Ready to Run 20 Miler

REGISTRATION

VOLUNTEER

1/5

Date & Time

Sunday, September 20, 2026

6:30 a.m.

Description

A fully-supported 20-mile run with a unique point-to-point course along Chicago's lakefront to help you in your marathon training!

Location

Start: Montrose Wilson Track

Lake Shore Dr. & Wilson Dr.

Amenities

Beautiful point-to-point lakefront course from Montrose Beach to Jackson Park
Post-race shuttle back to the start
Pace groups from 7:30 to 11:30 run, and 12:00 to 13:00 run/walk
Aid Stations every ~2 miles with water and Gatorade Endurance
Gear check transported from start to finish
Finisher shirt
Custom designed keepsake bib
Professional announcing by Chicago running legend Dave Kappas!
Post-race celebration
Free digital photo downloads

20 Miler:

$60 ($54 - MEMBER) - May 1 through June 9
$70 ($63 - MEMBER) - June 10 through July 21
$80 ($72 - MEMBER) - July 22 through August 25
$90 ($81 - MEMBER) - August 26 through September 18

Registration closes on September 18th at 10:00 p.m.

MEMBER PRICING

Become a CARA Supporter Level Member to gain access to the Early Membership Price category and receive 10% off all other price tiers. Discount credited automatically with member login on the registration form.

Summer Marathon Training Program Participants:

Registration fee included in Group Training and Virtual Local Training options
Must register through the specific link below
Must register at least 48 hours prior to bib pick-up to allow time for registration approval. Deadline to register is 9/17 for final bib pick-up date.

Group Leaders:

Must register through the invitation link located in your participant account at least 48 hours prior to bib pick-up to allow time for registration approval. Deadline to register is 9/17 for final bib pick-up date.

REGISTRATION LINKS

General Registration:

Summer Marathon Training Participants:

Group Leaders: Register through participant account link.

Pick-Up Schedule:

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Fleet Feet Lincoln Square - 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Fleet Feet Deerfield - 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Friday, September 18, 2026

Fleet Feet South Loop - 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Fleet Feet Old Town - All business hours
Fleet Feet Elmhurst - All business hours

Bib Mailing

Bib mailing is available during registration for a fee. To add bib mailing after registration, login HERE. Deadline to order is September 4.

Important Note:

NO EVENT DAY BIB PICK-UP.
Participants MUST pick up their bib prior to event day. Finisher shirts are provided at the event, immediately after completing the run.
Friends and family may pick up for a participant with a copy (printed or digital) of the participant's confirmation email or check-in pass.

Bib pick-up dates, locations, and hours are subject to change.

Event Details

Event Day Schedule

5:45 a.m. - Venue open
6:20 a.m. - Deadline to report to start wave
6:30 a.m. - Start waves begin

Travel/Parking

Parking: Free street parking is available within the park on Montrose Ave., Simonds Dr., Lawrence Ave. (except by Dog Beach0 and Foster Ave. Paid parking is available in the Chicago Park District lots at Wilson Dr. and Lakeshore Dr. (Wilson Lot) and at Foster Avenue and Lakeshore Dr. (Foster Beach), and Montrose Harbor Drive.

Public Transit: The following bus lines will get you near the start; 78-Montrose, 81-Lawrence, 145-Wilson/Michigan, and 146-Marine/Michigan. Be sure to check the bus schedule with your desired departure time. The 145 and 146 routes start running later on the weekends. You may also take the Red-Line Train to Wilson and head east about one mile to the start.

Ride Share: Those traveling to the event by ride share should drop off inside the Wilson Lot. Ride share drivers will not be able to turn-around on Wilson Dr.

Bike: Bike racks are available near the start/finish line for participants who choose to ride to the race. Please bring a bike lock. A Divvy station is located immediate adjacent to the start line.

Shuttle Bus

Buses will transport runners between the finish line (Jackson Park) and the starting line (Montrose Beach-Wilson Parking Lot) after the run. Buses will go directly to the start line with no stops on the way.

A limited number of additional buses will provide a route directly to a downtown stop in the Grant Park area.

Buses from the finish to the start will depart approximately every 15 minutes beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Buses from the finish to downtown will depart approximately every 30 minutes beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Runner transport buses are for participants only. Friends and family will not be permitted to ride buses.

Refund Policy

Participants must agree that refunds and deferrals will NOT be issued for any reason, including participant injury, illness, personal conflict, and any other issues out of the control of the event, including, but not limited to cancellation due to weather/lightning.

Start Wave Procedures

Participants are to organize in self-selected start corrals by their expected run/walk pace per mile for their distance (Under 7:00, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, Over 13:00).

Corrals signs with paces will be spaced to allow for the expected number of participants per pace to line up correctly. Participants are encouraged to line up by a pace that accurately reflects their intended average pace for the entire run.

CARA training program group leaders will pace their training site groups within each corral. Participants not part of a CARA training group may join in with any training site group of their choice. Group leaders will have back bibs indicating their pace. Group leaders are offered from 7:30 to 13:00 paces only.

Each corral will be walked to the start line for a controlled mass start. Please remain behind the start corral volunteers for your pace until directed to start. A short gap between each group will be provided to avoid congestion on the path and at initial aid stations. All paces will start in approx. 10 minutes.

Gear Check

Gear check will be available at the start line. Gear will be transported to the finish line for pick up. Runners will need their bib as identification to retrieve their checked gear.

Please use any bag that is of standard backpack or duffle bag size. Please attach your gear check tag (from your bib) prior to checking your bag (zip ties will be provided).

We are unable to provide a covered gear check. Please plan accordingly in case of inclement weather. If wet weather is forecast, we recommend using a waterproof bag for your gear check.

Course Description

No loops! The Ready to Run 20 Miler features a point-to-point course, starting at the Montrose Wilson Track on the north end of the Lakefront Trail and finishing on the south end of the Lakefront Trail at Jackson Park. Shuttle buses are available to bring runners back to start line parking, as well as a Grant Park downtown stop.

Aid Stations: There will be on-course aid stations approximately every 2 miles. Each on-course aid station will offer both water and Gatorade Endurance. Each aid station will also have access to restrooms or portable toilet units nearby. Most aid stations will have full medical support on-site.

Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering for Ready to Run 20 Miler, please contact Evan DeBock at evan@cararuns.org.

Volunteer