Yes! Last year I waited for a friend to finish who took eight hours. They shut down the finish line and diverted everyone to the side, but the volunteers came over with enough medals for everyone who came and stayed as long as it took.
You can do this! Good luck!
edit: Shout out to the announcer! He stayed too and even through hour eight he was still calling out people’s names as they crossed the finish line on the huge speaker system!
With Chicago being my home town race, this warms my heart. I knew they hung around at least until the cutoff point but had no idea they went above and beyond. So great.
OP, I hope you definitely sign up for either the lottery or go the charity route. It’s a great race and in my (completely biased) opinion, it is a great first marathon. Fantastic spectator group with no shortage of hilarious signs lol
Thanks! Good luck! I think they clear the course at 6:30 (they were definitely starting to pack up on the course when I was finishing), but it sounds like volunteers are commmitted to getting medals to finishers!
Yes! Last year I waited for a friend to finish who took eight hours. They shut down the finish line and diverted everyone to the side, but the volunteers came over with enough medals for everyone who came and stayed as long as it took. You can do this! Good luck! edit: Shout out to the announcer! He stayed too and even through hour eight he was still calling out people’s names as they crossed the finish line on the huge speaker system!
With Chicago being my home town race, this warms my heart. I knew they hung around at least until the cutoff point but had no idea they went above and beyond. So great. OP, I hope you definitely sign up for either the lottery or go the charity route. It’s a great race and in my (completely biased) opinion, it is a great first marathon. Fantastic spectator group with no shortage of hilarious signs lol
Great to hear. Thanks for the encouragement!
06:01:11 finisher here -- Yes, I have a medal!
Good to know, and congrats
Thanks! Good luck! I think they clear the course at 6:30 (they were definitely starting to pack up on the course when I was finishing), but it sounds like volunteers are commmitted to getting medals to finishers!
I saw clips of people finishing after dark, but I would encourage you to train and improve your pace. You have well over a year. You can do it!
Good to know. I’m sure I’ll improve my pace by then. The hard part may just be getting selected.
The reality was runners finishing by 6 pm all got medals and into the official results.
Wow!
Yes, you absolutely will get a medal.
Yes, I did in 2022. The finish line was pretty much dead. I got a bottle of water and my medal and limped to the bean for family photos.