The Chicago Marathon was held on Sunday, October 9. Weather on race day was practically perfect (IMO) - in the mid-50s to lower 60s depending on when/how long you were out there. Mostly sunny. This was my second consecutive year running this event, and personally it went much better than the previous year.

PROS:
+ An expo like no other. So many great vendors, products, and Chicago Marathon clothing.
+ Expo was two days, practically all day. Friday 9a–8p and Saturday 9a–6p at McCormick Place.
+ Validation for parking - $10.
+ Getting your packet is so easy. You go to the first table to get your QR code scanned and show ID, they direct you to a table number in which they give you your bib in an envelope, then you head inside to grab your shirt from the back. You could also exchange if needed. Loved the neon yellow shirts this year.
+ Some of the best spectators around! A few dead patches for me (slower runners get a little less as people move on from their spots to see their runner and whatnot), but for a lot of it, the crowd support was amazing. Really helped push me when I was starting to feel tired and sluggish.
+ 20 aid stations along the course ALWAYS (lemon-lime) Gatorade first and water second. Never confusion. I was even able to fill up my own bottle with water around mile 18 as most of the aid stations had volunteers with jugs of water for this purpose.
+ Plenty of Toilet facilities with the aid stations as well as medical support.
+ Aid stations 15–18 had bananas (though they were all out except for at 18 when I passed through).
+ Volunteers were amazing.
+ Great course running through 29 Chicago neighborhoods.
+ At the finishers chute you receive your medal, a mylar blanket, bottled water, a plastic bag filled with: Boom Chika Pop Sweet Kettle Popcorn, Nature Valley Oats N Honey bar, Sun Chips Harvest Cheddar, Snyders pretzels, Brookside dark chocolate covered goji and raspberry flavors, PowerBar Protein Plus, and a teriyaki stick, and you could take photo with a MarathonFoto photographer with the Chicago Marathon backdrop, and grab your 312 beer before heading to the finisher party (or grab your gear check).
+ Protein drinks.

CONS:
- No electrolytes at the finish other than a small cup of Gatorade. A bottle would have been appreciated to chug at the finish haha.
- One minor 'complaint' is having to walk another mile to get from the finish to the after party. After running 26.2 miles, runners are pretty tired. I get why that's how it's set up, but boy did that walk seem loooong haha.

OTHER:
• Since it's a World Major Marathon, and participants numbers are so high, they went to an application process maybe three years ago? So you submit your application (this year in April I think it was), and then you find out in May if you were accepted. It's an anxious month waiting to hear whether you are in or not.
• Security check going into the runner area (before the start - blocked off to spectators) - wand check and then bag check. I'm totally ok with these procedures as I believe in the safety of everyone participating.
• Since it is such a large race (50,000 participants about), you have to leave plenty of time to get there and use the bathrooms, gear check, and then you're stuck in your corral for about an hour if you are towards the back. I was in the last corral, so it was an hour wait (though we were moving up towards the start line for 30 minutes) till the start. Just something to be aware of.
• The areas where bananas were passed out was rough - I slipped on a few banana peels - not cool. I know volunteers can't get that cleared up because of the amount of runners, but I ask if you are a banana eater, then please throw your peel to the sides of the course if you can. Someone I know said it was like Mario Kart out there, and I totally agree.
• After party ends at 3:30, so if you start in the last coral and are on the slower end, you won't have much time to enjoy this part of the race, but plenty of fun to be had in the city celebrating your achievement!

For me it was a much better experience than 2015. Weather was great, I was faster and so got to experience better crowd support and the finisher chute and after party. I'll be submitting an application for 2017 so fingers crossed!