SECTION 1 | EVENT INFORMATION
The Bank of America Chicago 13.1 offers runners a unique experience, bringing a world-class half marathon to the neighborhoods of Chicago’s West Side. The 13.1-mile course weaves through the historic parks and boulevards of the West Side, starting and finishing in Garfield Park with scenic loops through Humboldt and Douglass Parks.
The third annual Bank of America Chicago 13.1 will take place on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
We encourage you to read through all the information in this section, as well as the section specific to your race day role. If you have any questions about the event after reading the guide, please reach out to your event contact or email eventstaff@cemevent.com or volunteer@chicago13point1.com.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Packet Pick-up
Roosevelt Collection (150 W. Roosevelt Road)
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Packet Pick-up
Roosevelt Collection (150 W. Roosevelt Road)
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
West Side Wellness Walk and Youth Events
Garfield Park
8:00 a.m. – West Side Wellness Walk bib pick-up begins
8:00 a.m. – Community tents open
8:45 a.m. – Pre-walk warm-up activity
9:00 a.m. – West Side Wellness Walk starts
10:00 a.m. – Youth events begin
11:00 a.m. – Youth events end
11:00 a.m. – Community tents close
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Race day
Garfield Park
5:30 a.m. – Gear check opens
5:30 a.m. – Start corrals open
6:50 a.m. – Wheelchair start
6:50 a.m. – Start corrals close
7:00 a.m. – Race start
8:00 a.m. – Race Day Festival begins
11:00 a.m. – Drink ticket sales close
11:00 a.m. – Gear check closes
11:30 a.m. – Race Day Festival ends
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Medical emergency: 312.586.7697 or 9-1-1
Event Support: 312.638.2022
Lost person: 312.586.7935
Media Inquiries: 312.586.7516
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING
TRANSPORTATION
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (CTA) TRANSIT TIPS
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) offers an economical and convenient way to check out all Chicago has to offer. Get to and from the race to most anywhere in Chicagoland for just $5. Use the Ventra app or simply tap-topay using Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or a Credit Card with contactless pay.
Take CTA to the start and finish line! Garfield Park is accessible via the Conservatory-Central Park Green Line station, the Pulaski-Congress Blue Line Station or the #20 and #126 buses. For information on CTA fares and transit directions to and from the event visit transitchicago.com.
RIDESHARE
Volunteers utilizing rideshare to access Garfield Park on race day will be dropped off at the intersection of Homan Avenue and Warren Boulevard (40 N. Homan Ave.) on the east side of Garfield Park.
RACE DAY BIKE PARKING
A courtesy secured valet bike corral will be available for participants and spectators at the northeast corner of Central Park Avenue and Madison Street within Garfield Park for bike parking. Bike valet will be monitored by event personnel.
DIVVY
Gear up for the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 with a swift and efficient start! Choose a Divvy bike or scooter for a convenient and environmentally-friendly way to reach the starting line. Forget the hassle of docking on race day; Divvy’s valet service at Central Park Avenue and 5th Avenue will handle your bike or scooter as you prepare to race. Activate your free ride unlock with code “DIVVYRACEDAY24” in the Divvy app. This special offer is available until Saturday, June 30, 2024.
PARKING
PACKET PICK-UP PARKING
Parking is available in the garage located at the Roosevelt Collection. Parking in the garage is free for the first two hours with validation available at Packet Pick-up.
RACE DAY PARKING
A shuttle service and parking will be available for free at the Halsted/Taylor Parking Structure with parking entrances at 760 W. Taylor Street and 763 W. Polk St, located on the campus of University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Shuttle service to and from Garfield Park will operate from 4:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. for event staff and volunteers. The first shuttle is anticipated to leave the UIC parking lot at 4:30 a.m. Service then resumes at 5:00 a.m. for event attendees, with service every 20 minutes to and from Garfield Park. The final shuttle will leave Garfield Park at 11:45 a.m. Shuttles will drop off and pick up participants in Garfield Park at Madison Street and St. Louis Avenue near Gate 1. If you plan to utilize the shuttle service, please plan to arrive at the parking lot no
later than 45 minutes prior to your desired arrival time in Garfield Park. For additional details on how to get to the parking lot and maps, visit chicago13point1.com/shuttle.
MEDIA INFORMATION
As a uniformed and credentialed volunteer, please do not speak to any member of the media on behalf of the event, or comment on any aspect of the event. If you are approached by a member of the media, please respond by saying, “I am not an approved spokesperson for the event,” and provide them with the following number to contact a member of the event’s media relations staff: 312.586.7516 .
LOST & FOUND
Lost and found items will be collected throughout race weekend. If you are looking for an item that was lost, please go to the nearest information tent for more information to confirm if your item was turned into the event lost and found. Following the event, items can be reclaimed through our Lost and found platform, available at chicago13point1.com/lostandfound. Items reclaimed post-event may be shipped to individuals for a shipping fee.
ASL INTERPRETATION SERVICES
Sign language interpreters will be available race weekend to assist participants who may need to utilize their service. Interpreters will be available at Packet Pick-up on Friday, June 7 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, June 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The interpreter will be located near the information area of Packet Pick-up. On race day, interpreters will be at the Adaptive Program tent from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Adaptive Program tent is located in Garfield Park on the northwest corner of Jackson Boulevard and Woodward Drive.
SUSTAINABILITY
The 2023 Bank of America Chicago 13.1 earned Evergreen Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport, a recognition reserved for sporting events that demonstrate the highest possible commitment to environmental and social responsibility. The Council for Responsible Sport is a not for profit organization which provides objective, independent verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work of sporting events. Responsible Sport certified events are some of the world’s leading examples of responsible sport in action, supporting sustainability and environmental consciousness.
The event sustainability program focuses on environmental stewardship, community engagement and outreach, accessibility and innovation. At the event, we encourage you to join us as we work to improve our efforts and reduce our footprint. Thank you for helping to make the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 a more sustainable event!
BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO DISTANCE SERIES
The Bank of America Chicago Distance Series is made up of Chicago’s premier racing portfolio: the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, Bank of America Chicago 13.1 and Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The three races span the outdoor running season and celebrate the vibrant and diverse nature of our local and global running communities. Individuals who finish all 2024 events will receive a unique Bank of America Chicago Distance Series medal and will be eligible for a guaranteed entry into the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
EVENT RULES
All participants must follow the official event rules of the Bank of America Chicago 13.1, which are posted on the event website at www.chicago13point1.com/rules. Event rules should be reviewed in their entirety before race weekend.
SECTION 2 | SAFETY & SECURITY
EVENT ALERT SYSTEM
The color-coded Event Alert System (EAS) will communicate the status of race conditions leading up to and on race day. EAS levels range from Low (Green) to Moderate (Yellow) to High (Red) to Extreme (Black) based primarily on weather, as well as other conditions.
• Email and website communication during race week will inform you of the current EAS level and provide race weekend preparation tips.
• Updates will be made at Packet Pick-up via public address announcements and color-coded signs.
• On race day, stay tuned to the current EAS level via public address announcements, radio updates and colorcoded signs/flags at the start and finish areas and at each of the aid stations along the course.
• If necessary, additional emergency information will be communicated via email and/or text message.
Familiarize yourself with the Event Alert System prior to race day, remain alert for directions from race officials, announcers and group leaders and take precautions to prepare properly for varying conditions on race day. The Event Alert System table is available below, and will be available on the back of your credential race weekend.
MEDICAL SUPPORT
Medical support is available at on-course aid stations, except Aid Station 1. Medical tents are indicated by tall, red, blade signs with the medical icon. Each medical tent is staffed by a team of medical professionals, is equipped with emergency and first aid supplies and has access to ambulance service.
In Garfield Park, the Medical Tent is located directly beyond the finish line. For the safety of all participants, volunteers and event staff, only those requiring medical assistance may access the medical facilities. If you feel like you need medical assistance on race day, you are encouraged to seek help from a medical volunteer or visit a medical tent in Garfield Park or on course.
Lend a hand, save a life! Participants, volunteers and event staff are encouraged to watch an instructional HandsOnly CPR video from the American Heart Association in advance of race weekend. This training is critical and can be lifesaving.
AMERICAN RED CROSS REUNIFICATION
If a participant is transported to a local area hospital at the discretion of the medical team, the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago’s Reunification staff will be on hand in Garfield Park to provide information regarding that patient to family and friends. Reunification staff can be found in the Information Tents located throughout Garfield Park. Family members may also call 888.659.9877 to speak with a Reunification Operator to inquire about a patient. Refer to the course map for locations and inform friends and family of this service in advance of race day.
RACE DAY LACTATION SPACES
Breastfeeding parents attending the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 will have a designated place in Garfield Park adjacent to an Information Tent east of the Race Day Festival, located between the Finish Line exit and Start Corrals to pump or nurse on race day. Those interested in using the spaces will have access to a semi-private tented facility, a water source or a portable hand-washing station and a power source.
Staff will be onsite at each location to assist those interested in using the space on a first-come first-served basis.
Please note, the event will not store or transport equipment.
Additional questions about lactation spaces can be directed to the office@chicago13point1.com email in advance of the event.
LOST PERSON INSTRUCTIONS
In the event you find a lost child/person or are approached by a parent/guardian of a lost child/person, the following steps are to be followed:
1. Keep the child/person or parent/guardian with you.
2. Spend a reasonable amount of time (approximately 2 minutes) checking the surroundings to see if a connection can be made.
3. If you are not at an information tent, walk with child/person or parent/guardian to the nearest information tent.
4. Once at the information tent, the information tent coordinator will place a call to 312.586.7935.
5. Keep the child/person or parent/guardian with you and inform them that the appropriate personnel have been notified through the Monterrey Security network throughout Garfield Park.
6. Do not communicate information by radio unless instructed by Garfield Park Logistics to communicate over the dedicated Lost Child Channel. Do not relay details about the child over a radio or PA system without permission from Garfield Park Logistics. When you call, speak slowly and clearly and provide as much information as possible (see Lost Child Documentation Form).
7. The information tent coordinator will communicate with an event staff member who will work directly with a Monterrey Security team member to document the situation. They will log all details into the Monterrey Security online system for detail tracking and follow up reporting. The Monterrey Security online system will have information if the lost child or parent/guardian has already been communicated to our team from the other party elsewhere in the park.
8. Monterrey Security will broadcast the information to their network of staff throughout Garfield Park.
9. An additional Monterrey Security Guard will be deployed to the information tent to provide additional assistance.
10. If a parent insists on continuing to search the park, send a Monterrey Security representative, who is connected to the Monterrey network working on establishing the reconnection, with the parent.
11. Upon reuniting the child/person and parent/guardian, Monterrey Security or law enforcement official will request to see identification prior to releasing the child/person. A Monterrey Security Guard must be present, and Monterrey must document the exchange to close the case.
CARE GUIDELINES
• No food or drink should be offered, except for plain water in case of allergies
• Staff should kneel or sit while talking to child to create a sense of comfort
• Staff should speak in a calm, quiet and soft voice to limit alarm or frightening the child
• Dispatch a security guard based on current location using identified light pole #, tent name or another landmark
• Upon reuniting the child/person and parent/guardian a Monterrey security guard or law enforcement official must be present
RUNNER DOWN
• Scene safety - Make sure YOU are safe
- If it is not safe, what can you do to make it safer?
• Notice where you are (location, address, street corner, light pole number).
• Notice the position of the runner (lying down, sitting, standing) and whether conscious, breathing, and moving.
• If sick/injured person is a part of the event (runner, spectator, staff, volunteer, vendor), call the Medical Emergency number (312.586.7697) to request help. Be prepared to identify the participant by bib number. After two unsuccessful tries to reach the Medical Emergency number call 9-1-1.
• Start CPR if necessary and apply AED if present.
• If sick/injured person is not participating in or a part of event or if injury occurs outside of race hours, call 9-1-1 directly.
CPR AND AED USAGE
AEDs are located in all medical facilities (main medical tents and on-course medical tents) on race day.
HOW TO OPERATE AN AED:
1. Turn the AED on by opening the front cover and pressing the power button.
2. The AED will talk to you and give you detailed instructions.
3. Follow the directions of the AED.
4. You can never hurt a patient by using an AED.
HOW TO DO HANDS-ONLY CPR:
• If a runner collapses and is unconscious first call for help.
• Begin chest compressions by putting your hands in the center of the chest
• Push down in the center of the chest hard and fast.
• Push about two inches deep at a rate of 100 per minute until help comes.
Tip: If counting the compressions is too tough, try compressing to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive.”
UNATTENDED PACKAGES
If you see an unattended bag or package, follow the three “C’s.”
• Claim: Ask if anyone in the area claims the item. If no one claims it, then go to the next step
• Cop: Tell the nearest police officer about the bag. If there isn’t a police officer nearby, then go to the next step
• Call: If there isn’t a police officer is nearby, call (312.586.7935). If you cannot reach this number after two attempts, call 9-1-1
Do not touch package or attempt to move the package. Quietly move people away from package without causing a disruption or panic.
ACTIVE THREAT
In the event that an active threat is in your vicinity, follow the steps below:
• Run: Have an escape route and plan in mind, leave your belongings behind and keep your hands visible
• Hide: Hide in an area out of view, block entry to your hiding place and silence your mobile devices
• Fight: As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, act. Attempt to stop the threat using physical aggression and/or creating a distraction by throwing items.
Call 9-1-1 when it is safe to do so.
Provide law enforcement or 9-1-1 operator the following information:
• Location of the threat
• Physical description of individual(s)
• Number and type of weapons held by individual(s)
• Number of potential victims at the location
When law enforcement arrives:
• Remain calm and follow instructions
• Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets)
• Raise hands and spread fingers
• Keep hands visible at all times
• Avoid quick movements toward officers such as holding on to them for safety
• Avoid pointing, screaming or yelling
• Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating
EVACUATION PLANS
Follow the directions of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and/or event organizers. Event organizers will issue instructions to race officials (aid station captains/leaders, zone managers, etc.) through the radio dispatch team in the Forward Command facility.
• Follow the directions of the Chicago Police Department or event organizers.
• If you are in immediate danger, evacuate to a safe location.
• If you self-evacuate or are part of a larger evacuation, once you are safe, call Event Support (312.638.2022).
RACE PAUSE PROCEDURES
If a dangerous course condition arises resulting in a decision by Chicago Police Department and event organizers implement a race pause, follow these procedures when instructed by the event organizers from the Forward Command facility:
• Aid station personnel in the affected area will pull a rope with red banner flags and barricades across the race course and instruct available aid station members and course marshals to stand on the course holding the rope to halt oncoming runners. Stop signs and bullhorns are in aid station supply crates and will be used to help stop runners.
• The DJ/PA announcer will make announcements to notify participants of the stop and hold.
• HAM radio operators, located in the Medical Tent, will be responsible for changing EAS flags.
• Event Alert System (EAS) course condition flags in the affected area will be changed to BLACK.
• Once runners are stopped, medical volunteers will scan the crowd for runners requiring medical assistance.
RACE DIVERSION
A race diversion is a change in the race route due to a dangerous condition on the roadway. There are two types of diversions. A race re-direct is a short change in the course around a problem area that brings runners back to the original course after a few blocks. A race re-route is a larger course change that utilizes a new route. To implement a race diversion:
• The Chicago Police Department (CPD) and event organizers will work closely to minimize race disruption while maintaining safety.
• Event organizers and CPD will review new route for security and safety. CPD will issue instructions to police commanders. Event organizers will issue instructions to race officials (aid station captains/leaders, zone managers, etc.) through the radio dispatch team in the Forward Command facility. Race officials will communicate these instructions to event staff and volunteers.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Wheeled devices are not permitted on the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 course by anyone other than registered and authorized wheelchair participants, duo team participants and authorized course marshals on bicycles. Prohibited wheeled devices include unauthorized wheelchairs, baby joggers, baby strollers, skateboards, rollerblades, unauthorized bicycles or any other wheeled devices. Motorized devices of any kind are prohibited. The use of selfie-sticks, camera mounts or rigs, video devices, computers, drones, unmanned aerial devices, or any similar devices by anyone while participating in the event is prohibited.
The use of music devices is permitted during the race; however, in keeping with USATF rules for championship races, athletes competing for overall awards or prize money may not use music or communication devices during the event.
The use of cell phones, cameras or similar devices by participants while in the event is discouraged, and event officials reserve the right to disqualify any participant using such devices who pose a safety hazard on the course. Additional prohibited items on the course route include but are not limited to: large bags (backpacks, suitcases and rolling bags), hard-sided coolers, props and non-running equipment, including flagpoles and sticks, pets/ animals (except service animals that are trained to perform specific work or tasks for a person with a disability), alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, chairs, weapons, remote controlled aircrafts and drones.
Please note, any items deemed to be dangerous or inappropriate will be confiscated at the sole discretion of security personnel.