The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is bracing for a swarm of 50,000 runners at next year's event, with organizers reporting a record-shattering number of applications exceeding 123,000 hopeful participants, as announced on Thursday; this marks a substantial increase from the 86,000 applications the previous year and 80,000 in 2022, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Selected runners received notifications the very same day. These lucky athletes are set to join guaranteed entrants, which include legacy finishers, time qualifiers, and charity runners, among others. And for those who didn't make the initial cut during yesterday's drawing, there's still a chance to snag a spot by teaming up with one of over 200 nonprofits in the Marathon Charity Program, this initiative requiring a fundraising minimum of $1,750 from participants, as noted in statements acquired by NBC Chicago.
Last year's Chicago Marathon set bars of its own with 48,472 runners crossing the finish line and a staggering $30.4 million raised for charity; the 2024 marathon, scheduled for October 13, aims to surpass these numbers in participation and philanthropy, as executive race director Carey Pinkowski expressed in a statement obtained by the NBC Chicago, "The 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon was record-setting across the board, from historic performances and countless personal bests to record-breaking participation and charity fundraising."
Historic markers in the marathon's past include Kelvin Kiptum's world record time of 2:00:35 and Sifan Hassan's course record of 2:13:44 in the men's and women's divisions respectfully during the 2023 competition, the previous year's race having been reduced in size due to COVID-19-related concerns; however, with the pandemic's shadow receding, the 2022 event still witnessed 39,387 finishers according to stats by the Chicago Sun-Times, The marathon's growth is a testament to the enduring spirit and the evolving ambition that fuels both the runners and the city of Chicago.
