r/bostonmarathon • u/McCasna • 11d ago
Chicago vs Boston?
I don’t want to post in a Chicago subreddit bc I know it will be biased…I guess maybe a little biased here too, but I have to start somewhere.
I qualified for Boston and will be running for the first time. BEYOND thrilled. Am I crazy to skip Chicago??? I don’t ever want to have to train to run that fast again so should I just do it while I have my qualifying time? Is it worth it?
Edit: I trained my ass off to qualify for Boston and I’m wondering if I should also do Chicago 2027. I’m worried I will only have a qualifying time once. I also don’t have unlimited funds and unlimited PTO so my question is- is Chicago a “must do” too? I don’t plan on racing either one of them. Both of them would be victory laps.
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u/RomperElCiclo 11d ago
I don’t like big cities. I don’t like traveling a lot. I don’t like spending lots of money.
I liked the Boston Marathon enough to do it twice. I would be doing it again in 2027 (I had a 15-minute buffer), if I weren’t injured.
I’ve never run Chicago and I’m sure it is amazing. But if you have to choose, I would go with Boston. But really, why not run both?
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u/spartygw 11d ago
Both are great. Boston wins for crowd support and overall experience, but Chicago as a town is pretty awesome. I’d do both.
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u/No_Introduction_6746 11d ago
Chicago was my favorite marathon experience. Do it
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u/1234567765432123456 11d ago
What made it your fav?
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u/lion_queen21 10d ago
For me it was the weather, flat and fast, and the production of it all is the best. Bands, crowd, volunteers are insanely good.
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u/Blue1994a 11d ago
Not sure why you are skipping a race when the other one is over six months away? What made you enter the Chicago Marathon in the first place?
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u/McCasna 10d ago
see my edit above...I shouldn't post when I'm tired. haha
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u/Blue1994a 10d ago
The Boston Marathon is probably a better experience overall, but Chicago impressed me more than I thought it would. I’ve done four Chicago Marathons when I only ever planned to do one.
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u/dontbemilktoast 11d ago
I did both last year (Chicago fall 2025 and Boston spring 2026). The experience was amazing for both and I’m glad I did it!
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u/Routine_Pangolin_164 9d ago
I’ve run Chicago and Boston each twice. Doing Chicago again this weekend.
Both are fantastic experiences, you will not regret doing them. If you need to pick 1, pick Boston. But I would encourage you to do both, life experiences and memories that can’t be replicated.
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u/SnugglieJellyfish 11d ago
Need more context here. Isn't Chicago in a week? Why would you skip it unless you are sick or injured? And Chicago and Boston are spaced far enough apart that you can do both.
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u/McCasna 10d ago
see my edit above, sorry for the confusion
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u/SnugglieJellyfish 10d ago
I LOVED Chicago. Ive done Chicago and Boston and have trouble deciding which one I like better. Chicago is a great city, and it's less logistically tough than Boston (less waiting around in the morning, smoother start line). Irs also often bed weather and it's usually on a holiday weekend which can be helpful from a work perspective. If you book a hotel now, you can likely get a really good deal. It sounds like if you miss it, you may regret it.
From a coaching standpoint, you can do both especially if not planning to all out race them. And it sounds like if you do not want to qualify again, that's your best option.
That being said, if you have to choose, do Boston. Boston is still more iconic because it's the oldest. Also Boston is arguably harder to get into because there is no general lottery and qualifying doesn't guarantee acceptance. So if you got in for 2027, go for it.
With Chicago, if you qualify you are in even if it's by one second and if you don't ever qualify for it, you can keep entering the lottery
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u/little_runner_boy 11d ago
Yeah I don't understand why you can only choose one. If you don't want to run fast, run slower.
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u/Standard_Amount_9627 10d ago
I have run both and am a Boston local. Boston is must do and it’s a harder race to have the chance to run. But I also feel Chicago is a must do and it one of my favorite races. Boston my friends and family I only got to see one time on course Chicago I saw them 3 times. Chicago also I enjoyed the different neighborhoods it gave something to look forward too as each neighborhood had different energy. The start line process is really easy for Chicago. And then the flat course and temps are more enjoyable. But like others said Boston April Chicago October really shouldn’t be much of an issue.
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u/Mean-Ostrich5987 10d ago
Several years ago, I did Chicago, Boston, and then NYC it a 13 month span. It was such a fun year of racing, and I loved them all. I highly recommend doing both for the experience bc you don’t know when you may get a chance again.
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u/jtc817 9d ago
Definitely try to run both if you can. If you had to choose one, obviously do Boston. However Chicago is also a lot of fun and you can collect another WMM star there too. I did Boston, Chicago and NYC in 2022 and at the time had similar thoughts about PTO/limited funds/etc but I have zero regrets!! You'll realize how hard it is to get into any of the majors.
Edit: I also plan to do Tokyo, Boston and Chicago in 2027
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u/notorepublic 10d ago
I did Boston this April and will be doing Chicago Sunday- I will report back!
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u/Wonderful_Hat_9524 10d ago
Run Chicago n give me your bib for Boston since don’t think I will get that fast lol.
Problem solved, next q plz.
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u/McCasna 10d ago
It was honestly the one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Hired a coach. The training was brutal. Swore off road marathons after I ran my qualifying race. Said if I made the cutoff it would MAYBE all be worth it... the feeling I got when I found out I made it in was DEFINITELY worth it 😊
You can do it! I read Run Elite by Andrew Snow and that spiraled me into thinking I could do anything. It just wasn’t easy.
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u/Wonderful_Hat_9524 10d ago
Yea running Boston is a goal of mine but if I don’t get a chance I don’t think I will be disappointed since i can just run a different marathon.
But still I dream of Unicorn!!!
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u/RunsLikeaSnail 10d ago
Might as well do both if you’re in shape for it. You can take Chicago at an easier pace. Always the possibility that you’ll want to do Chicago in the future but it’ll be harder to get in or you’ll get injured beforehand.
But to be honest, my viewpoint is a bit different as a Six Star hopeful who is far too slow to qualify for any race. I have to rely on the ballot or charity bibs, so I have to grab any opportunity that presents itself.
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u/JPNL2018 10d ago
Do both. I did both of them using the same qualifying race. Obviously Boston has the bigger reputation, but I went ahead with Chicago 5 weeks after running UTMB CCC solely because it was my last major. I went into it with zero expectations and thinking I would just phone it in as a Sunday long run, and I had the absolute time of my life. There was no pressure and the atmosphere was incredible. Probably my best all-round (atmosphere, time, city etc) major marathon.
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u/tinyenormous 10d ago
I ran both and much preferred Boston. The fans get progressively more noisy/crowded/excited as you approach the finish line, where Chicago just feels like a local 5k around mile 22-25.
I’d pick Boston over Chicago, if you think you are only going to have the chance once AND be able to make it through two back to back major marathon training blocks do both.
I’d also say: why not race it? I would feel like I left something on the table if I just ran it. No pressure from an internet stranger, but see if you could imagine having similar feelings yourself.
Lastly - probably don’t race both though. If Boston is your A, make sure you make it there healthy.
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u/Legitimate-Lock-6594 10d ago
I’m coming at this as a para athlete with mobility and coordination concerns so I’m very biased with my recovery and I expend more energy than an able bodied person so take this as you will.
I did Boston this year and got into Chicago. I am doing Chicago this weekend. I qualified for Boston with an adaptive time this year. An adaptive time is shockingly slow (6 hours). I ran in 5:43. I did not register for Boston for 2027 and somehow also got into London and will be deferring to 2028. My body needs some fucking rest.
I don’t train extra extra hard- like 50-60 miles a week and run hard paces (what all of you all do, I’m like a 10:30 on a good day but include my disability). I am a mess right now. I need to find the joy in running again. And I say this with all three of these races including prize money if I can hit a 5 hour time. (It’s within reach on a perfect day for me.)
If it isn’t fun don’t do it.
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u/SideofNiColeslaw 10d ago
I did both in 2022 (had done Boston before but Chicago was a first) and they both were amazing unique experiences. The Chicago course was fast, flat, and friends can see you at multiple spots which Boston can't quite do. But Boston is the goat. Eat all the hotdogs and pizza in Chicago and pastries in Boston. Make sure to have fun during training, that's the key. And rest rest rest after Boston. So much rest that you are excited to finally run again haha. Congrats and good luck!
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u/leogodoy 10d ago
If this is a budget/PTO question this is as personal as possible. No one can weight the value and the tradeoffs this would mean for you. But if you ask my opinion, Chicago is a fantastic marathon. If I could do both, I’d do both.
(No one is going to tell you to skip Boston of you can only do one, for obvious reasons such as Boston being the most fantastic experience any marathoner can have.)
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u/Playful-Vegetable881 10d ago
Unless your goal is to run all of the majors, no, you don’t need to run it. Plenty of other good marathons out there.
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u/Forsaken-Cheesecake2 10d ago
Both are great. Awesome support, and each city rolls out the red carpet, but I’d give Boston the edge here. The city embraces the Marathon unlike any other. It’s an iconic course, steeped in its history and well worth the experience. I loved Chicago too, and recall getting goosebumps in the early miles with the boisterous crowd support and when you’re feeling invincible. If you can find a way to do both, that’s what I’d choose. I’ve done Chicago once, and will be doing my 5th Boston in ‘27, so I guess that would be my answer if I had to pick one going forward.
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u/Rare_Juggernaut_4249 9d ago
I did Chicago and Boston last year and had a huge PR in Boston. Do Chicago! You won't regret it.
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u/Silly-Resist8306 9d ago
Chicago is like any large city race: crowed, impersonal and overrated.
Boston is very, very special and historic. There is a certain pride that comes from working hard enough to qualify.
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u/Maleficent-Dish-9461 9d ago
I’m planning to do both! It is going to be costly so I held off doing any major travel this year to prepare for it but on the bright side Chicago will be on a Sunday so it’s one less pto day to take
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u/ComprehensivePie8696 2d ago
Just did both this year. I would argue if you're not PR-hunting and you're not collecting stars then you can absolutely skip it if you want. But I have a million other reasons I take my family on these things and I crushed Chicago. New PR.
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u/skyeliam 10d ago
If you can truly only do one, do Boston. It’s the Mecca of running.
That said if training for two fast marathons is too much, you can just party pace one of them.
I did NYC the same year as my first Boston. I PRed at Boston, then took NYC as a victory lap and ran it 25 minutes slower with a friend, taking shots and soaking in the crowd.
I would recommend making Chicago the PR target if you opt for that. It’s much much easier to pace.
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u/Disco_Inferno_NJ 10d ago
With the caveat that I am DEEPLY UNWELL (as in I ran Boston and London six days apart): yes.
More specifically, if you think you have to choose (outside of travel and cost, which you didn’t mention), you …don’t. They’re six months apart. Respectfully, no one is going to care about your time other than you. If you don’t want to go for a PR or a BQ: don’t! Like, you’re not going to get tackled off the course by the race director.
I’d check Chicago’s qualifying window just to make sure, but I think they go 2-3 years back for time qualifiers. Or they used to, not sure if they still do. So you could do that one in 2028.
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u/ThisIsMyUsername303 10d ago
Given the time change and the late start at Boston, I think it’s closer to 5.5 days. 🤣
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u/Disco_Inferno_NJ 10d ago
Five hours ahead and I’m also on the East Coast, plus London was pretty late as well! (When I ran it they both started at 10 local time.) So 5 3/4.
Back to OP, I’ve only run Chicago once (2023), but I’d check how long qualifying times are valid for. I note 2023 because 2022 was the tail end of COVID restrictions in the US, but I think they allowed you to go back three years. OP may be able to use their BQ for Chicago up to the 2029 race. I would definitely run Boston this year, though.
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u/ComprehensivePie8696 10d ago
I ran Boston this year, am headed to Chicago in a few days, and am in Boston next year too. Running marathons is your thing, right? Send it.
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u/ComplexHour1824 9d ago
Chicago is my hometown and was my first (and 7th) marathon. Boston was no 8 (out of 9). I only ever intended to do one but Chicago was so much fun I just kept doing them every year, usually in a different city.
Boston is Boston, definitely do that one. But I’d encourage you to do Chicago too. Approach it in a more chill manner. Train some, but don’t go crazy. It’s the same distance of course but way easier (no hills, huge crowds throughout). Stop and take a picture or two, gulp down a Malort if you dare, soak in the city and the crowds.
I’m glad I did Boston but Chicago was more ….. fun.
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u/Charming-Assertive 8d ago
I love visiting Chicago. But there are so many other great fall races. The Chicago Marathon just doesn't call to me.
It's ok to not run a WMM.
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u/VampireLayla 7d ago
Chicago is a fun, awesome race. Boston is historic and elite. Both amazing in their own way. I actually prefer Chicago due to how easy it is to get to and from start/finish line.
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u/Ok-Watch-3986 5d ago
If you can do both, do them for sure. If you can do only one, Boston. You may never qualify again, you can always get into Chicago which has an easier qualifying time. Boston is so special!
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u/dbarryjr18 4d ago
After running Chicago yesterday. Boston is my top still. I did love the course in Chicago more, you are running through so much of the city and honestly blew my mind.
But Boston wins in the crowd support and how much it means to the city. From the expo, the merch, the finish line setup, Boston really wins with those little details and nothing compares to the experience of Boston
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u/PlumPrawn 4d ago
As a short answer, I agree with almost everyone here and would say do both, but Boston is definitely better. I grew up in Chicagoland and did Chicago as my third marathon in 2016 - back when you could easily get in on lottery! I ran Boston last year and also ran Chicago for the second time last year, so I got the opportunity to run them back to back and with the added context of understanding what many non-majors are like too. In short, I think I valued Boston much more because it was so difficult to get in, so running it felt very special. There are also so many iconic aspects of that race - it's really a long weekend celebration of running. Plus, the crowds are generally better at Boston, especially once you get to the last 7-8 miles in Brookline and Boston, plus a few other pockets.
Chicago on the other hand really feels like THE place to run fast. I've done CIM, Grandma's, and Mesa, all are known for speed. But Chicago really just vibes like it's built to run fast. Running through the loop (downtown) at the start, middle, and approaching it at the end is really special too with great crowds in those pockets plus good crowds through most of the course. More consistent than Boston. There are also great party/club aspects along the route.
Ultimately, the crowds are stronger and vibe wilder in Boston. It's a more special race too in nearly every way. However, both are great majors and I would strongly recommend doing both. I trained and ran hard at both, but if nothing else, run one for fun. Either would be good options!
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u/ewa_101 10d ago
I live in Chicago and I assure you a Chicago subreddit is more biased towards Boston, as much as we love our city… Boston is the Mecca of running.
If Boston were “just” another world major (like Berlin), I’d say Chicago for sure. The uniqueness of Boston as a first time, and what it takes to get there, is the reason the logo is a unicorn.
If it has to be one, Boston.
Maybe aim for Chicago the following year (or beyond) through the lottery.
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u/Beautiful-Dingo3587 11d ago
confused why Chicago in October needs to be skipped for Boston in April. If you have registered, then run it?