2023 Heroes Guide

Race Day Guide for Heroes
Packet pick-up
Every runner is responsible for
picking up their race bib and
other goodies at the Abbott
Health and Fitness Expo. Mercy
Home cannot pickup your bib, so
please plan to visit the Expo. Be
sure to visit the Heroes tent too!
Thurs, Oct 5 11 AM - 6 PM
Fri, Oct 6 9 AM - 6 PM
Sat, Oct 7 9 AM - 6 PM
McCormick Center
2301 S. Martin Luther King Dr.
Hero Headquarters
DePaul University—Loop Student Center
333 S. State St., 11th floor, Chicago, IL 60604
Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Directions TO the Starting Line
We will leave as a team in 3 waves. The 7:30
am will leave at 6:45 (corral closes at 7:20),
the 8 am at 7:15 (7:45) and 8:35 at 8:00. Our
team prayer and photo will take place at
6:35. You’ll be required to pass through
security and must show your bib and bracelet
before entering the corrals.
The security checkpoint is just a few blocks away.
Note: There’ll be shorter lines for those who gear
check at HQ (you must be registered to do this).
Directions FROM the Finish Line
Exit the runner finish area on Columbus.
Continue straight (north, AWAY from the finish
line) on Columbus.
Turn left (west, AWAY from Buckingham
Fountain) on Jackson to State.
Enter at Barnes & Noble on Jackson and head
through the store to the elevators on the left
and head to the 11th floor.
Refer to the participant guide for official marathon
sponsored postrace festivities.
More Details
You received a Participant Guide
via e-mail that includes your QR
code for packet pick-up.
Heroes gear
check
Headquarters
amenities
For your friends
& family
You must bring a photo ID, your
ticket w QR code to the Expo to
pick up your bib.
Info about parking and public
transportation to/from the Expo
can be found on the Chicago
Marathon website or the
marathon app.
Getting to
the race
We recommend public transit or
taxi for traveling to/from the race
as traffic will be congested. Street
closures begin as early as 6 a.m.
There will be additional CTA and
Metra service on race day.
For your convenience, we will
have gear check available for
our Mercy Home Heroes at
Hero HQ beginning at 5:30
a.m. on race day.
This service is only available if
you registered to be at HQ.
Register at: https://
donate.mercyhome.org/
page/133680/event/1
Please read your participant
guide from the Marathon for
specific information about
security checkpoints.
Any gear not picked up from
HQ by 4:30 p.m. on race day
will be available for pick-up at
Mercy Home on Oct. 9
We want to make sure you have
the best race day possible, so
the following will be available to
those who RSVP’d to attend HQ:
• Light breakfast items
• Water/Gatorade/coffee
• Gear check
• Real bathrooms w/ toilet
paper
• Last-minute supplies
• React physical therapists
• An outdoor deck
• Photo opportunities
• Catered lunch*
• Alcoholic beverages*
*Complimentary for Hero + 1
guest. $10 for others (12 &
under free). 21 & over for drinks
Invite your friends and family to
join us at the Mercy Mile just
before Mile 17 as well as at
Hero HQ on race day.
For security purposes, please
register your guests with us if
they plan to visit Hero HQ
before or after the race.
EVERYONE who enters HQ must
be on the RSVP list you
submitted.
Doors will close open at 5:30
a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m..
For those driving, consider
reserving parking using the
address of our Hero Headquarters
(333 S. State St.).
There will be free shuttle service
between Hero HQ and Mercy
Home’s Cheer Station for your
friends and family. Volunteers will
direct you to its location.
Contact Information
Hero Headquarters
Mary Connolly - (312) 465-3120
Mercy Mile Cheer Station
Mercy Home reception - (312) 738-7560
Feel free to contact us for assistance on
race day.
Show Hero Pride on social media
using #mercyhomeheroes
Follow Mercy Home Heroes on Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter, and share/tag pictures and
more from the race. Let’s also flood our 2023
Facebook group with pictures all weekend!
Remember to ALWAYS include a link to your
fundraising page in posts on you own social media.

Heroes Pasta Dinner
The Pasta Dinner is held at our
West Loop Campus. Parking is
available at Mercy Home and on
the street. If you RSVP’d, be sure
to join us starting at 5:30 for
Happy Hour and Meet and Greet.
The program will start promptly
at 6:30pm. Register now.
Medical information
Emergency contact information
Please make sure to fill out the back of
your race bib with emergency contact and
medical insurance information.
Race day reminders
• Wave 1 Corrals close at 7:15 am, Wave 2 at 7:45, Wave 3 at 8:15. Arrive early and plan
ahead for travel, parking, bathroom and gear check needs as well as security clearance.
Your bib will be color-coded for your wave and includes your gate entrance as well. Keep
in mind, 47,000 runners will be trying to get to the same places as you on race morning!
• Carefully read the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Participant Guide—it contains a
lot of important information you’ll want to know well before race day.
• Write your name on your Heroes shirt (for those who missed the opportunity at the Pasta
Dinner to have your name heat-pressed, we will provide supplies to add your name at HQ).
You will be amazed how many people shout it out as you run!
• We will be taking a team picture at 6:30 a.m. sharp at Hero HQ. Don’t miss it.
• When checking gear at Hero HQ, please use the clear plastic gear check bag provided by the
marathon. All items will be in a secure location that will be staffed all day.
• Download the Chicago Marathon App race week for resources and information. It includes
runner tracking so people can monitor your progress.
• There are 12,000 volunteers on the course—please thank them every chance you get!
• Be aware of and follow the Event Alert System (EAS) recommendations on race day.
• Move to the left side as you pass mile marker 16 so you in the best spot for pictures and
interaction as you pass through the Mercy Mile. Have fun! We’re rooting for you!
Medical tents
There are medical tents (identified by tall
red signs) located at all 20 aid stations.
American Red Cross
In the event a participant is transported to
a local area hospital, American Red Cross
staff will be on hand in Grant Park to
provide information to family and friends.
Family members may also call (888) 659-
9877 to inquire about patients.
Suggested packing list
• Race bib (your timing device is on it)
• This 2-page document
• Clear plastic gear check bag provided by
the marathon at the expo
• Throw-away clothes/garbage bag for start
• Body glide/SportShield
• Toilet paper/tissues in a Ziploc
• Your personal fuel (Marathon provides
Gatorade Endurance Carb Energy Chews
at Mile 13.2; Gatorade Endurance Energy
Gels at Mile 18.2; and bananas at all aid
stations past Mile 19.5).
• Sunglasses/sunscreen/lip balm
• Hat/visor/hair ties/gloves/arm warmers
• Identification/keys/small amount of cash
• Fully-charged watch/phone, chargers
• Cell phone (take pics along the way)
• Flipbelt/Fuel belt
• Deodorant/cleansing wipes/towel
• Compression socks (if you use them)
• Extra shoes or sandals/change of clothes
• Pain medicine for after the race
• Camelbaks or backpacks of any kind are
NOT allowed thru security
What to wear
Your official Heroes shirt, of course! Please
pin your bib below our logo. This ensures
our professional photographers capture you
at the Mercy Mile. Weather can be very
unpredictable, particularly in October.
Watch the forecast leading up to race day.
Wondering what to wear? There are
several great online tools that will help you
decide. Here is one: What to Wear for
Marathon Race Day
Race day timeline
5:30 am Hero Headquarters opens
5:30 am Grant Park opens to runners
7:15 am Corrals A-E close (Wave 1, red)
7:30 am Wave #1 starts
7:45 am Corrals F-K close (Wave 2, blue)
8:00 am Wave #2 starts
8:10 am Corrals L-N close (W3, orange)
8:35 am Wave 3 starts
8:20 am First shuttle departs from HQ
9:30 am Grant Park opens to spectators
2:00 pm Last shuttle departs from
Mercy Home Cheer Station
4:30 pm Doors close at Hero HQ
Thank you for going the
distance for the kids at
Mercy Home!
Thank you to our
generous sponsors