The official name of this race is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, but it is commonly referred to as the Chicago Marathon. This marathon is one of six prestigious marathons held around the world to be considered a major. As it is run through the streets of Chicago, this race is one of the most popular because of it’s relatively flat terrain, and time of the year it is held. This year, the race will be run on October 8, 2023, and this will be the 46th anniversary of the race in its current form. This race will be televised, but you need to live in Chicago. If you are traveling outside of Chicago, or live elsewhere, you can watch this race live online from anywhere with a VPN.
Best VPN to Stream the Chicago Marathon
| Rank | VPN Service | Our Score | Server Locations | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 9.8 | 160 |  |
| 2 |  | 9.4 | 87 | |
| 3 |  | 9.2 | 95 | |
Though this is only the 43rd anniversary, the Chicago Marathon was first held in 1905 and had over 100k spectators. Though it was sidelined for a number of decades, this historic 113-year-old race has a participation of 45,000 people, and millions of spectators that watch along the course. Since the year 2000, 90% of the participants finish the race. That is an increase from 84%. The entry process is certainly more selective than it used to be. Because of that, we expect the percentage to rise in the future.
People come from all over the world to compete in this race. With a $550k purse and an extra $100k if you make time bonuses, it is not hard to see why marathons are attractive. As with any sport, different countries may be dominant at different times. However, over the last several decades, almost all of the male winners have been from Africa, and over half of the female winners have been from Africa as well. Will anyone be able to break the Chicago Marathon record set in 2013 by Dennis Kimetto?
There is only one channel providing live coverage of this race. Coverage starts at 7 a.m. CST (GMT-5) and ends at 11 a.m. CST (GMT-5). This race is free to watch, providing you are in Chicago. If you are there, the race will be on the NBC affiliate named channel 5, and may be watched on TV. If you want to watch it outside of the Chicago area, that will require a VPN. The reason for this is geo-blocking. Broadcasters will block access to those local to Chicago. The same is true for other events. Connecting to a VPN server in Chicago will solve the issue.
Enjoy all the excitement of the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Please share this post with your friends, so they can enjoy the race from anywhere in the world with a VPN. Follow us on Twitter @VPNFan for the latest deals and guides.