NOTE: NBC 5 will offer complete live coverage of the 2017 race beginning at 7 a.m. CT online and on TV. The race can be streamed live from around world on the NBC Chicago app, which will also offer a live stream of the finish line from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here for more. 

There's the Bank of America Chicago Marathon route, and then there's the Bank of America Chicago Marathon victory route. 

That dashed "blue line" you may have seen splattered across Chicago roadways this week has a very important meaning for runners. 

This line represents not only “a quick and efficient route to the finish line,” according to a statement released by marathon organizers, but also, “official measurements taken by city and race experts to ensure the Bank of America Chicago Marathon course is exact.”

“For athletes leading the pack, and participants going after a personal record, knowing exactly where to run to complete the shortest possible route is crucial, avoiding any unnecessary added distance, no matter how small the inch,” marathon officials said in their statement. 

Whether you're an elite runner or a novice looking to take on the big challenge, that blue line under your feet will help you go the (least) distance Sunday. 

[[449634903, C]]