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☰
Fox Valley Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Fox Valley Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.6 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 431 [displaying comments 221 to 231]
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R. D. from Champaign, IL
(9/18/2012)
"awesome race if you like nature and solitude." (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I think this is a beautiful race. It's scenic and it's well organized. However, there is a bit of it that is a down and back course down a bike path through what i think is a nature preserve. The path can get narrow and congested.. And at times, it can also get lonely; depending on how you run, or don't run with a pack. I timed my run to keep with a pace group for the first half and then break away to run ahead of them for the second half. I was super lonely, with almost no spectators and very few other runners, for the second half. The course is pretty. The volunteers are great. The aid stations are plentiful. There was one 'carb' station that handed out clif shots which was nice. I don't care about the expo and the race village at these races, so for me, the size of that stuff is inconsequential. If the race is well run, that is all that matters, and it was. I think this is a fairly quick course. It is a little hilly (if you are from Illinois and especially downstate) but not terribly so. If i had not injured myself 3/4 of the way through and been forced to slow way down, i would have finished this marathon quite a bit faster than i had previous races on comparable courses. It has a lot of downhill for all it's up, which is a nice trade off. My only bit of constructive criticism is that parts of this race were run on a bike path, and the bike path was apparently not closed off to bikers. There were several times i looked up from zoning out, as one might do on a 26 mile run, to see a biker bearing down on me, shouting for me to get out of his way. (sorry, man, I'm just running a marathon! Didn't mean to inconvenience you. I paid to run this course.) There were obviously street closures for this race. Could the bike path not have been closed as well? Aside from that there were obvious street construction issues, but i think that the race directors did all they could to avoid that issue. Bikers, though, could really hurt someone, and a lot of them were pretty rude about the 3000 people running on 'their' bike paths; or simply just weaved in and out of runners. This totally made for some dangerous situations. | |
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K. K. from Geneva, IL
(9/18/2012)
"Great Marathon in the Fox Valley" (about: 2012)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I wish the different finishers would have different shirts. The 1/2 and 20 should not be the same as the full. I think the color of shirt should match the medal. I LOVE the medal and the repeat option too. I also think that participants should get a parking pass for the garage...spectators can walk, participants should be able to park close. Love the shirt! The training gear at DP is lacking, more should be offered. | |
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J. H. from Bloomingdale, Il.
(9/18/2012)
"course not spectator-friendly" (about: 2012)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 My support group could not find me until mile marker 18 - they could not get to earlier spectator areas on time due to traffic congestion / street closings. I also had a bad cramp at 18 and the medic tent could only offer an orange juice or a banana for my problem - I expected ice, massage, etc. treatment. | |
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N. M. from Champaign, IL
(9/18/2012)
"Great - Small Race Atmosphere!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Fox Valley Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Love this race, this was my second year. The course has lots of turns, but the support from the crowds who can see their runner from different view points is great. Ease to start, love at the finish the announcer calls out everyone's name. Great job! | |
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M. K. from St. Charles, IL USA
(9/18/2012)
"One of the best-run events around" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Fox Valley Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 There is very little I can criticize about this 1st class event. The only thing FVM might want to consider as it get bigger is allowing kids/significant others on the course in the last .1 mile to the finish. It is nice, of course, but with a mix of half-marathoners, 20-milers and the elite marathoners finishing simultaneously there is a safety issue to consider. The venue, the course, the village and all of the amenities were excellent. Thank you FVM organizers for all of your hard work and dedication to the event. | |
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Jerome Skinner from Berrien Springs, MI
(9/18/2012)
"The course was great and the people were amazing." (about: 2012)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was very happy with the whole process of registering, getting my packet, and running the race. Everything ran smoothly and I was very encouraged and will keep running this race as long as I live nearby! | |
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K. S. from Oak Lawn, Illinois
(9/18/2012)
"Great first marathon!" (about: 2012)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great scenic course, well marked. I loved the turn around as it allowed runners who were faster to pass up those of us who were a little farther back (this served as a great motivator!) We were lucky to have perfect weather! The spectators were wonderful, as well as the runners who were equally supportive! Very well organized! It was a great experience and I'm glad my first marathon was with Fox Valley :) | |
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J. M. from Chicagoland
(9/18/2012)
"Third times the charm" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Fox Valley Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Ran the 20 miler the last two years and ran the full this year which is really just a 3 mile out and back tacked on to the 20 miler. I really love this course and the organization is great. I'm docking a star for organization because The weatherflex option seems like a cash-grab to me, and may cause runners who aren't properly trained but who didn't sign up for the option get stuck in a race that could injure them. | |
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J. S. from Iowa
(9/17/2012)
"Great race will run it again!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Fox Valley Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Many positives to this race...course, organization, spectators, easy to get to, parking, and very friendly people. Great small race! Negative for 2012 was no consistency at water statiions. At some stations gatorade would be first and the next was water. Had to ask at each station where the water was. They were manned very well, just confusing. Bathrooms were few and far between for marathon. | |
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S. G. from Evanston, Illinois
(9/17/2012)
"Great first marathon experience." (about: 2012)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon and I thought it was just about perfect. I chose this marathon for my first because of its small size. I did not want to be elbow to elbow for 10 miles like I imagine some of the larger marathons. Although it is small, it is very well organized. All of the staffers were very friendly and helpful. The course is beautiful. There were plenty of aid stations, water, and gels. Also, my husband raved about the helpfulness of the spectator map. Only a couple of minor quibbles. In some spots of the course it got very tight - you could literally only run one at a time - but I think this may have been due to construction in the area. Also, if you need a gigantic cheering section, this is not the marathon for you. There were a lot of wonderful people who came out to cheer, but there were also long stretches of just you and the trail. I liked that, but it might not be for everyone. |
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