The big race may not be until Sunday, but the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon weekend officially kicks off Thursday when the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo begins.
The expo, located at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive, is jam-packed with exhibits and features more than 100 exhibitors including apparel and footwear, food, technology, fitness and more. Event schedule Packed with talks from health and fitness experts.
But the expo isn’t just for runners to pick up their race day packets and bibs. This includes family, friends, and the audience.
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“When you run, it’s a memory that will last a lifetime,” said Chris Miller of Abbott. “For some, this is their first marathon. It’s also a celebration of your friends and family who have supported you along the way.”
The expo, which is open to the public, opens at 11 a.m. Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
Expo opening hours
The expo will be held over three days, starting on Thursday, October 5th and ending on Saturday, October 7th. Expo opening times are listed below and are subject to change.
Thursday, October 5th
From 11am to 6pm
Friday, October 6th
From 9am to 6pm
Saturday, October 7th
From 9am to 6pm
Expo event schedule
Each day, Chicago Running Coach Chris Wehrman opens the Expo with Race Day Tips, and our Pace Team Leaders share advice for maintaining a consistent pace.
Thursday’s highlights include a 4 p.m. panel discussion with six Chicago Marathon champions celebrating the 45th running of the Chicago Marathon.th anniversary. Iconic names include 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002 champion Khalid Kannoussi and 2007, 2008 and 2010 women’s wheelchair champion Amanda McGrory. Tina Muir, founder and sustainability advocate of Running for Real, will also be speaking about becoming a sustainable runner.
On Friday, Abbott will host an “I Am Unstoppable” panel at 3 p.m., featuring Tom Eller, the world’s first deaf-born Deaf-born Abbott World Marathon major six-star medal winner. Ryan Patena is a commercial IT consultant at Abbott, has type 1 diabetes, and is a multiple marathon runner. and Daniel Romanchuk, 2018 and 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon men’s wheelchair champion.
Saturday starts an hour earlier at 12pm and features seven main stage events. Jake Federowski, non-binary inclusion advocate and executive director of the Queer Running Society, speaks about the importance of queer inclusion, and Dr. Philip Skiba gives last-minute tips on pacing. Share.
Race day packet
Participants will receive the following in their race day packet:
- Bib number and safety pin
- MYLAPS BibTag Timing Device
- gear check tag
- nike participant running shirt
- participant bag
Participants 21 and older will have their bib number tagged in exchange for one Goose Island beer redeemable after the race.
How to get to the expo
If you are driving, parking is available at McCormick Place Parking Lot C. Attendees can pay a discounted rate of $12 by having their parking pass validated by a staff member near the expo entrance.
Parking throughout the McCormick Place campus (excluding Lot C) does not have a discount and costs $25.You can check directions to the parking lot here.
Organizers are encouraging attendees flying in to purchase CTA tickets online. here Check in advance to avoid long lines at the airport. For CTA fares, Ventra information, and directions to McCormick Place. Abbott Heath and Fitness Expo Chicago Transit Authority Tips Pamphlet.
Participants also south shoreline or Metra’s $7 Saturday or Sunday pass; ventra app. The Metra Electric Line also runs frequently between McCormick Place and downtown.
