Chicago Marathon Goes Virtual In 2020, Organizers Look Ahead To 2021

Thousands of Chicago Marathon participants embarked on individual races rather than surrounded by fellow runners this year.

Like many other annual events, the 2020 Chicago Marathon shifted to a virtual version because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still, this year’s event drew virtual runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, something “really special” to organizers, Director Carey Pinkowski told WGN9, which noted that nearly 46,000 finished the marathon last year.

The 2019 Chicago Marathon raised about $27 million from charity runners, according to ABC7Chicago.

One down side to holding the event virtually, Pinkowski pointed out to WGN9, was that Chicago hotels and other businesses couldn’t benefit from the usual influx of visitors to Chicago this year.

“Usually there’s tens of thousands of people, but it’s very weird and very quiet,” Lauren Angland — who ran her third Chicago Marathon this year, near the usual starting line at Grant Park — told the station Sunday (October 11). “But it’s still fun…Normally I’m getting hyped up, but today I’m more approaching it to just like slow down, have fun, take in every step, take in all the neighborhoods because we’re not racing anybody today.”

Another runner to participate this year was 72-year-old Randy Burt, who couldn’t break his streak of 43 Chicago Marathons, ABC7Chicago reported.

Fees can also carry over to 2021, 2022 and 2023 marathons, for those who registered for the 2020 race. Pinkowski told WGN9 organizers optimistically look forward to the 2021 event.

Runners can share virtual results and download a finisher's certificate, according to the Chicago Marathon.

Photo: Getty Images