Every upcoming Half Marathon around Chicago, with start times, entry fees, finish-time stats from past editions, start-line maps, and the local run clubs to train with.
34 upcoming half marathons found · 2 with finish-time stats
Chicago racing is shaped by the same geography that defines every run here: the long, flat corridor of the Lakefront Trail with Lake Michigan on one side and the skyline on the other, the elevated calm of The 606 cutting through Logan Square and Wicker Park, and the downtown park circuits through Grant Park and the Museum Campus where the city feels both enormous and navigable at once.
Wind off the lake is a genuine factor in any season, and so is the winter cold - but Chicago runners stay out year-round, and the race calendar reflects that stubbornness, with events spread across every season including a strong winter stretch. If you want company while you train, the city has no shortage of crews to run with before you ever pin on a bib.
By the numbers
The Biggest and Longest-Running
The Chicago races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Oct 25, 2026.
Common Questions About Running a Half Marathon in Chicago
When is the best time of year to find a Chicago half marathon?
Fall is the busiest stretch, with 15 races between September and November and October alone hosting 6. Winter is surprisingly active too, with 11 races from December through February - a sign that Chicago runners do not hibernate. Spring is the quietest window; only 1 race falls in that season, and April is the quietest single month on the calendar.
Am I going to be embarrassingly slow, or way out of my depth?
Only 1 of the 34 races here has published finish-time results, so there is not enough data to give you a meaningful field comparison for Chicago half marathons specifically. What that also means: most of these races are not the kind of heavily tracked, results-published events where everyone's time is scrutinized. For a sense of how you stack up at the 13.1 distance nationally, check the finish-time tiles elsewhere on this page.
Do Chicago half marathons give out shirts and medals?
Shirts are very common here - 33 of the 34 races say they give one. Medals are a different story: none of the 34 races state that they give a medal. Every race on this page has published some giveaway information, so the silence on medals is not a data gap; these races simply do not advertise one.
Who can I train with in Chicago before race day?
Chicago has a real running community.
Crews active in the city include:
CARA Run Crew
Second City Track Club
Venados Running Club
Rogers Park Running Club
Peace Runners 773
Viento LVRC
Midway Mile Chasers Run Club
Tortugas Run Club
The Lakefront Trail and The 606 are where group runs tend to concentrate, and post-run spots along the Riverwalk and in Lakeview and Logan Square are easy to find.
Are there trail Half Marathon races near Chicago?
Yes, one race around Chicago gets you off the pavement: 1 mixes road and trail.
