Over 47,000 participants are set to run the 26.2-mile course of the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Oct. 8. But to entry the course, runners should decide up their race-day packets which is able to embody their bib number and participant goodies.

Luckily, packet pick-up is positioned on the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo in McCormick Place, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive. The annual occasion options over 100 distributors the place attendees can watch quite a lot of occasions, check out interactive experiences and store for sports activities gear throughout a 300,000 square-foot conference corridor.

When is the expo?

The expo takes place throughout three days, beginning on Thursday, Oct. 5 and ending on Saturday, Oct. 7. Expo instances are listed beneath however topic to alter.

Thursday, October 5

11 a.m. to six p.m.

Friday, October 6

9 a.m. to six p.m.

Saturday, October 7

9 a.m. to six p.m.

What is the occasion schedule?

The expo incorporates a jam-packed schedule of events filled with talks by well being and health specialists.

Each day, Chicago Running Coach Chris Wehrman will open the expo with race day suggestions and Pace Team Leaders will observe by sharing recommendation on preserving a gradual tempo.

Highlights for Thursday embody a 4 p.m. panel with six Chicago Marathon champions to have a good time the race’s 45^th anniversary. Iconic names embody Khalid Khannouchi, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002 champion and Amanda McGrory, 2007, 2008 and 2010 ladies’s wheelchair champion. Founder of Running for Real and Sustainability Advocate Tina Muir may also discuss turning into a sustainable runner.

On Friday, Abbott will host the three p.m. “I Am Unstoppable” panel which is able to characteristic Tom Eller, the world’s first deaf-born Abbott World Marathon main six-star medal finisher; Ryan Patena, an Abbott Commercial IT guide and multi-time marathoner with kind 1 diabetes; and Daniel Romanchuk, the 2018 and 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon males’s wheelchair champion.  

Saturday begins an hour earlier at 12:00 p.m. and options seven important stage occasions. Non-binary Inclusion Advocate and Executive Director of the Queer Running Society Jake Federowski will converse on the significance of queer inclusion and Dr. Phillip Skiba will share last-minute tips about pacing.

What’s within the race-day packet?

Participants will discover the next:

• Bib quantity and security pins
• MYLAPS BibTag timing system
• Gear test tag
• Nike participant operating shirt
• Participant bag

Participants over 21 will obtain a tag on their bib quantity for one redeemable Goose Island Beer after the race.

Who can go?

The expo is free and open to the general public. Organizers encourage marathon members to carry alongside household and mates to affix in on the enjoyable when choosing up their packet.

How do I get there?

Parking is offered at McCormick Place Parking Lot C for these selecting to drive. Participants pays a lowered fee of parking at $12 by having their parking ticket validated by employees positioned close to the expo’s entrance.

Parking spots all through the McCormick Place campus however not at Lot C shouldn’t have lowered charges and are charged at $25. Parking instructions might be discovered here.

Organizers encourage members flying in to buy CTA tickets on-line here upfront to keep away from lengthy strains on the airport. CTA fare, Ventra data and instructions to McCormick Place might be discovered within the Abbott Heath and Fitness Expo Chicago Transit Authority tips brochure.

Participants may also take the South Shore Line or make the most of the Metra’s $7 Saturday or Sunday move, and the $10 Weekend Pass which is just accessible on the Ventra app. The Metra Electric line additionally offers frequent service between McCormick Place and downtown.

Can I nonetheless volunteer?

Anyone eager about volunteering should register on-line by Friday, Sept. 29 at 11:59 CDT. Expo volunteers will help with the data sales space, worldwide greeters, greeters, options, ID & ticket, packet distribution and bag & t-shirt distribution. The type to register is here.