Chicago Half Marathon Celebrates 25 Years on September 25 with ‘All Things Chicago’ Theme

September 15, 2022

Chicago musician NNAMDÏ to perform for more than 10,000 runners at post-race finish festival; Famed Willis Tower to host Healthy Way of Life Expo

CHICAGO – (September 15, 2021) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The HOKA Chicago Half Marathon produced by Life Time will celebrate its 25^th anniversary as the Windy City’s most established and iconic half marathon on September 25. In recognition of the historic milestone, race organizer Life Time has created an ‘All Things Chicago’ theme for the 10,000+ runners who signed up for the half-marathon and popular 5K distances. Beloved Chicago artist, NNAMDÏ, will perform at a post-race festival, and the event expo will be hosted at Chicago’s historic Willis Tower. Runners from 49 states and 38 countries will descend upon Chicago to participate in this year’s commemorative events.

“From our incredible expo venue to finish festival entertainment and eats, we’re thrilled to infuse the spirit of the city we love into all aspects of event weekend,” said Allison Humbert Wilkinson, Sr. Marketing Manager at Life Time. “We’re proud to host such a large and diverse audience from across the country and around the globe as we celebrate the ‘golden birthday’ of this event with them.”

Popular local indie artist and producer, NNAMDÏ, will perform in Jackson Park on Sunday. The performance is just ahead of the October 7 release of his upcoming album, Please Have A Seat from Secretly Canadian / Sooper Records, and national tour. NNAMDÏ also has received accolades from NPR and The New Yorker, among others, and was named 2020 Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Tribune.

Well known for its oversized finisher’s medal, this year’s version is intricately inscribed with 25 uniquely-Chicago emblems, including Buckingham Fountain, Art Institute Chicago’s regal lions (the city’s unofficial mascot), and a folding chair featuring the word ‘dibs’ (from the local practice of reserving shoveled-out parking spots during the winter months). The post-race finish festival will also feature Chicago-themed food for runners.

The event weekend kicks off with the grand opening of Life Time Lake Zurich on Friday, Sept. 23. Lake Zurich joins twelve other Chicagoland Life Time destinations, including at River North – the first downtown location which opened earlier this year.

Willis Tower, the second tallest building in North America and staple of the Chicago skyline, will play host to the event’s Healthy Way of Life Expo, serving as the packet pickup location and bringing together sponsors, vendors, retailers, and nutritionists with the latest gear, product sampling and health and wellness information.

The Half Marathon commences in historic Jackson Park and winds through the picturesque Hyde Park neighborhood and University of Chicago campus. Runners turn south on Lake Shore Drive and are met with views of the skyline, Lake Michigan, and Museum of Science and Industry. The half marathon and 5K distances share a finish line at the Golden Statue of the Republic in Jackson Park.

Life Time owns and produces a portfolio of iconic athletic events, including the Chicago Spring Half Marathon (May), Chicago Triathlon (August), and Turkey Trot Chicago (November).

Registration for both distances are still available. For more information, visit www.chicagohalfmarathon.com. For more information about Life Time, visit www.lifetime.life.

About Life Time^®, Inc.

Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of nearly 160 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada. The company’s healthy way of life communities and ecosystem address all aspects of healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment for people 90 days to 90+ years old. Supported by a team of more than 30,000 dedicated professionals, Life Time is committed to providing the best programs and experiences through its clubs, iconic athletic events and comprehensive digital platform.

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