Chicago Marathon introduces water refill stations for sustainability — image accompanying Canadian Running's report. Image accompanying Canadian Running’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
The Chicago Marathon will feature four water refill stations this year, a first for a World Major Marathon. These stations will be at mile 5.7, 10.1, 15.7, and 20.3. Runners can still opt for disposable cups at aid stations.
This move follows the Paris Marathon's elimination of single-use plastic bottles and cups. While many runners praised the sustainability effort, some faced delays and bottlenecks. The Chicago Marathon aims to balance sustainability with runner performance. Read more culture coverage.
The initiative allows runners to choose their hydration method, reflecting the importance of environmental sustainability in racing. However, if it affects race times, usage may be lower than expected. Related: Kale Sprouts and Lactate: What Runners Need to Know.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Canadian Running. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
Reader questions
Questions about this report
What should runners know about Chicago Marathon introduces water refill stations for sustainability?
Runners can choose between refill stations and disposable cups at the 2026 event The Chicago Marathon will feature four water refill stations this year, a first for a World Major Marathon. These stations will be at mile 5.7, 10.1, 15.7, and 20.3. Runners can still opt for disposable cups at aid stations.
When did Runner World publish this culture brief?
Runner World published this brief on September 9, 2026. The underlying Canadian Running report was dated September 9, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Canadian Running. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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