Chicago Marathon Course PReview, Ch 4: Miles 22 to the Finish
Below is a brief mile by mile breakdown of miles 22 through to the finish line of the Chicago Marathon Course, what to expect, and how to make the most of them.
If you are running the Chicago Marathon, you’ll find this helpful.
To begin reading about the marathon course, mile by mile, start with the Chicago Marathon Course Preview, Ch 1: Start to Mile 8.
Mile 22 : Chinatown
Chinatown is coming, but first look out for the Biofreeze Station at Mile 21.2. Here you will be sprayed down with Biofreeze and sent back on your way. And it’s magical. Feel the immediate relief and the joy the next few minutes of running, if not miles. After the last few miles you’ve been running, you deserve this.
As you come up to Chinatown, the energy quickly builds once again. You’ll round off of Cermak onto Wentworth, under the Chinatown Gate. Look up.
For a few blocks, you’ll get Chinese music, cheering spectators, and one of the last real surges of energy before the finish. It may seem small after Pilsen, but it’s exciting nonetheless. There’s always someone with Malört shots around here. Take it if you dare!
Mile 23 : Torture
This might be the least favorite moment of the entire course for nearly every runner. There’s nothing bad about the area, the street, the support…it’s how close you are to the 25th mile without being anywhere near it. As you run south on Michigan Ave for well over half a mile, across the median, you can see the runners ahead of you running north. And as you’re running, you’re hoping the turn is coming up soon…but it’s not. In fact, when you first see these runners, they are approaching Mile 25 as you are only approaching Mile 23. You still have a ways to go before reaching them…yet at the same time, you feel you can almost touch that part of the course because of how close it is. Hey. You’ve made it this far! You can do that, you can do this. Stay focused, look ahead, celebrate the runners ahead of you, and celebrate the progress you’ve made already.
Mile 24 : Indiana Avenue, Reflection
Holy moly, we’re going to do this. Just after you complete Mile 23, you’ll turn north, and there’s no turning around again (you’ll have two brief west and east portions before the finish, but it’s essentially north to the end at this point).
But truthfully, there’s not much to look forward to with regards to the course in this mile. That said it is a great opportunity to reflect. Reflect on how far you’ve come. How much you’ve grown. How the you today is the greatest version of yourself. There’s more excitement around the corner (almost literally), so get ready for the greatest finish the city of Chicago will ever give you.
Mile 25 : Michigan Avenue, Gratitude
You’re now on Michigan Avenue. You have two short turns at the end, otherwise it is straight to the finish now! The crowds will start to grow in size, volume, and excitement. As the support starts to build back up, take this mile to thank everything and everyone that got you to this point. Make this mile about the support, the love, and the community you’ve built and been apart of the last few weeks, months, or years. The final mile is yours. This one is theirs.
To the Finish : Celebration
This might feel like the longest mile of your life. Because it is. It’s not just one mile, but nearly one and a quarter. Eventually it will be over, so Mile 26 should be relished. As much pain, fatigue, effort you’re feeling, and as badly as you want to get to the end, take this mile to celebrate early (you’ve earned it). Mile 24 was about reflection, Mile 25 is about gratitude, and Mile 26.2 is about Celebration. As much as we love our friends and family, as grateful as we are for our coaches and training groups, it’s you that got you to this point. You’re the one that did the work, sacrificed, went through pain and doubt, highs and lows, growth and setbacks. And yet you’re still here. You are finishing. Make this all about you, from Mile 25.0 to 26.2.
Now keep in mind, as you come up on Mile 26, you’ll run up the last little incline of the entire course. The most poorly placed hill comes at the worst possible moment. It will feel like climbing Everest, but you have STEPS left in the Chicago Marathon. It’s like the final reminder that no matter what, the marathon owes you nothing, but you can triumph over anything.
Congratulations
And you did it.
Celebrate.
Rest.
And we’ll see you next year!
For a breakdown of chapter 3 of the Chicago Marathon course, read here.
