The buzz around the upcoming 2025 Bank of America Chicago MarathonChicago, Illinois isn’t just about the 26.2‑mile slog through the Windy City—it’s also about a sleek new mobile tool that promises fans and runners a front‑row seat to every mile.
Powered by Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) and bearing the name of title sponsor Bank of America, the official marathon app went live on the Apple App Store and Google Play in October 2024. It’s free, and as of the October 2, 2025 update it’s already been downloaded more than 100,000 times, even though the rating sits at a modest 2.7 stars from 618 reviewers.
For a race that traditionally draws over 45,000 participants, keeping track of who’s where can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. The app turns that haystack into a searchable map, letting spectators tap a runner’s bib and watch live GPS data as the athlete weaves through the streets, from the start near Grant Park to the finish line back in the same park.
“We wanted to give families the same thrill they get watching TV, but in real time and on the streets where the action happens,” said Lisa Goodwin, Marathon Director for the Chicago Marathon Organization. “The app does that while also serving as a hub for weather, athlete bios, and even a chance to cheer.”
All of this lives inside a clean interface that mirrors the official Grant Park layout, making it easy to visualise where the next hydration station or medical tent sits.
According to the Google Play store, the app has crossed the 100,000‑download mark—a notable figure when you consider the marathon’s total participant pool. However, the 2.7‑star rating hints at some friction points: users complain about occasional GPS lag and a clunky cheer‑submission flow.
One reviewer wrote, “I loved seeing my dad’s progress, but the map froze for a minute right at the halfway point.” Another said, “The weather alerts saved me from a sudden downpour—totally worth it.” TCS says it’s rolling out a performance patch on race day to smooth those hiccups.
TCS has been the marathon’s digital partner since at least 2013, as the Android package name com.tcs.chicagomarathon2013 suggests. The firm’s cloud infrastructure handles the torrent of data packets that flood the servers once the gun fires at 7:30 a.m.
“We built a scalable platform that can ingest location data from thousands of devices simultaneously,” explained Arun Reddy, senior engineer at TCS. “Our focus is low latency, so a runner’s position updates on the screen within seconds.”
The same backend also powers the real‑time weather widget, pulling data from the National Weather Service API and tailoring alerts to specific neighborhoods along the route.
For participants, the app replaces a paper bib‑check with a digital one, reducing the need to line up at checkpoints. Spectators, especially those traveling from other states, can now follow a loved one’s progress without guessing which mile marker they’re at.
The city benefits too. By funneling crowd‑management information through the app—such as road closures, transport options, and hydrate‑station locations—Chicago can better allocate police and medical resources, easing the logistical strain that marathon weekends typically bring.
Looking ahead, the marathon board is already eyeing augmented‑reality features that could overlay historical race footage onto the live map. There’s also talk of integrating a biometric dashboard for elite athletes, letting coaches see heart‑rate trends in real time.
Regardless of the tech upgrades, the core promise stays the same: a more connected experience for anyone who cares about the race, whether you’re cheering from a balcony in Chicago or watching from a living room across the country.
After downloading the app, users tap the ‘Track’ tab, enter the runner’s bib number or scan the QR code shared by the participant. The map then displays the runner’s real‑time position, distance covered, and estimated finish time.
According to the Google Play privacy statement, the app does not sell or share user data with advertisers. All location data is stored temporarily for race‑day functionality and deleted afterward.
Cheer messages go through a curation process; only a selection appears on the LED screens along the course. The app notifies users whether their cheer made the final cut, but there’s no guarantee of display.
The app relies on GPS and mobile data. In parts of the route where cellular coverage dips, location updates may pause briefly, but the platform caches data and syncs once the signal returns.
It pulls live forecasts from the National Weather Service and pushes push‑notifications for sudden changes—like thunderstorms or high winds—so runners and spectators can adjust plans on the fly.
poornima khot
Hey folks, as a coach I love anything that helps families stay connected during a race. This app is a solid step forward, especially for those cheering from afar. The live GPS updates let you see exactly where your loved one is without having to hunt down a bib. The weather alerts are a nice safety net, and the digital cheer feature adds a personal touch. Just make sure your phone is charged because the map can drain battery fast.
Mukesh Yadav
Look, this so‑called "official" marathon app is probably a front for data mining. They track every runner’s location and probably sell it to the highest bidder. I bet the government agencies are already tapping into those GPS streams. Don't trust the flashy UI – it's a surveillance nightmare.
Yogitha Priya
Honestly, it's immoral to commercialize a community event like this. Turning runners into data points for an app feels selfish. People should be cheering, not scrolling through a screen. The app might make things easier, but it also cheapens the spirit of the marathon.
Rajesh kumar
First of all, the very existence of this app underscores how tech giants are infiltrating even our most beloved traditions. The marathon is not just a race; it's a symbol of perseverance, unity, and community pride, especially for a city like Chicago that has weather that can swing from calm to chaotic in minutes. By handing over live location data to a corporate platform, we are effectively handing over our cultural heritage to an algorithm. The GPS lag some users reported is a direct symptom of over‑engineering; they tried to make it perfect for everyone, but perfection is a myth. Moreover, the cheer‑submission process feels like a gimmick, diluting genuine human encouragement into canned messages that may or may not make it to a LED screen. The fact that the app is free is a classic ploy; free services are rarely free. They harvest data, they sell insights, and they claim to serve the public. In the context of national pride, it’s infuriating to see an American marathon rely on a multinational tech firm for its backbone. Even the mention of biometrics in future updates suggests a slide toward a surveillance state disguised as athlete support. One must ask: are we comfortable with our private health metrics becoming another data point for profit? Lastly, if the city hopes to allocate resources more efficiently using this app, they risk making decisions based on imperfect data streams that can freeze at critical moments, as some users have already experienced. In short, while the app looks slick, it raises far more questions than it answers about privacy, authenticity, and the commercialization of community events.
Anil Puri
Umm yeah, maybe the devs need to fix the UI bugs. It looks kinda clunky.
Bhaskar Shil
From a technical standpoint, the integration of real‑time NWS APIs for weather is a solid move. However, the server load balancing could be optimized; current latency spikes suggest insufficient edge caching. A CDN placement closer to the Midwest would reduce packet loss during peak usage.
Halbandge Sandeep Devrao
In the grand schema of digital event management, the Chicago Marathon application exemplifies a convergence of geospatial analytics, user engagement heuristics, and real‑time data streaming protocols. While the current iteration demonstrates a commendable level of functional adequacy, it is incumbent upon the development team to address the suboptimal latency thresholds observed during high‑throughput intervals. Moreover, the architecture would benefit from a micro‑service decomposition to isolate the GPS ingestion pipeline, thereby enhancing scalability and fault tolerance. The user interface, though visually appealing, suffers from a paucity of accessibility features, which contravenes best practices delineated in WCAG 2.1. It is advisable to implement ARIA labels and alternative text descriptors for dynamic map elements. Lastly, a comprehensive audit of privacy compliance with GDPR and CCPA statutes should be conducted to preempt potential legal ramifications arising from inadvertent data exposure.
One You tea
Look, this app is just another way for big corp to show off. We dont need no fancy screens when we can cheer in person!
akash shaikh
So the app freezes half way? Guess the GPS satellites were busy, lol. But seriously, nbd, just keep an eye on the web stream.
abhinav gupta
The app is okay but it could use better sync
vinay viswkarma
People love hype but forget the basics.
Jay Fuentes
Super excited for the marathon! This app will make it so much easier to support our friends on the course.
Veda t
All this tech is just a distraction from the real race.
Hemakul Pioneers
From a philosophical angle, the presence of a digital tracker transforms the marathon into a shared narrative, where each runner's journey is co‑authored by the audience. It invites reflection on how technology mediates human endurance.
Shivam Pandit
Great tool! Just remember to hydrate, keep your phone on airplane mode when not needed, and enjoy the race. The map is smooth; the UI feels intuitive. If you encounter a freeze, a quick app restart usually does the trick! Also, the cheer feature adds a fun personal touch-make it count!.
parvez fmp
Yo this app is lit 🚀! I sent a cheer and saw it pop up on the big screen 👀. Loving the vibes! #MarathonMadness
s.v chauhan
Team, let’s keep the positive energy high! Use the app to locate your pals, share updates, and motivate each other. Remember, a supportive community makes the finish line feel closer.
Thirupathi Reddy Ch
The whole thing smells like a data trap. They claim it’s for safety, but it’s really about control. Stay wary.
Sonia Arora
What a spectacular fusion of tradition and tech! The app’s live tracking breathes new life into the historic streets of Chicago, turning each mile into a shared experience. It’s heartening to see how the community rallies behind the runners, both in person and on screen. The digital cheers add a modern chorus to the age‑old roar of spectators. As we watch the city’s skyline blur past, we’re reminded that progress need not erase heritage, but can amplify it.