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Event staff and key volunteers

Welcome to the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Event Staff and Key Volunteer webpage! Below you will find information on the following, which will help you prepare for race week and gain a better understanding of event staff expectations.

  • Transportation options
  • Expense reimbursement policy
  • Event staff payments
  • Check-In Information

Transportation Options

Public transportation

Grant Park and the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo are easily accessible by public transit. We highly recommend this option for race week travel. Visit transitchicago.com or metra.com to view schedules and plan your commute.

Parking

Course

For event staff and key volunteers working on the course, please coordinate with your captain on the parking that is available near your check-in location.

Expo

Parking will be available to all Abbott Health & Fitness Expo attendees at McCormick Place Parking Lots A and C for a reduced rate of $13 (Thursday, October 8 – Saturday, October 10 only).

To receive the discounted rate, pick up a parking validation card with a QR code from volunteers located near the exit of the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo. When paying for parking at the exit kiosk, scan your parking ticket first, then scan the QR code on the validation card to reduce the parking fee from $27 to $13 before completing your payment.

Please note, parking is available throughout the McCormick Place campus for $27. Parking Lots A and C are the only parking lots eligible for the reduced $13 parking rate (Thursday, October 8 – Saturday, October 10).

Visit chicagomarathon.com/expoparking for driving directions to McCormick Place Parking Lots A and C.

Grant Park

Event staff and key volunteers (local and non-local) working the event can park at Millennium Garages and will be provided a voucher upon checking in at your check-in location in Grant Park. The event will not reimburse for parking expenses, unless otherwise approved in writing in advance of the event.

When staff are assigned parking one or more mile(s) away from their assigned hotel accommodation, they can expense a rideshare to their hotel from Millennium Garages.

Bike to Grant Park

Public bike racks are located around the perimeter of Grant Park. Please note that we do not allow bike storage within the Harrison Volunteer Compound.

Divvy stations are located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard, as well as the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive for your convenience.

On race day, World Bicycle Relief will provide a free bike valet for participants and volunteers at the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street. Bikes may be stored starting at 4 a.m. and must be picked up by 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. Individuals are encouraged to bring a bike lock in the event the Bike Valet has reached capacity.

Expense Reimbursement Policy

The event will provide meals during required work shifts at Packet Pick-up and Grant Park. Staff are not eligible for reimbursement if they choose to forgo a provided meal. When no meal is provided or work duties prevent staff from taking the provided meal, reimbursement is available as follows: up to $15 for breakfast, up to $20 for lunch, up to $35 for dinner. A receipt must be submitted through the expense reimbursement form to receive the reimbursement.

If you have food allergies, please fill out this form by Friday, September 25 so we can accommodate.

Click here for more information on the event expense reimbursement policy.

Event staff payments

In keeping with best practices, it is our policy to collect a new, completed Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and Certification, if four or more years have passed since your last submission. If you are new to the event or have moved since the last time you worked with us, please complete a W-9.

Return your completed W-9 via email to eventstaff@cemevent.com. If we have your completed W-9 on file by the event, you can expect to receive your payment within 30 days of the event (Tuesday, November 10, 2026).

Check-In Information

Event staff and key volunteers are required to check in at one of the Aid Stations, Course Marshal Check-In locations, the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo Race Office or the Grant Park Race Office before reporting to their event roles, depending on what their race week confirmation email details.

Chicago Event Management produces the Bank of America Chicago marathon. To learn more about CEM and additional opportunities within the Chicago running community, visit cemevent.com, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.