smiletrain.org Website: https://www.smiletrain.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon United Airlines NYC Half Big Sur International Marathon Virgin Money London Marathon BMW Berlin Marathon TCS NYC Marathon
  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. As a Hero, you'll raise funds for the kids of St. Jude while you train for your race. The dollars that Heroes raise help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Do more with your race. Be a Hero, and run for the kids of St. Jude. Contact: Kristine Paca | kristine.paca@stjude.or Website: https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Heroes/Heroes?pg=entry&fr_id=130264 Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon TCS NYC Marathon
  • Taller de Jose
    Taller de José is a community resource center located in the Little Village Neighborhood of Chicago. Its mission is to connect people to services and services to people so that all may be one. Contact: Melissa Salinas | msalinas@tallerdejose.org Website: http://tallerdejose.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
  • The Network - Run Domestic Violence Out of Town
    We’re a team of five local nonprofits focused on domestic violence survivors that collaborate to provide 24-hour crisis lines, shelter, counseling, legal information, court support, and community violence prevention programs to survivors and their loved ones. Contact: Ellie Immerman | eimmerman@batteredwomensnetwork.org Website: Support Us - The Network (the-network.org)
  • UPS for Downs Chicago
    UPS for DownS is a parent directed, non-profit organization offering support, education, and encouragement for parents, families and others who love and care about persons with Down syndrome. We inspire community acceptance by sharing with others the presence, potential and abilities of people with Down syndrome. Contact: Terri Devine | marathon@upsfordowns.org Website: https://www.upsfordowns.org/ Opportunities / Bibs Available: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
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