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 51 to 61]
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K. G. from Kansas City, Missouri
(9/16/2015)
"Flat, fast course and perfect weather!" (about: 2015)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed the loop course (3.3 miles each) around the Fox river - it had a small number of runners (around 300) and was well organized. Preview course (1 loop) run on the previous day prepared me on the race day. Finally on my 6th marathon, I got a BQ with a PR by 11 mins. Thank you Last Chance BQ.2. | |
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Dennis Funk from South Carolina
(9/16/2015)
"Excellent organization & support, felt like elite." (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Truly an outstanding experience. It was the best Marathon experience I have had. I felt like an elite runner. Very well organized and could feel the interest from everyone on qualifying for Boston. Great support from volunteers, pacers, and organizers. Suggestions: 1) Aid stations be on both sides of the path to allow more room. 2) Elite tables, aid station, and drop zone need more separation between them to alleviate congestion. At minimum make drop zone on opposite side of aid station. 3) Increase distance between elite tables and drop zone to allow more time for intake of fluid. 4) Increase number of pace groups to decrease congestion within a group due to the size of the path. 5) Get use of course restricted to eliminate bicyclers and other runners. | |
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P. P. from Chicago, IL
(9/15/2015)
"A Great Race for the Purpose of BQ" (about: 2015)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a great race if your primary purpose is to go to Boston in 2016. Incidentally, this race may also qualify a runner for Boston 2017. It is relatively small and does not have the fanfare of mega marathon races, but it is well organized and very friendly. The course is an 8-loop trail. I liked the loops as I knew exactly what is next and counting the loops made the running seem easier. I also liked the counter-clock wise direction as I did not have to deal with the downhills at the wood bridge and the underpass. They became uphills, which are less hard than downhills, in my opinion. There is a little distraction as the course was not sealed off from bikers and other runners, but the pacers were pretty good in giving out alerts. All-in-all, a good race for the purpose, and it qualified me for Boston with some 15 minutes to spare. | |
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G. D. from Menomonee Falls, WI
(9/14/2015)
"If BQ is your goal, this is your race!" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If your goal is to qualify for Boston, this race was designed for you. I ran it in 2015. I had already qualified for Boston in 2016, but was hoping to improve on my time to qualify for early registration. Success! I actually beat my BQ by 11 minutes, and improved on my PR by 7 minutes. Perfect weather (45-55 deg) and better training/diet helped, but so did a number of unique factors about this race: - Flat, shaded course. - Loop course design. Running 8 loops may sound less than ideal, but it actually helps you plan your splits. You always know exactly what is ahead. - Hassle free logistics. The whole experience was designed to be low stress for the runners, from 'elite' runner-specific aid stations to well-coordinated logistics. All I had to do was run fast. ;) - High energy atmosphere. The volunteers and coordinators were incredibly responsive, and the fact that all of the runners had a common goal made for a great experience. My only suggestion for future years is to add a few more portolets. It wasn't a crisis, but a little close down the stretch getting everyone through their final pre-race pit stops. I've run close to 50 full and half marathons, and this race was the overall best experience I have ever had. Kudos! | |
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M. D. from South Dakota
(9/14/2015)
"Amazing volunteers!! Great race!!" (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have been over to 100 races and easily one the top races for organization but it is the great volunteers and spectators that make this race exceptional. | |
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S. F. from Elmhurst, Illinois
(9/14/2015)
"A dream became reality!" (about: 2015)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 An incredibly well managed and executed race! - Race staff and volunteers make you feel like an elite runner. - Pacers extremely helpful and supportive. I made a dream reality and qualified for Boston 2016! | |
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J. C. from Illinois
(9/14/2015)
"Nearly perfect race in every aspect." (about: 2015)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My only suggestion is that the race be run in a clock-wise direction as opposed to the counter clock-wise direction it was run this year. Otherwise, a perfect race in every aspect. | |
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C. D. from New York, NY
(9/14/2015)
"Best place to BQ!!" (about: 2015)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A superb race, extremely professionally run, with great pacing teams, enthusiastic volunteers and crowd support and a really pretty course. The small field makes every runner feel special. BQ or not, this is a must-do! | |
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D. S. from chicago, il
(9/14/2015)
"I am already looking forward to running it in 2016" (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was blown away by this race...you so took care of us and our quest for the unicorn...from the tables for our fuel/bottles, to the top notch pacers, and always cheering volunteer staff..this was a top notch event...and I have seen a lot of marathon courses...Saturday was my 63 marathon. I also got a boost from seeing the welcome to hopkinton sign!! | |
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Tom Karnatz from Raleigh, NC
(10/24/2014)
"Great place to BQ" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This race really delivered on its promise of a great place to BQ. It was small, so no crowded course to contend with. Parking and port-O-johns were convenient, so no pre-race worries there. Organization was excellent, there were plenty of enthusiastic volunteers at the Gatorade/water stops which were every 1.5 miles. There was an additional elite style table where volunteers would help organize your personal bottles. The course was a loop just over 3 miles that we ran 8 times, which was fine with me. Although some may tire of the same scenery 8 times, I thought it helped me pace myself since I knew exactly how much race was left. The course was flat and picturesque, all run along the Fox River. While there were not a lot of spectators, the ones that were there got to cheer for you 8 times and were enthusiastic. The weather even cooperated with an overcast morning that stayed in the 40's throughout the race. |
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