As race week approaches for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the world’s best distance runners are fine-tuning their final preparations. Chicago has become a magnet for record chasers and rhythm runners, a course built for both speed and storylines.
And while most pros keep their training under wraps, a growing number have embraced transparency, logging their miles, workouts, and even their recovery jogs on Strava.
For fans, it’s a rare invitation inside the quiet, disciplined grind that shapes marathon greatness. These are the elite athletes who not only line up at the front in Chicago but also let you see the miles that got them there.
John Korir (Kenya)
Few athletes enter Chicago with more momentum than John Korir. The defending champion returns after his 2:02:44 win last year, the second-fastest time in race history, and a statement victory at the 2025 Boston Marathon. Korir has made no secret of his ambition to chase a sub-2:01 this time around, which would put him in the same rare air as the late Kelvin Kiptum.
On Strava, his uploads are infrequent but fascinating: high-altitude long runs and efficient marathon-pace sessions that reflect a runner operating on the edge of what’s possible.
Bashir Abdi (Belgium)
There’s a calm precision to everything Bashir Abdi does. The two-time Olympic medalist and European record holder approaches training with the same measured focus that’s made him one of the most consistent marathoners of the past decade.
His Strava feed reflects that discipline, even pacing, smooth long runs, and deliberate recovery, the kind of rhythm that’s made him a fixture on podiums from Rotterdam to Tokyo.
Follow Bashir Abdi on Strava ›
Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya)
A master of rhythm and racing intelligence, Geoffrey Kamworor has long been one of the sport’s great tacticians. After a 2:04:33 win in Rotterdam this spring, he’s set for his Chicago debut.
Kamworor’s Strava uploads show a veteran in full control of his craft, a steady stream of workouts that blend cross-country strength with road-race precision.
Follow Geoffrey Kamworor on Strava ›
Zouhair Talbi (Morocco / USA)
Once a standout in Morocco’s racing scene, Zouhair Talbi has since made his mark on the American circuit. He’s a grinder in every sense, a high-mileage athlete who races often and trains with intent. Talbi’s Strava feed is quietly one of the most fascinating in the elite field, full of honest, no-frills uploads that reveal the commitment behind his rising profile.
Follow Zouhair Talbi on Strava ›
Conner Mantz (USA)
If American fans have a hometown hero in Chicago, it’s Conner Mantz.
The former BYU standout and 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion has become the new face of American distance running. His Strava is a rare mix of elite performance and accessibility; 140-mile weeks, double sessions at altitude, and detailed notes that make his training both awe-inspiring and oddly relatable.
Mantz’s 2:05:08 from Boston earlier this year has him within striking distance of the American record, and his followers will be watching closely as he targets another leap forward.
Follow Conner Mantz on Strava ›
Rory Linkletter (Canada)
Rory Linkletter represents the new generation of Canadian marathoners who’ve turned transparency into motivation.
His Strava feed reads like a journal of daily progress; tempo runs in Arizona heat, threshold sessions on tired legs, and the occasional reflection on the mental side of training. It’s a raw, human look at the work behind professional consistency.
Follow Rory Linkletter on Strava ›
CJ Albertson (USA)
No one embodies the experimental side of marathoning quite like CJ Albertson. Famous for his unconventional workouts and treadmill marathons, Albertson has made his Strava feed an open lab of endurance science.
You’ll find marathon-pace long runs midweek, double days stacked back-to-back, and recovery notes that feel equal parts philosophy and trial-and-error. He’s unpredictable, entertaining, and one of the sport’s most relentlessly curious minds.
Follow CJ Albertson on Strava ›
Colin Mickow (USA)
Quiet, steady, and tough, Colin Mickow might be the quintessential Chicago runner.
An Illinois native who’s built himself into a legitimate contender through sheer consistency, his Strava shows everything from hard tempo days along rural roads to the easy, unglamorous miles that most fans never see. It’s the kind of training feed that rewards patience, much like his racing style.
Follow Colin Mickow on Strava ›
Nick Hauger (USA)
A former collegiate standout turned professional marathoner, Nick Hauger has kept his Strava open throughout his rise, documenting his workouts in transparent detail. You’ll find marathon-pace efforts, cross-training days, and the occasional note on how he’s feeling — all shared with a grounded authenticity that’s helped him build a loyal following.
Follow Nick Hauger on Strava ›
Marc Scott (Great Britain)
A decorated 10,000m runner and European medalist, Marc Scott has recently turned his focus to the marathon. His Strava page offers glimpses of that transition — a shift from sharp track sessions to strength-oriented road work. It’s a peek behind the curtain as one of Britain’s best long-distance talents takes on the sport’s toughest distance.
Matt Richtman (USA)
After his breakthrough win at the Los Angeles Marathon, Matt Richtman has emerged as one of the most exciting new names in U.S. distance running. His Strava is refreshingly candid, full of raw session data, reflections on fatigue, and honest progress updates. Richtman represents the new era of professional runners who share not just the highlights, but the process.
Follow Matt Richtman on Strava ›
Robert Miranda (USA)
Still early in his marathon career, Robert Miranda has been steadily climbing the ranks. His Strava account shows the rhythm of a developing athlete, balanced training blocks, carefully executed workouts, and a willingness to learn from the long grind. It’s a front-row seat to an American hopeful growing into his potential.
Follow Robert Miranda on Strava ›
Casey Clinger (USA)
Casey Clinger is one of the most intriguing debutants in the 2025 field. A multiple-time NCAA All-American at BYU, Clinger’s transition to the marathon has been methodical and public — he’s logged nearly every mile on Strava. His feed captures a rare in-between moment for a young athlete caught between collegiate brilliance and the professional unknown.
Follow Casey Clinger on Strava ›
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Great Britain)
At just 31, Calli Hauger-Thackery has already become the second-fastest British woman in marathon history. After a 2:21 run in Berlin last year, she arrives in Chicago ready to test herself against a world-class field. Her Strava training offers a glimpse into the precision of her preparation — deliberate pacing, smart recovery, and a sense of confidence that comes from deep, consistent work.
Follow Calli Hauger-Thackery on Strava ›
Philippa (Phily) Bowden (Great Britain)
Phily Bowden has carved out a unique niche in professional running as both an elite marathoner and a genuine online presence. With a 2:25 marathon to her name and a growing following, she’s made Strava a space not just for logging miles, but for storytelling — capturing the emotional texture of training, racing, and balancing life as a pro athlete.
