In alignment with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, anyone meeting the minimum age requirement of 16 years old can participate.

Yes. In addition to the benefits you get for being part of Team Diabetes®, you will also receive some special items from the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Some of those items include an official Bank of America Chicago Marathon participant shirt, gear bag, and 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon medal.

Yes. Team Diabetes partners with Chicago Endurance Sports and Fleet Feet Chicago to provide a free training program to our runners. Information on the training program will be shared with all team members in spring 2025. 

Yes. The Team Diabetes required registration fee of $50 will be the first donation to your Team Diabetes fundraising campaign. The Team Diabetes registration fee is non refundable.

Note: The Bank of America Chicago Marathon registration fee does NOT count toward your fundraising minimum.

Yes. The event has a course time limit of six hours and 30 minutes. The official end vehicle will start following the last starter and maintain a 15-minute per mile pace along the course.

Yes, for participants using a Team Diabetes guaranteed entry. As a Team Diabetes Guaranteed Entry Charity Runner you'll commit to a fundraising minimum of $2,500. In exchange, Team Diabetes will provide you with support during the time leading up to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Please consult the fundraising details page for more information about minimums and benefits.

No, for participants joining Team Diabetes as a Supporter Runner. Individuals who have secured entry to the marathon on their own, can join Team Diabetes as a Supporter Runner. Supporter Runners pledge to fundraise $1,250 for the ADA, and if they meet their pledge, team benefits will unlock. Team Diabetes will provide you with support during the time leading up to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Please consult the fundraising details page for more information about minimums and benefits.

Yes for guaranteed entry runners. We understand that this may be the most money you have ever attempted to raise and you may feel unsure about whether you will be able to do it. If you follow the recommended guidelines and use the fundraising resources Team Diabetes provides, you will be more successful than you think! Contact your Team Diabetes manager if you need additional assistance brainstorming ideas to help you reach your goals.

Runners who do not raise 90% of the $2,500 fundraising minimum ($2,250) by the race expo will have their bib pulled and will need to visit the Team Diabetes booth to access their bib. All runners who do not meet the fundraising minimum by 30 days post-race will be charged the remaining amount to their credit card on file. 

Runners can avoid having their bib pulled by:

• Raising 90% of the fundraising minimum at least two weeks prior to the expo 
• Raise 100% of the fundraising minimum by the time you pick up your bib at the expo from October 10–12 

No for Support Runners. Supporter Runners are not required to fundraise their $1,250 pledge. However, team benefits unlock when they reach $1,250 in fundraising. 

Any participant dropping after officially taking a Team Diabetes guaranteed entry, for any reason, will be responsible for completing 100% of their fundraising minimum. Registration fees are non-refundable. Any donations received will remain in the participant’s account. Transferring money to any other participant’s account is not permitted.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon does NOT allow for charity entries to be deferred or transferred. Therefore, Team Diabetes must comply with all race policies.

Not according to our past participants! Our runners, on average, raise OVER the minimum. Once you start contacting people, you will be surprised how quickly the money (and the admiration) rolls in. Team Diabetes has created powerful online fundraising tools to make it easier for you to reach your goal. Your Team Diabetes manager will help you with materials and ideas and support as you meet and exceed your goal.

Yes! Every participant has the support and help of the fundraising experts who are with them every step of the way—from the first donation to the day you exceed your minimum and increase your goal. 

If you have any questions about your ability to meet your fundraising minimum, contact the Team Diabetes manager and we are happy to help.

There are two ways to join Team Diabetes: 

The first way to join Team Diabetes is to sign up as a guaranteed entry Charity Runner. As a guaranteed entry Charity Runner, you will participate using a guaranteed entry charity bib and in exchange agree to fundraise $2,500 for the American Diabetes Association. 

The second way to join Team Diabetes is as a Supporter Runner. As a Supporter Runner, you will participate using a bib you secured through another channel (lottery, legacy, time qualifying, distance series). Supporter runners pledge to raise $1,250 for the ADA, and in exchange they unlock team benefits. 

Both entry types are subject to the $50 registration fee, which is non refundable and is applied towards the participant's fundraising.