The Chicago Marathon Expo is where you pick up your bib and accidentally put two miles on your legs the day before the race. I went Thursday in 2024 and was caught off guard by how big it is. If you don't go in with a plan, it turns into way more time on your feet than it should. And that matters, because the expo can quietly cost you the race before it even starts.
If You Just Want the Plan
- Go Thursday if you can
- Budget 60-90 minutes
- Grab your bib first
- Do one loop, not three
- Hit Nike early if you care about gear
- Don't try anything new
- Leave
Protect Your Legs
This is the thing the official guide won't tell you. McCormick Place is massive, and the floor is polished concrete. The walk from the entrance through the hall to packet pickup and back is longer than it looks on a map. Add time browsing vendors and you can easily log two or more miles on hard concrete the day before a marathon.
Treat the expo like a physical cost, not a free afternoon. Get your bib, hit the booths you care about, and then go back to the hotel and put your legs up. Every unnecessary hour on that floor is a deposit you're making against Sunday.
The runners who struggle most at the expo are the ones who treat it like a vacation activity. The ones who treat it like a tactical errand come out ahead.
📍 Location & Hours
Venue: Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616.
The three-day Expo is free and open to the public.
2026 Dates & Hours:
- Thursday, October 8: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday, October 9: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday, October 10: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Times are subject to change. All participants must pick up their own packet at the Expo during scheduled hours. Packets will not be available on race day and will not be mailed.
🚍 Getting There
I drove in 2024, entering from South Lake Shore Drive and following signs to Lot C. Parking was straightforward, and the walk through McCormick Place to the expo hall was about five minutes once I parked. You have to pay for parking, but getting out was painless.
That said, driving is not the only way, and depending on where you're staying it might not be the best way. If you're coming from downtown, the CTA Green Line to Cermak-McCormick Place station is the cleaner call, about a 10-15 minute walk to the hall. Metra Electric also runs frequent service between downtown and McCormick Place. Coming from Indiana, the South Shore Line is worth looking into.
If you're staying downtown, skip the parking and shuttle stress and take transit.
🔒 Security & Bag Policy
All attendees go through a security screening at the entrance. Leave large bags and luggage at the hotel. Bring a small foldable bag for carrying expo gear home.
How Long Does the Expo Take?
- Quick trip: 45-60 minutes
- Normal visit: 60-90 minutes
- If you wander: 2+ hours
Plan for 60-90 minutes and treat anything beyond that as optional.
🧾 Packet Pickup
The bib line moved faster than I expected. I was in line and had my bib in hand within five minutes. Have your confirmation email and photo ID ready and it goes quickly.
What you'll need:
- Packet pickup confirmation email
- Photo ID matching your registration name
What's in your packet:
- Bib number and safety pins
- MYLAPS ThinTag timing device
- Gear check tag
- Nike participant running shirt
- Participant bag
- Beer tag (21+ participants receive one redeemable post-race beer)
Your participant bag comes with more than just the basics. In 2024 mine included a Shokz branded running belt, which was a genuinely useful addition. The Chicago running community seems to agree: you still see them on the Lakefront Trail regularly. Check everything in your bag before you leave the packet pickup area.
You must pick up your own packet. No one can pick it up on your behalf.
The Expo Floor
Nike anchors the middle of the hall and draws the biggest crowd by far. It's also the most chaotic: people trying on shirts, comparing fits, loading up on gear. Go in knowing what you want or you'll lose 45 minutes just browsing.
Don't miss:
- The free poster is on the right when you walk in. Grab it early and don't forget it on your way out.
- The name wall is right near the poster area. I walked past it without stopping in 2024 and genuinely regret that. Find your name, take the photo. It takes two minutes.
- Every major running brand has Chicago-specific gear. Tracksmith and Bandit tend to sell out by Saturday, so if you want something from them, Thursday or early Friday is the move.
- The Brooks booth had my favorite shirt from the whole expo. Still my most-worn piece of gear from race weekend.
Worth finding:
The official race shirt pickup is all the way in the back, which means you walk the entire vendor hall to get there. You can swap sizes there if your assigned size doesn't fit. Runners in the Chicago Marathon community consistently report that the Nike participant shirt runs short and boxy. Go to the exchange desk early. By Saturday, the popular sizes are picked over.
One booth worth finding specifically: Maurten. They are the official on-course gel at Chicago. If you haven't trained with them, the expo is your last real chance to get a feel for what you'll be handed at aid stations. The texture is more of a jelly than a traditional gel, and it surprises people. Pick up a sample, but save it for a training run after the race. Don't try anything new the day before.
The stage and speakers are to the left when you enter. Check the schedule before you go, there are sometimes notable guests or Q&As worth catching.
The official Bank of America Marathon store is right at the entrance: branded gear, accessories, things to grab for kids. I picked up a few things there for my daughter.
The "Nothing New" Rule
The expo is full of things that look great and feel exciting to buy. Resist the urge to wear any of it Sunday. No new shoes, no new socks, no new shirt, no new belt. If you didn't train in it, don't race in it. The expo is for buying gear for your next training cycle, not for race day.
This applies to nutrition too. The expo floor has free samples of gels, chews, and electrolyte drinks from dozens of brands. Collect them, put them in your bag, and try them on a future training run. Do not eat something new the day before the race.
🎯 When to Go
Go Thursday. I went Thursday and it was noticeably relaxed. Bib pickup was quick, the floor was manageable, and the gear was fully stocked. By Saturday, lines are longer, popular sizes are gone, and your legs will pay for it.
If your schedule forces Friday or Saturday, go early and head straight to packet pickup first.
One Thing I'd Do Differently
I went solo. Bring someone. The expo is genuinely fun and there's enough to see that it's worth sharing. My wife would have loved it and I should have brought her. It's free and open to the public, so there's no reason to go alone if you don't have to. Just keep the "protect your legs" rule in mind for whoever comes with you: they can keep browsing while you find a place to sit.
✅ Expo Checklist
- ✓Photo ID matching your registration name
- ✓Packet pickup confirmation email
- ✓Credit card for purchases
- ✓Comfortable walking shoes
- ✓Small foldable bag
- ✓List of sizes and items you want
- ✓Reusable water bottle
🔍 Final Reminders
Give yourself at least 90 to 120 minutes at the expo unless you're grabbing your packet quickly and leaving. Pick up your bib early so you're not worried Saturday. Stay hydrated and plan to rest afterward because you're still running the race the next day.