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Everything You Need To Know About the Chicago Marathon

By  Tanveer Ali David Matthews Stephanie Lulay and Mina Bloom | October 9, 2015 5:41am | Updated on October 10, 2015 9:00am

 Runners take off at the starting line of the 2014 Chicago Marathon.
Runners take off at the starting line of the 2014 Chicago Marathon.
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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GRANT PARK — The 38th annual Chicago Marathon will feature 45,000 racers traveling along 26.2 miles of Chicago streets. Here's what you need to know:

When: The event will take place Sunday, starting on the northern side of Grant Park. The first wave of wheelchair racers will start at 7:20 a.m., before the highest-rated foot racers start running at 7:30 a.m. The final group of runners will start at 8 a.m. 

Where: All over the city. Here's a map highlighting the route, mile markers and places to watch the race. It also includes marathon-themed specials available from restaurants, bars and other businesses across the city.   

Race officials tout that the race goes through 29 neighborhoods, starting Downtown and going as far north as Lakeview, as far west as the United Center and as far south as Bronzeville.

Getting around: Of course, a 26.2-mile long race on the streets of Chicago will shut down traffic in parts of the city. Streets will reopen throughout the day. Here's the tentative schedule for reopenings.

The street closures will affect car, bike and bus travel in the city, so your best bet to travel around the route is taking the "L." As usual with major events, the CTA is beefing up train service for the marathon across all lines.

The weather: Forecasts call for a sunny sky and warm weather. Pretty good for the second Sunday in October in Chicago. The marathon's official medical director, Dr. George Chiampas, warns participants that the warmer-than-average temps will have the greatest impact on runners who expect to finish the course in 4.5 to 6 hours.

Those runners are advised to "drink to thirst" while avoiding over-hydration, to alternate sports drinks like Gatorade with their water to maintain sodium levels, to wear sunscreen and considet slowing their pace.

"Warmer temperatures will require more of your body's energy and resources to maintain normal function, so a slower pace than originally planned is recommended in order to get you to the finish line without overheating," a marathon official said.

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