Event Rules

EVENT RULES ARE APPLICABLE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS

The following Event rules are intended to help produce and direct a large scale Event, to ensure the safety of all participants, to meet the requirements of local government permits and any applicable governmental orders or restrictions and to be compliant with applicable USA Track & Field (USATF) and World Athletics regulations for participant performance records and Event liability.

PARTICIPATION

• Registrants must be capable of completing the full distance, start line to finish line, within Event time requirement of 45 minutes (15:00 per mile pace).
• To register, participants must be 8 years of age or older on Event day.  Registrants under 18 years of age must have the registration form completed by a parent or legal guardian permitting participation.
• Each participant must read and agree to/sign an Event waiver before participating in the Event. A parent or legal guardian must complete the registration form and agree to/sign the Event waiver for registrants under 18 years of age.
• The Event time requirement and age minimum apply to all forms of entry and Event participation.
• Any participant seeking accommodation in respect of a disability must submit a written request to the Adaptive Program Coordinator. Email your request to office@chicago5K.com.
• Participant Event number bibs and timing devices are specific personal identifiers and may not be exchanged, transferred or sold to any other person.
• The sale, trade and/or transfer of Event entries/ Event number bibs and timing devices are strictly prohibited and will result in the disqualification and/or banning of any individuals involved from future Events.
• Registration closure is determined and announced when Event participation reaches the established participant capacity.
• Capacity is subject to change at the discretion of Event and government officials. In the event that capacity is reduced after registration is complete, Event organizers will inform participants of their accommodation options.
• All Event entry fees, and ancillary purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable.
  • Participant Cancellation
    • Participants have the option to pay an additional service fee for a 100% refund of the registration fee and additional products paid by the participant at the time of registration purchase if a participant cannot attend for one of the reasons listed in the Terms & Conditions.
    • Event organizers have put into place an exception to our standard event policies to permit deferral for participants who need to cancel their registration due to being pregnant, recently pregnant or postpartum. Click here for more information.

• • Event Cancellation
    • The Event may be postponed, ended early or cancelled altogether by an Event official or governmental official for circumstances beyond the Event’s reasonable control, including, without limitation, war, epidemic, civil or political unrest, terrorism or inclement weather conditions. In such circumstance, Event officials will outline refund or deferment options in our Event policies
    • In the event of cancellation of the Event, the Event will have no responsibility for any costs incurred by the Participant as a result of cancellation including any travel, accommodation or other costs or expenses and the Event will have no liability or responsibility to the Participant.

PACKET (BIB NUMBER) PICK-UP

• Event bib numbers are only available at Packet pick-up. These items will not be available on Event day.
• Participants who select and pay the mailing fee at the point of registration will have their bib number, commemorative item and safety pins mailed. Only participants participating with a United States mailing address will have the option to have their Event package mailed.
• Event attendees must adhere to city, state and other public health guidelines and orders. Event attendees who are sick should not attend the Event. This includes Event Attendees who:
  • Have a suspected or diagnosed/confirmed infectious illness
  • Are exhibiting symptoms of infectious illness such as: cough, fever, chills, muscle pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or sore throat
  • Have had exposure to a suspected or confirmed infectious illness within 10 days of performing contracted onsite event site work

EVENT DAY

• Participants must follow instructions as given from all Event officials including race staff, volunteers, medical personnel, fire and police officials, security officers and city officials throughout the duration of the Event.
• Event attendees must adhere to city, state and other public health guidelines and orders. Event attendees who are sick should not attend the Event. This includes Event Attendees who:
  • Have a suspected or diagnosed/confirmed infectious illness
  • Are exhibiting symptoms of infectious illness such as: cough, fever, chills, muscle pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or sore throat
  • Have had exposure to a suspected or confirmed infectious illness within 10 days of performing contracted onsite event site work
• All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner towards the community and their fellow participants during their participation in the Event. This means, for example, alcohol consumption, urinating or defecating in public except in designated toilet facilities, participant obstruction anywhere on or near the course shall be strictly prohibited unless facilitated by the Event. Anyone violating this rule of conduct shall be disqualified from the Event and will be asked to leave the course.
• All participants will be provided with a personally assigned Event bib number, which must be conspicuously worn on the front (and back when applicable) of their running attire throughout the duration of the Event. The Event bib number is to be worn as issued. No participant shall be permitted to participate in the Event without his/her appropriate bib number.
• The use of music devices is permitted during the race. The use of cell phones, video devices, 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.
• The use of selfie-sticks and any camera mount or rig by participants while in the Event is prohibited.
• The use of video devices, computers, drones, unmanned aerial devices, or any similar devices are not permitted on or near the course.
• The use of wheeled devices by participants or any other person authorized to be on the course shall be strictly limited to: (a) authorized and registered wheelchair and duo team participants and (b) authorized course marshals on bicycles.
• Baby joggers, baby strollers, skateboards, rollerblades, unauthorized bicycles or any other wheeled devices are not permitted on the course. Motorized devices of any kind are prohibited.
• Additional prohibited items on the course route include, but are not limited to: large bags (backpacks, suitcases and rolling bags), hard-sided coolers, costumes covering the full face (except face coverings if mandated by governmental order), any non-forming bulky outfits extending beyond the perimeter of the body, 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, Camelbaks and any type of hydration backpack.  For the avoidance of doubt, fuel belts and hand-held water bottle are allowed.
• Participants must begin the Event during the official recognized starting time.
• The course will remain secured until the 15:00 per mile pace official end vehicle crosses the finish line. At that time, the Event is officially concluded. There will be no traffic protection or on course support.
• Participants are advised for health reasons, and to protect the safety of other competitors, not to consume alcohol while running. They must abide by all City of Chicago alcohol use rules and regulations. Event reserves the right to disqualify any runner who poses a risk to themselves or others.

THE START

• All participants are responsible for knowing their designated start time.
• Participants shall assemble for the race based on their expected pace per mile.
• All participants must be positioned behind the official start line and timing mat prior to the race start.
• The start area will close when the last runner crosses the start line. Once the start area is closed, runners will no longer be able to start the race.

COURSE MONITORING

• Any participant who refuses to obey the directions of Event officials, including fire and police officials, city officials or course marshals, or who conducts themselves in an unsportsmanlike manner, or who is offensive by action or language to officials, volunteers, participants or spectators may be disqualified by the Event and from future participation at the discretion of race officials.
• No participant, after leaving the course, shall be allowed to rejoin the race either for the purpose of gaining a place or to pace or to assist another participant.
• Any participant who has been found by a course marshal, Event official or surveillance equipment to have gained an unfair advantage by intentionally shortening the race route (“cutting the course”) shall be immediately disqualified from the Event and from future participation at the discretion of Event officials.
• A participant who has received any assistance whatsoever from any other person may be disqualified from the Event. “Assistance” includes, without limitation, the conveying of advice, information or direct or indirect help to a participant by any means, including technical communication devices. It also includes pacing by persons not officially participating in the Event. It does not include participation of officially designated Guide Runners, officially designated Support Runners or contracted pacesetters in the race, provided such pacesetters start in the Event.
• Any person who participates in the Event without a current official Event bib number or timing device officially assigned to them, is subject to removal and disqualification from future Events.
• No persons are authorized to be on the course unless they are registered participants. Therefore, no person shall be allowed to accompany a participant if they are not registered in the Event, nor shall any participant be allowed, without the permission of the Event management, to receive assistance or refreshment from anyone during the progress of the Event. Any person not properly displaying an authorized and issued bib number shall be directed to leave the course.
• A hands-on medical examination during the progress of an Event by officially designated medical personnel shall not be considered assistance and will not result in disqualification if the participant is deemed medically fit.

PARTICIPANT SAFETY

• The use of wheeled devices by participants or any other person authorized to be on the course shall be strictly limited to (a) authorized and registered wheelchair participants and (b) authorized course marshals on bicycles. Baby joggers, strollers, skateboards, rollerblades, unauthorized bicycles or any other wheeled device will not be permitted on the course. Motorized devices of any kind are prohibited.
• Participants are responsible for their recognition and understanding of Event signage, symbols and color codes relating to participant maps, facilities and directions.
• Medical personnel authorized by the Event to do so may examine any participant who appears in distress. If, in the sole opinion of authorized medical personnel it is in the best interest of the participant’s health and welfare, medical personnel may remove the participant from the Event.
• Participants must retire at once from the race if ordered to do so by a member of the Event’s official staff, official medical staff or any governmental authority, including fire and police officials.
• Participants are responsible and assume liability for any and all medical expenses incurred as a result of training for and/or participating in the Event, including but not limited to ambulance transport, hospital stays, physician and pharmaceutical goods and services.
• Event officials reserve the right to delay, cancel or suspend the race due to inclement weather or other conditions or governmental orders or directives in accordance with Emergency Protocol on severe emergencies and/or inclement weather.
• Participants should familiarize themselves with the Event Alert System (EAS) and adjust their race plans accordingly.

RESULT TIMING

• All participants are assigned an electronic timing device prior to the Event which is attached to their bib.
• Participants are responsible for the proper use and application of their assigned timing device.
• Official times for participants will be the electronic timing device time (net time) from when the participant crosses the start line to the point where the participant crosses the finish line.
• Participants must wear their assigned timing device, which is permanently attached to their bib number, continuously from start line to finish line to receive an accurate finish time.
• Participant net times greater than the Event time requirement (45 minutes) may not be recognized as official finishers.

TIMING DISQUALIFICATION

• Participants found to be wearing two or more Event-issued electronic timing devices during the race will be disqualified and their results will not be recorded.
• Participants with missing or irregular split times at official electronic timing checkpoints may be disqualified.
• All finish times are reviewed before times are deemed official. Participants will be given the opportunity to appeal unofficial finish times before the finish times are made official. Appeals must be submitted within fourteen (14) days of event day.
• Participants must begin the Event during the official recognized start time in order to register an official finish time.

EXCEPTIONS

• Any individual requesting a waiver of any of these rules must submit a written request no less than 30 days prior to the Event date specifying the nature of and reasons for the request.

AMENDMENTS/RESERVATIONS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Event officials reserve the right to modify, supplement or waive all or part of the Event rules.
• Participants shall be bound by any modification or supplement of the Event rules published prior to the Event.
• Failure to follow these Event rules, as may be amended, will result in immediate disqualification and removal from official results.

The Abbott Chicago 5K follows, and participants are subject to, the rules specified by USATF and World Athletics. Please visit usatf.org and worldathletics.org for additional information concerning the rules mandated by the governing bodies for the sport.