Marathon Encouragement Postcards Are Back!
By Allison Yates
Now in its fifth 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 2026 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 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 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon runners. Meet them here.
[Related: Guide to Chicago’s Running Community 2025]
So, why do you send postcards?
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 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Whether you’re a first-time marathoner, seasoned veteran, or visiting from afar, we want to encourage you.
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 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon are due no later than Sunday, September 20 to ensure delivery prior to race day.
Request a postcard 💌
A personalized message sent to a runner before a big race or life event!
Everyone needs a little encouragement now and then—especially runners. Preparing for any endurance event takes dedication, sacrifice, and, of course, the support of community.
Here’s where we come in: We’ll craft a personalized postcard and send it the week before your (or whoever you’re cheering on!) marathon—delivering just the right words of motivation at just the right time.
This postcard is for you to send to yourself or a friend preparing for ANY race—whether their first 5K or a 100-miler. Everyone writes their own story with each step, and we love to share a little love as they prepare to tackle a new challenge.
This was inspired by our annual encouragement postcards for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Learn more about our annual tradition on this blog post.