Famous People Running the 2026 Chicago Marathon: A List of Celebrities – NBC Chicago

Among the tens of thousands of incredible participants in the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon were a few notable names.

The annual race attracts participants from 129 countries, all 50 states and even all 50 Chicago neighborhoods, with a record number of participants this year, including celebrities and sports legends.

Here’s a look at some of the runners you might recognize on the course:

Anthony Rizzo

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Cubs icon Anthony Rizzo successfully completed this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Rizzo ran to benefit the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. He initially aimed to raise $100,000, according to his fundraising page, but he far exceeded that goal before the race.

As a cancer survivor, Rizzo has a long history of fundraising, and the 2026 Chicago Marathon race continued that trend.

Rizzo ended up finishing the marathon in 5:34:54.

He also received a special bib for the race.

Rizzo was given the bib number “4416”. The “44” is a tribute to his jersey number with the Cubs, and the “16” is a tribute to the 2016 World Series team he was a part of.

Jake Arrieta

Cubs star and Rizzo’s 2016 teammate Jake Arrieta also ran this year’s race to benefit the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation.

“We are grateful for so many donations to the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, please continue to join us! We are preparing for the Chicago Marathon on October 11th,” he wrote on social media before the race.

Arrieta finished the race in 4:30:10, according to the Marathon website.

Naturally, Arrieta was given the number “4916,” with his jersey number and World Series title depicted on the bib.

Kel Mitchell

Kel Mitchell, known for his role as “Good Burger,” is also among the participants in this year’s race.

“My 2nd activated marathon,” he wrote on social media last month.

It runs for the benefit of World Vision and helps facilitate access to drinking water.

Chris Knierim

Olympian Chris Knierim crossed the finish line in the 2026 race with his wife, fellow Olympian Alexa Knierim, and their child on the sidelines to cheer him on.

The Chicago race was his first and he finished in 4:10:56.

“After spending most of my life training and competing on the ice, preparing for 26.2 miles was a completely different challenge. Early mornings, long runs, tired legs and many miles along the way,” he wrote on social media. “Some of my favorite miles were the ones I got to share with my little training partner, who occasionally joined me in the stroller. Special thanks to my wife, Alexa, for supporting me through the mornings, long training runs, and countless hours spent preparing for this race. Between work, family, and training, I couldn’t have done this without your love and support.”

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Linden

Des Linden, a two-time Olympian, former Boston champion and 2010 Chicago Marathon runner-up, will also be among those running in Chicago this year.

She is participating “as she trains for her 100-mile debut later this fall,” marathon organizers said.

Kristen Ferguson

Many people know Kristen Ferguson as a Peleton instructor, but now she’s hopped off the bike and taken to the streets.

Ferguson has shared much of her training journey on social media and was recently shown collecting her bib at this week’s expo.

“It’s happening!!! That’s when it really gets real!” she wrote.

She ultimately finished with a time of 4:51:54.

Joabe Barbosa

Joabe Barbosa became famous for running in every neighborhood in Chicago and now he’s doing it again, but in just one race.

Born in Brazil and raised in England, he moved to Chicago in 2022 to pursue his dream of becoming a psychologist. Along the way, he started running – and his journey became a story that fans in Chicago and across the United States came to know.

He even set a Guinness World Record in 2025 by running to every CTA station in less than nine hours, which he documented on social media.

“Running is all about meeting people along the way. For the Chicago Marathon, I will meet a lot of people,” he wrote on social media.

Chelsea Clinton

Chelsea Clinton spoke with NBC Chicago at the finish line of the 2026 Chicago Marathon.

Clinton finished with a time of 3 hours, 47 minutes and 55 seconds.

“It was awesome, it’s a little hot. I was hoping it would be a little cooler, but there was so much enthusiasm and look how excited everyone is. So even on a hot day, it was pretty awesome,” Clinton told NBC Chicago.

She ran the Boston Marathon earlier this year in a personal best time of 3 hours, 40 minutes and 52 seconds.