Keep it right here to watch all of the action in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
The 26.2-mile course snakes through 29 neighborhoods as diverse as Lincoln Park and Pilsen, and participants will represent all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
All indications are that it's going to be a fast race.
The elite competition will feature five men with personal records of 2:05 or faster, and four women with the potential to break 2:20, marathon officials have announced. Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele (2:05:04) and Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge (2:04:05) will resume their historic rivalry in the race.
The two have raced more than a dozen times since squaring off for the first time at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in the 5,000m. Also in the mix will be Kenya's Sammy Kitwara (2:05:16), Bernard Koech (2:04:53) and Dickson Chumba (2:05:42).
With all this elite talent, last year's course record of 2:03:45, set by Kenya's Dennis Kimetto, could be in jeopardy. Only five men in history have broken 2:04 on record-eligible courses. The top women include 2013 champion Rita Jeptoo (2:18:57), Kenya's Florence Kiplagat (2:19:44), Jemima Sumgong (2:20:48) and Ethiopia's Birhane Dibaba (2:22:30).
U.S. & World
Jeptoo ran her first career sub 2:20 in last year's race, the fifth fastest time in Chicago Marathon history, and she returns this fall after smashing the Boston Marathon course record in April, a blazing 2:18:57.
She could become the third woman in history to run three career sub 2:20s. Jeptoo's training partner, Jemima Sumgong, returns to Chicago in October. The 2013 Rotterdam Marathon champion placed second in Chicago last year with a personal best of 2:20:48.
"This year's field is built for speed and record-breaking performances," said Bank of America Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "We have big expectations due to this group of men and women who know how to race, dig deep and win."
