Chicagoans couldn’t have asked for better weather for this year’s Chicago Marathon: Ribbons of sunlight glittered against clear blue skies while a refreshing breeze rolled off the lake—the platonic ideal of a crisp fall day in the Midwest. Runners brought electric energy to the race, while spectators brought good will and, of course, hilarious signs.
Oh, and in case you missed the race’s results: Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo—competing in just his second marathon—won the men’s division with a time of 2:02:23. With a time of 2:14:56, Hawi Feysa became the first Ethiopian winner of the Marathon’s women’s race in eight years.
We sent a photographer to Old Town (near mile 13) to snap the thousands of runners pounding the pavement on their way to the finish line in Grant Park. Along the 26.2-mile course, we spotted plenty of hilarious signs that encouraged runners and provided much-needed laughs along the way. From cheeky political quips (nods to the Epstein files and ICE’s growing presence in Chicago) to a game of Where’s Waldo? and supportive messages from runners’ furry friends, these were best signs we spotted at the Chicago Marathon this year. Check out these colorful posters and start planning your sign for next year.
