One of Chicago’s few remaining independently-owned large races, the 11th Annual F^3 Lake Half Marathon & 5k is Chicago’s Original Winter Half Marathon. Each year thousands of runners flock to this community-built event, gathering in the warmth of Soldier Field’s United Club before tackling wind & weather along a lakefront course which features splits every 5km. A must for anyone preparing for a spring marathon, or just resolving to stay fit in 2020
The 2020 Race is sold out
Click above to verify your registration information
Click above to learn how to switch from the Half Marathon to the 5K. Please note there is a $10 administrative change fee to switch distances.
| Date | Location |
| Saturday, January 11th 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Fleet Feet - Schererville 635 E US Highway 30 Schererville, IN 46375 |
| Sunday, January 12th 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Fleet Feet - Elmhurst 124 Schiller Ave Elmhurst, IL 60126 |
| Saturday, January 18th 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Fleet Feet - Old Town 1706 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60614 |
| Sunday, January 19th 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Fleet Feet - Deerfield 800 Waukegan Road Deerfield, IL 60015 |
| Monday, January 20th 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Fleet Feet - Oak Park 102 N Marion St Oak Park, IL 60301 |
| Thursday, January 23rd 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Running Excels 10328 S Western Ave Chicago, IL 60643 |
| Friday, January 24th 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Fleet Feet - South Loop 150 Roosevelt Rd Chicago, IL 60605 |
You can come to any of the packet pickups listed above, regardless of what you selected when you registered.
Can’t attend any pre-race day pickups? Add race day pickup here. The pre-paid race day pickup option closes at noon on the day before the race. After that you’ll need to pay $20 on race day.
8:00 am – Gear check opens
9:40 am – Group warm up inside the United Club
9:48 am – Half Marathon runners will be ushered outside to start line
10:00 am – Half Marathon starts
10:20 am – 5k Runners are ushered outside to the start line
10:30 am – 5k starts
11:00 am – Post-race party begins at Kroll’s
11:30 am – Awards table open for half marathon age group awards, and Awards ceremony for top 3 men and women in 5k
12:00 pm – Awards ceremony inside the United Club for top 5 men and women in the half marathon
1:30 pm – Course closes
1:40 pm – Gear check closes
Public Transportation
The RTA Travel Information Center provides scheduling information for all CTA, Metra and PACE services. Call (312) 836-7000 for more information. Once you arrive at Soldier Field, enter the stadium at Gate 6.
Driving from I-55
Take I-55, the Stevenson Expressway, northbound to Lake Shore Drive/Highway 41 North. Take Lake Shore Drive north to the 18th Drive exit.
Driving from I-290
Take I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway, east to Congress Parkway. Take Congress Parkway to Columbus Drive. Turn right and take Columbus Drive south to the 18th Drive exit.
Driving from I-90/94
Take I-90/94, the Dan Ryan Expressway, north to the Lake Shore Drive/22nd street exit. Stay to the right and exit to Lake Shore Drive. Take Lake Shore Drive/Highway 41 north to the 18th Drive exit.
Driving from I-94
Take I-94, the Kennedy Expressway, south to the Congress Parkway exit. Follow Congress Parkway to Columbus Drive. Turn right on Columbus Drive and follow Columbus south to the 18th Drive exit.
Parking is available in North Garage at Soldier Field. You can access the United Club from the 3rd level of the North Garage. You won’t have to go outside!
We recommend you pre-pay for your parking to save time! Purchase here, print out your barcode, and scan to enter on race day.
Click here for detailed directions to the North Garage.
Spectators and friends are welcome to join us before and during the race in the United Club and at the post-race party. Athletes, friends and family can sign up for race day messaging here to get real-time updates on the participant’s progress.
Our star team of photographers will be out taking photos of you as you run. As always, the photos will be available for free download after the event. If you see them, don’t forget to SMILE!
Our partners at Physicians Immediate Care are providing a state of the art photo booth at this year’s race. You will have the ability to take and print unlimited photos from your phone. Photos will be available for pick up at the Physicians Immediate Care table located in the United club the day of the race!
To get a personalized photo at the F3 Lake Half Marathon:
- Follow @visitphysicians on Instagram
- Take a photo using Instagram
- Use the hashtag #visitphysicians in your caption
- Pick up your photo at the hashtag printing station located at the Physicians Immediate Care booth!
FREE magnets to commemorate YOUR day! In the United Club!
Gear check opens at 8:00 am and closes at 1:40 pm.
It is located inside the United Club on the East Side of the building, on your left as you exit the North Garage.
Look for the line that corresponds to your bib number. There will be zip ties for you to secure your gear check tag to your bag. There is no specific bag you have to use; feel free to use any bag that will hold all of your belongings.
There are 4 aid stations on the half marathon course, each which you hit twice. Each aid station is equipped with KRā Sports Drink (first), water, first aid kit, and a bathroom.
The courses have been measured, with USATF Certification pending. Preliminary maps can be found here:
5km
HALF MARATHON
After you have raced head on over to Kroll’s for our after party! Kroll’s is the closest bar to Soldier Field and is easily accessed on foot over the 18th Street Bridge.
CARA is here to support you through winter and spring half marathon and marathon training. CARA’s winter and spring programs provide a day-by-day training plan from CARA Director of Training Leah Bohr, pacer led long runs by experienced group leaders, coach led mid-week speed work with CARA Coach Tom Cuffe, hydration support along your route with water and Gatorade Endurance, access to the NovaCare Injury Hotline, a weekly educational newsletter, a long sleeve tech shirt and more!
Train with the CES Winter Warriors! CES gives you the guidance, coaching, and motivation needed to achieve your fitness goals – no matter if that goal is to complete your first 5K, or to set a personal record in an Ironman Triathlon. Others simply hand their athletes the same schedule year after year and tell them to follow the person in front of them. We take an individualized approach to understanding your definition of achievement and then coach you every step of the way. Join CES and we’ll bring out the best endurance athlete in you. To learn more about Chicago Endurance Sports and the wide variety of training programs they offer, visit ChicagoEnduranceSports.c
Paced Finish Times
The Chicago Endurance Sports Pacers will lead groups for the following finish times (pace/mile):
- 1:30
- 1:40
- 1:50
- 2:00
- 2:10
- 2:20
- 2:30 – run/walk (5/1)
- 2:45 – run/walk (5/1)
- 3:00 – run/walk (4/2 or 3/2)
- 3:30 (sweep) walk
Tips for a Successful Race with the CES Pace Team
- Arrive to your starting corral early with enough time to find your pacer. Look for the bright sign with a finishing time at the top of a stick.
- Don’t weave in and out of participants in the first stretches of the race to stay with the pace team. Keep them in sight and conserve energy while allowing the crowd of runners to thin, and then rejoin them. If you are separated for other reasons, such as using the restroom, try to make up lost ground gradually.
- If your desired finish time is between the paces offered, start with the slower group and gradually speed up in the middle of the race. It’s much easier physically and mentally than dropping off the back of a faster group.
- Practice running with a pace bracelet or tattoo to find the easiest ways to read them while running and to make sure you are comfortable. You don’t want to rely on these items and then not be able to use them. This can be very stress inducing!
- Meet the runners around you. You share a common goal, and the camaraderie formed in these groups can be a major asset to your running. Have fun!
2020 Swag: Gloves & Long Sleeved Shirt
Choose an F3 shirt and gloves or, if that’s not your thing, choose to donate your swag (cash equivalent) to our charity partner Girls in the Game. The shirt is the same one that you saw F3 STAFFF wearing on race day 2019, and the gloves are very similar to the glove we did in 2015.
Just make your selection during registration! If you select the shirt & gloves they will be available at Packet Pick-Up.
Looking to show off your F3 pride every day of the week? Purchase an extra hat or sweatshirt here. Note: you’ll have to enter your information as if you were registering for the race. Don’t be alarmed!
All pre-purchased merchandise will be available at packet pickup. We may also have merch for sale on race day!
5K and Half Marathon Medals
All finishers get a medal! The 2020 medal is modeled after our 2019 swag and topped with a bottle opener. You know you want one!
Prize Money
The winners of our Half Marathon race will be taking home some serious cash! Male & Female Champions will also win a pair of Asics shoes!
1st Prize M/F: $500
2nd Prize M/F: $350
3rd Prize M/F: $250
4th Prize M/F: $175
5th Prize M/F: $125
And More!
Prizes for age group winners
Timing Splits every 5km
FREE photography downloads
Legendary post-race party
Bragging rights for life!