Marathon Majors: How Chicago Runs a World-Class Event

Greetings from Chicago, where I just spent a few days.

I have a special relationship with the City. My first time there was in 1987. I was interning at Michelin and leading a North American backhoe loader market study. Believe it or not, no tires were conceived for that particular equipment—exciting, right?

Despite the higher crime rate, there was already much to love about the City back in the eighties. The city skyline was blooming, and the views from the top of the Sears Tower were unobstructed. The beautiful waterfront and culinary experiences were already there. 

And yes, for a 22-year-old man, house music was a significant discovery, and I remember bringing back home a bunch of exceptional vinyls.

But I digress.

What brought me back to Chicago this year was the marathon.

The Chicago Marathon was my third race in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world. These races, including New York and Boston, attract elite runners and enthusiasts alike, and the Chicago Marathon certainly lived up to its reputation.

Another massive event with 50,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers, and close to 2 million spectators, the Chicago Marathon is a favorite of road runners like me because of its impeccable organization.

Unlike the Boston Marathon, which has strict qualifying standards and is often seen as an elite event, the Chicago Marathon is accessible to runners of all levels.

The course is a fantastic showcase of the City, taking runners through twenty-nine very diverse neighborhoods. 

Its flat terrain makes it ideal for world records and personal bests.

Last but not least, the community is ever present, cheering and celebrating —not as intense as Boston or New York, but close!

While I’m not an expert in the ‘big event’ segment, I must admit that the Chicago Marathon organizers once again delivered a top-notch event.

Quite a few best practices could inspire any leader in other industries. Here are three that came to mind:

Strategic Planning and Relationships

Although the race organization is now a well-oiled machine after forty-six years, it’s obvious the Chicago Marathon team plans years in advance, coordinating with city officials and sponsors, amongst others, to ensure a successful event and create a positive experience for all.

It’s similar to how influential leaders engage in long-term strategic planning, involving key stakeholders and considering all the factors and scenarios that could impact success. They also recognize the importance of successfully managing relationships and balancing different needs and interests.

Adaptability and Risk Management

Beyond the massive number of participants, volunteers, and spectators, the volatile weather conditions call for advanced risk management. The organizers have implemented an Event Alert System to communicate course conditions and have strict rules to ensure participant safety. It was all green this Sunday.

Again, a parallel can be drawn with how the best managers anticipate potential risks and develop systems to mitigate them, ensuring clear communication protocols and being ready to adapt their strategies in response to changing circumstances.

Volunteers and Community Engagement

Ten thousand volunteers is a massive number of people to recruit, train, and coordinate. In itself, it’s already a significant feat. But what’s even more impressive is that these volunteers become ambassadors for the City and their communities. You can feel the pride, which is contagious, and it creates that magic sense of camaraderie among Chicagoans and runners.

It takes great leadership to motivate and organize such large teams, including volunteers, to achieve common goals. The best leaders also know how to leverage this to create a positive organizational culture and engage with the broader community.