"The Chicago Marathon is our city’s beloved annual celebration of more than 45,000 runners, as well as tens of thousands of volunteers, spectators and city residents, all of whom come together race weekend as one community here in our city," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. "Like all Chicagoans, I’m personally disappointed that this year’s event won’t take place as originally planned, however, we look forward to welcoming all runners and their cheering squads once again when the Chicago Marathon returns to our city in full force for another very exciting race."
Registered race participants will have the choice to receive a refund for their entry or defer their place and entry fee to a future marathon -- in 2021, 2022 or 2023.
"Hope drives us as runners and as humans," Chicago Marathon race executive director Carey Pinkowski said in a statement. "My hope was to see everyone on the start line on Sunday, October 11, but our highest priority has always been the safety of our participants and our volunteers. We understand the disappointment, but when we return to the streets of Chicago, it will be a celebratory moment and an uncompromising statement about the collective spirit of who we are as a running community: We are powerful, we are persistent and we will reach the finish line again."