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Next year a pre-marathon ride?
Mike Kruger
10/19/2024 10:12 AM

I was intrigued by the idea of riding the Chicago Marathon route in the early morning ahead of the marathon.  The idea is to cycle after the road closures (but before the actual marathon, of course!)

 

I’d never thought of this until I saw this article that the New York Marathon is trying to ban the practice, although other marathons (such as Boston) allow it.  Anyone know if this occurs in Chicago? Or, more to the point, if Chicago Marathon security actively discourage the practice?

 

“The streets belong to the people”: Cyclists riding on closed roads before New York City Marathon will be removed from course, organisers say – as locals slam “embarrassing” bike ban | road.cc

Timothy Weaver
10/19/2024 10:42 AM
I dropped off my son at Jackson and Michigan avenues at 6:00 so he could run the Chicago Marathon. It was dark and security people were putting up barricades all over town. I don’t think you could do an enjoyable ride in advance of the marathon. You’d have to start at 4:30-5:00 am and ride in the dark. 

Timothy A. Weaver


Earl Strassberger
10/19/2024 12:36 PM
From my daughter Marissa who lives in Brooklyn. She ran the NY marathon once and the Chicago marathon 

Thanks Marissa, great idea and you don’t have to get up early at all😀

Earl

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Barbara J Miller
10/19/2024 1:32 PM
While I don't know if Chicago has a cyclist ban on the marathon course, I can attest as a rest station volunteer for several years (between 2006-14) on the north and west sides that I never saw any cyclists ahead of the wheelchair/handcycle racers. 

Also, the New York marathon is the first Sunday in November -- the same day that we fall back to standard time so it is light earlier in the day than the second Sunday in October. For Chicago, sunrise on those days is 7:00am in October and 6:26am. in November. The first wave of the Chicago marathon (men's wheelchair) starts at 7:20am and the runners at 7:30. Per the published marathon street closure listing, all relevant streets (away from the start/finish) are closed at 7am.not earlier.

Bear in mind that the first wheeled finishers are going about 17mph and the first runners are going about 12mph. A pre-marathon bike ride would likely need to be in the dark and pretty speedy. 

Barbara
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