Event Details
- General Information
- Health & Fitness Expo
- Course Information
- Pacing Teams
- Medals and Awards
- Official Rules
- Medical Information
- Subscribe to the Penguin Times
General Information
Start Times
- 6:30am Half Marathon Start
- 6:25am Half Marathon Wheelchair Start
To ensure the safety of all participants, The Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon presented by Bank of America does not permit any other wheeled devices such as bicycles, roller blades, baby joggers or scooters on the course. Pets are not allowed on course.
ChampionChip® Timing System
All Half Marathon participants will receive a Black ChampionChip® timing device in their Race Packet. This chip must be affixed to your shoe (instructions will be provided with the chip) in order for you to have an official finish time. Black chips must be returned at the end of the Race.
Participants who own a Yellow ChampionChip® MUST provide their yellow chip I.D. number on the entry form when applying online.
YOU MUST WEAR YOUR CHIP TO BE TIMED! NO CHIP, NO TIME.
Health & Fitness Expo
Location: Chicago Hilton and Towers, 720 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
- Friday August 8th, 11am – 7pm
- Saturday August 9th, 9am – 6pm
Expo Speakers Schedule 2008 (100 KB)
The expo is FREE and open to the public. Stop by the expo for great deals on clothing and shoes from the 30 vendors, seminars by John "The Penguin Bingham" and Coach Jenny, and food samples.
All Chicago Distance Classic athletes must stop by the expo to pick up their race packets (bib and ChampionChip® device), t-shirt and goody bag. If the cap of 15,000 has not been reached, race weekend registration will take place at the expo.
There is no race day registration or packet pickup.
Vendors who are interested in purchasing a booth or placing an item in the participant goody bags, please contact Beth Salinger at bsalinger@johnbingham.com or 312-573-1737.
Course Information
Pacing Teams
The Reebok Pace Teams, presented by Chicago Endurance Sports are available to help pace you to your best half marathon, whether you want guidance finishing your first half marathon, have fun with a group, set a personal record, or qualify for the ELITE START CORRALS for The Bank of America Chicago Marathon Start Corrals.
The Chicago Endurance Sports Pacers will lead groups for the following finish times:
- **1:25 (6:29 pace)
- **1:35 (7:15 pace)
- **1:45 (8:00 pace)
- **1:50 (8:32 pace)
- 2:00 (9:09 pace)
- 2:15 (10:18 pace — there will be pacers that run continuously as well as Run-Walk at a 5/1 run to walk ratio in this pace group)
- 2:30 (11:27 pace — there will be pacers that run continuously as well as Run-Walk at a 8/2 run to walk ratio in this pace group)
- 2:45 (12:35 pace — the pacer will Run-Walk at a 5/1 run to walk ratio in this pace group)
- 3:00 (13:44 pace — the pacer will Run-Walk at a 4/2 run to walk ratio in this pace group)
- 3:15 (14:53 pace — the pacer will Run-Walk at a 3/2 run to walk ratio in this pace group)
- 3:30 (16:01 pace — the pacer will walk in this pace group)
- 4:00 (18:40 pace — the pacer "Balloon Cuties" will walk in this pace group)
Participation in the Pacing Teams is free and open to all runners and walkers. To participate in the Reebok Pace Teams, it is recommended to the line up at start area of the race 20-25 minutes before the race begins to find your pacing team and meet the leaders. Each Pace Leader will be holding a Finish Time sign (e.g. 2:30). Look for your pace leader and line up in that group. You do not need to register or sign up for the Pace Team.
While at The Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon presented by Bank of America Health and Fitness Expo, stop by the Chicago Endurance Sports booth to meet pace leaders and ask questions. Ask Coach Jenny Hadfield questions regarding the 2008 Reebok Pace Teams by emailing her here.
**These pace group finish times are geared to runners trying to qualify for the Lettered Start Corrals for The Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Read more about The Bank of America Chicago Marathon Start Corrals here.
Medals and Awards
Finisher Medals
All Half Marathon finishers will receive a Penguin Finishers medal.
Age Division Awards
Age Division Awards will be presented in The Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon presented by Bank of America.
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each age group for men and women, starting with under 15, then 15-19, 20-24 etc. up to 80-plus.
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall men and women, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall masters men and women.
Official Rules
Half Marathon Rules & Regulations Applicable to all Participants
- You MUST be 14 years of age or older on Race Day to register for the Half Marathon. If under 18 years of age, you MUST have a parent or legal guardian sign the entry form waiver.
- Participants must begin the Half Marathon during the Official Start and complete the Half Marathon Course within 4 hours after the Official Start.
- There will be no registration refunds or transfers.
- Each participant MUST wear a ChampionChip® in order to receive a time. Participants who own a Yellow ChampionChip® may use it in The Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon presented by Bank of America by entering the chip number on the printed entry form or during online registration. Participants who do not own a Yellow ChampionChip® will receive a Race issued ChampionChip® in their Packet.
- All participants are responsible for returning their issued ChampionChip®. A $30 charge will be charged to participants if the ChampionChip® is not returned.
- Baby joggers, pets, in-line skates, bicycles and other non-official wheeled vehicles are prohibited on the course.
- All Half Marathon participants MUST pick up their packets Friday, August 8 or Saturday, August 9 at the Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Avenue, during regular Expo hours. There will be NO Race Day Packet Pick-Up.
- Any athletes who qualify for prize money and are neither citizens nor residents of the United States may be subject to Income Tax withholding, which will be deducted from the prize money as required by law.
- Bib Numbers are non-transferable and MUST be worn only by the participant to whom it is assigned.
- Headphones are prohibited on course.
- Half Marathon Officials reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to modify, supplement or waive all or part of the
Official Rules. Participants shall be bound by any modification or supplement of the Official Rules published prior to
The Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon presented by Bank of America.
- Failure to follow these Official Rules, as may be amended, will result in immediate disqualification, loss of prize money (including Bonus prize money, if any), and ejection from the Race course.
Additional Wheelchair Participant Rules & Regulations
- Wear helmets at all times. Participants who do not have a helmet will not receive a ChampionChip® and will be prohibited entry on the course, or ejected from the course if a Participant removes his/her helmet after the start.
- Yield to the RIGHT side on the Half Marathon course when other athletes or Official Vehicles approach to pass.
- Pay close attention to Course Marshals and Race Officials and comply with any requests made during the Race.
- Wheelchair participants will receive two Bib Numbers. All Bib Numbers MUST be visible and worn on the front, back and outside of all clothing during the entire race.
- Hand-crank chairs are not eligible for entry or prize money.