Sep 19, 2024
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☰
Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.8 
Organization 4.9 
Spectators 4.6
Number of comments: 99 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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E. M. from Scarborough, Maine
(11/9/2022)
"Great race for running a BQ time" (about: 2022)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The race lived up to it's claim that they give you the best chance to run a Boston qualifying time. The organizers and fellow runners provided that extra motivation to run my first BQ time. A good course, well organized race, and an ample number of friendly volunteers. I had a great experience! | |
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K. O. from St. Louis, MO
(9/28/2022)
"I got my BQ, but I didn't love running loops" (about: 2022)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Race was extremely well organized and race director was very engaged. Communications were great. Plenty of parking and toilets. I personally found running 8 loops to be very challenging psychologically and I would not run it again, but I did achieve my goal (a BQ!) and I would recommend this race if you are comfortable running loops. Be advised this is NOT a closed course and there are bikes and dog walkers on the same path. | |
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K. C. from Cary, NC
(9/16/2022)
"This was an amazing venue and an amazing race!" (about: 2022)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second marathon and the first time that I qualified for Boston. The venue was amazing and the spectators were so great! | |
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R. P. from Dallas, Texas
(9/15/2022)
"Easily qualified for my 3rd Boston Marathon!" (about: 2022)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just a terrific marathon, period! So well-organized, so well laid out, and so fun, this is the Marathon I want to run again and again. The Last Chance fall BQ Marathon gives you the chance to qualify for two Boston Marathons: this year's plus the following year's Boston Marathons! The 'Elite' bottles really ensure you have what you need and prefer (Nuun anyone?!), and the Pacers get you around the course on time. 'Nuff said. | |
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L. W. from Charlotte, NC
(9/12/2022)
"Overall a fantastic race!" (about: 2022)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Overall this race is awesome for anyone looking to BQ the last weekend before registration. The course is set up great allowing you to have your own bottle station every 3 miles. The signs are easy to follow on the course with great energy from volunteers and spectators at the start/finish area. The loop course is simple with a variety of views on a flat terrain. I enjoyed this race so much! I appreciated all the emails and information prior to the race. The race director, volunteers and pacers were all so friendly and helpful. The location is easy to get to. If you're looking to qualify I would recommend this race! | |
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C. G. from Kansas City, KS
(9/12/2022)
"Excellent race course, organization, atmosphere!" (about: 2022)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I would absolutely recommend this race for anyone who wants to run a new PR and get as close to guaranteeing an entry to Boston. | |
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Carney Anne Nasser from New Orleans, LA, USA
(9/11/2022)
"I LOVED this race! I'll be back!" (about: 2022)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the 2022 Last Chance BQ and loved the course (most of the course has a wonderful canopy of trees which is awesome for shade and O2) and the ease of logistics. Big city races can feel like a chore just to get to the start line but this race is logistically seamless and so friendly. The only reason I gave the course 4 stars instead of 5 is because it is a bit narrow at some points and can be hard to run the tangents. If you're not trying to run tangents, it's 5 stars :) What makes the course so great for fast running (long straights in tree-canopied areas) makes it a little less conducive to crowd support on one of the sides. However, because the course is a loop, you get a LOT of crowd support very frequently - I saw my 'support team' 7 times which is more than I have at bigger races. The best part was how friendly the race director and all of the BQ team and volunteers are - they clearly love what they are doing and are so supportive. It feels special for each person (rather than bigger races where you are literally just a number). The pacers from Dick Pond were really enthusiastic and hit our splits like a metronome. I would recommend BQ2 to anyone who is trying to find all the optimizers available to make that BQ happen! | |
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Eva Cheung from Indianapolis,IN
(9/11/2022)
"Awesome race. Loved the course and support!" (about: 2022)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The only disappointment I had was the lack of respect I witnessed from some of the runners throwing their cups on the ground vs in the trash cans. | |
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Jeffrey Bq from Texas
(9/11/2022)
"Don't hesitate do it" (about: 2022)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I highly highly recommend it; you will not be disappointed in the fall race; the eight loops were phenomenal. | |
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Fergus Hodgson from Fort Collins, Colorado
(9/11/2022)
"Inspirational Event, Suboptimal Course" (about: 2022)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I went to this race with, like everyone else, the explicit goal of qualifying for Boston. That meant under 3:10 for me. (I got 3:10:11, so I missed slightly.) The organizers and pacers are devoted to that cause, and I appreciate their work. One pacer even came back to help me with about a mile to go. That was kind, and I wish I could thank him personally. Further, the sense of camaraderie given the shared challenge was inspirational. The fans got to enjoy plenty of interaction with the loop course, and they lifted our spirits. However, there were problems with the course. In particular, there was a lot of traffic on the path: bikes, dog walkers, casual runners, and lapped runners. The congestion impeded a natural run and was a bit out of hand at times. Further, even without the congestion, there were many sharp turns and rises and falls (exacerbated by eight laps). The course is relatively flat, but it is not pancake flat. Of my group, pacing for 3:06, about 75 percent did not get the 3:10. From memory, four stayed with the pacers the full race - at least as far as I could see, since I fell back a bit after 20 miles. If you are in shape and shooting for your qualification time, you can do it here. The atmosphere is a lot of fun, but do not expect a cakewalk. Also, water load before the race, because we were all sweating like crazy as the heat got up. You might want to take advantage of the personalized drink stop as well. I did not, but you need all the hydration you can get. |
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