calendar icon Sep 19, 2024

Fox Valley Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Fox Valley Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.6 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.8 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.4 
 
 
Number of comments: 431 [displaying comments 351 to 361]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 34 35 36 37 38 .. 43 > ]

 

R. H. from Excelsior, MN (9/30/2010)
"Beautiful, fast course and hassle-free venue" (about: 2010)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Considering the crowds and hassle connected with the large, big-city marathons these days, it is a great relief to have a well organized, beautiful, fast marathon without the hassle. For a first-time event, this came off nearly hitch-free. Beyond that, though, the course is great, volunteers are enthusiastic, and the logistics could not be better. When is the last time you parked your car less than a block from the start?

 

M. S. from Batavia, IL (9/30/2010)
"Great race, great support" (about: 2010)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I would never have known this was a first-time event. Very well organized. Loved the course and the crowd support - it was more than I expected.

 

R. M. from LaGrange, IL (wish Costa Rica though) (9/30/2010)
"Can't Wait for Next Year" (about: 2010)

1 previous marathon | 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This had been my first marathon, and honestly it had been organized well. I enjoyed how the course had been laid out. The spectators had incredible views (and I think next year there will be more). Everything was laid just fine. Yes, it challenged me; in fact, next year I will attempt to run the course once before the race to be familiar with it again. Overall, this was a superb race.

It can only improve each year!

 

D. S. from Michigan (9/27/2010)
"A well launched marathon!" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Definitely the best inaugural marathon I have run. Organizers did their homework in planning. Very convenient to have (free) parking around the start/finish venue and I have no complaints about the number of porta-potties and water/aid stations along the course.

The wave start was a little erratic but was necessary to thin the runners prior to the bike trail. Excellent pace groups but the downside was that they tended to clog the course. I liked the course in general. It was shaded, along the river, on a rolling trail with scenic interludes; however, running by the two sewage treatment plants and the extended out-and-back portion were the least enjoyable sections. Nice finish across the bridge! Would have been nice to have more food other than the typical bananas and bagels at the end. I stayed until they pulled down the finish line, and although much of the course was being packed away, a corp of volunteers, some on bike patrol, stayed to the very end to usher in and congratulate the last runners. Well done.

 

A. D. from Virginia (9/27/2010)
"Nice job for the first-time race" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Pros:
1. Flat course
2. Lots of pre-event communication
3. Plenty of water stations
4. Easy parking on the race day
5. Perfect weather
6. Nice medal

Room for improvement:
1. Different color cups for water and Gatorade
2. Mile signs
3. Organization at the finish line - it seemed a bit chaotic
4. Maybe I missed it, but I could not see any signs at the GU station (also, serve GU prior to water)

 

M. I. from Medina, OH (9/26/2010)
"Great course and a small marathon" (about: 2010)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Very scenic course with great tree-cover to keep the race cool. I ran a PR by more than 3 minutes. I could have run faster had the aid stations been ready with gel at 15 or 21 as advertised. I did not expect to need to ask for gel and ran through without. The great weather and tree-cover helped prevent a complete meltdown for a fast race.

The course may not allow many more runners without accurate wave starts to allow for passing on the narrow parts of the course.

The bike riders pacing the race are great and helped me a lot. Thanks!

 

E. D. from Chicago, IL (9/26/2010)
"Scenic marathon makes the miles fly by!" (about: 2010)

First Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


When the Chicago Marathon sold out before I could register, I reluctantly signed up for the Fox Valley Marathon as a consolation run. I am so, so, so, so, SO glad! The race was surprisingly well organized, considering it was the inaugural race; the course was very scenic; and the size was perfect: just enough runners so that you got that race-day motivation but not too many so you get stuck behind people on the course. I will for sure be doing this race again next year! See you at the finish!

 

B. S. from Lombard, Illinois (9/24/2010)
"mostly positive" (about: 2010)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


Nice job on an inaugural race. My only suggestion for improvement would be to eliminate the sections of the Fox River Trail where you have runners going in both directions. When running with a group (in my case the 4-hour pace group), it was difficult to pass runners going slightly slower. The trail is plenty wide for one-way traffic, so if you could route runners onto the street in one direction, you'd be OK.

 

J. T. from Illinois (9/24/2010)
"Great Race - Well Done" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Fox Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Congrats on putting on a great race. Overall, everything was great. Two constructive comments: The mile markers seemed to be off quite a bit, and bigger cups with more liquid in each cup would be a nice improvement.

 

J. K. from City of Chicago (9/23/2010)
"Well organized, great course" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


There is such a thing as a personal marathon. In the days of the mega-races, you might feel that it's just you and the clock. If so, give Fox Valley a try next year. From registration, through packet pick-up, the start and the end the whole racing organization made me feel special.

 

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