Marathon Encouragement Postcards Are Back!
By Allison Yates
Now in its fourth year running, Read & Run Chicago is here to give you an extra boost before the marathon!
Everyone needs a little encouragement now and then—especially marathoners training for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Preparing for any endurance event takes dedication, sacrifice, and, of course, the support of community.
At Read & Run Chicago, our events and meetups aren’t about marathon training—they’re about exploring Chicago through stories and movement. But we still want to cheer on the city’s running community in the best way we know how: with stories.
Read & Run Chicago’s 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon runners. Meet them here.
[Related: Guide to Chicago’s Running Community 2025]
In 2022, we welcomed running legend Deena Kastor for a special meet-and-greet after our tour of her memoir Let Your Mind Run. At that event, we shared story-based prompts to help runners mentally prepare for race day. That sparked an idea: sending pre-race postcards with similar words of encouragement. And just like that, a tradition was born.
Who are postcards for?
Pre-marathon encouragement postcards are for any runner racing the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Whether you’re a first-time marathoner, seasoned veteran, or visiting from afar, we want to encourage you.
[Related: Meet the Readers & Runners Racing the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon]
How does it work?
Click ‘Buy Now’ to fill out a quick form with details on what kind of encouragement you (or your recipient) connect with, plus the mailing address. We’ll craft a personalized postcard and send it the week before the marathon—delivering just the right words of motivation at just the right time.
Whether for yourself or as a surprise for a friend or family member, it’s the perfect way to add an extra boost before race day!
Deadline
Encouragement postcards are normally $15—but for this special occasion we’re offering them for free for the first 50 respondents. All postcard requests—whether free or paid—for this year’s 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon are due no later than Sunday, September 21 to ensure delivery prior to race day.
