May 13, 2024
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☰
Illinois Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Illinois Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 4.5
Number of comments: 168 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
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J. r. from St. Louis
(4/13/2009)
 "Lots of steps" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Organization was good! I had a good, fun weekend, with good support from the public and neighborhoods. I had a better time here than in Chicago - except for the fact we had to climb lots and lots of steps to get to the bag check, food and exit. But I would recommend this to anyone doing an Illinois marathon. | |
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c. z. from FL
(4/13/2009)
 "Great neighborhood marathon!" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Loved it. Course was flat and fast. Volunteer support was absolutely fabulous. It went off without a hitch! The expo was small, but it was the first, so that's to be expected. Parking was great; support was great. | |
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p. a. from Springfield, MO
(4/13/2009)
"Great Course, Nice Support, First-Class" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It is a first-class event with a nice, flat course. My brother and I were impressed beyond belief. We ran a first-time marathon a few years ago and swore we'd never do another one again.... But, we're both glad we chose this one. The only negatives: the expo was a little small (it will grow) and the porta-potties were too close to the starting line making things a bit crowded (they could be pushed back into the grass a bit). One other thing: the hotel staff was a grumpy about all of the marathoners asking for late checkout so that we could shower.... But, I'm sure marathon organizers will hear about that and work with the hotels in the future (who wants to drive home 6 hours sweaty and stinky?). But, for the first-time event, there were more than enough porta-potties. There was plenty of crowd support and numerous GU and water stations; and it was fun to run onto the football field and see yourself on the big screen for the finish. Oh, and the food spread was unbelievable - pizza, pasta, fruit, cake, etc. I'd strongly recommend it. | |
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K. F. from Chicago
(4/13/2009)
 "I will enter this marathon again" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 They did just about everything right for their first marathon. I saw people running 5Ks trying to use the toilets close to the start line, so I would not have put toilets so close to the start line. Giving out bottles of water was a waste of water, so I would have uses paper cups. Other than these two points, CU is a great place to host a marathon. | |
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A. G. from Illinois
(4/13/2009)
"Excellent race!" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third marathon, and since U of I is my alma mater, I had to run this one. I thought that the organization for the race was great. There were many water stops, and at many of them they gave you a full bottle of water. Through the course there were many water stops that were also giving out GU. The course was flat and fast, but not boring. You ran around the campus a few times and through both Urbana and Champaign. For the finish, you ran down the middle of Memorial Stadium and finished on the 50-yard line. I will definitely run this marathon again. | |
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S. s. from Illinois
(4/13/2009)
"Great first-time event" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Champaign did an excellent job of putting on their first marathon, and considering the colder weather at the start, spectators were GREAT. The only improvement I would suggest is that runners wearing earphones should be encouraged to run to one side of the road or trail. I had to continually break my stride to try and get around them, as they could not hear my respectful plea: "Runner to your left/right, coming through." This was an excellent course. I have run many marathons, and HATS OFF for making this one an excellent first-time event. | |
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N. W. from Illinois
(4/12/2009)
"Outstanding Inaugural Race" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race was EXCELLENT. The community support with volunteers and spectators was awesome! I was very surprised to see so many people out on the course cheering you on. There was hardly any part of the course where there weren't any fans. The course was also VERY FLAT. You can't get much flatter than that, and it was fairly scenic too. It was nice to go through part of the beautiful University of Illinois campus as well. Finishing on the 50-yard line of Memorial Stadium was pretty neat too. Water and Gatorade stations were well stocked and well staffed. Plenty of port-o-potties. Several GU stations. Post-race food was also very good; they had all of the usual stuff and also Biaggi's Pasta and Papa John's pizza - free! | |
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Bart Rinkenberger from IL
(4/12/2009)
"Going to be one of the nation's premier races!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 WOW! I cannot be more impressed with how flawlessly this marathon was executed!!! The people who put this race on did an A+ job, from start to finish, and everything in between. I'd call this race a mid-major (after only 1 year), and worth doing! Some of the highlights: - Pre-race bandstand entertainment while waiting for start. - Running through campus 3 times during marathon. - Plenty of parking because start/finish lines were at the sports complex. - Lots of activity at the relay stations along the course. - Genuine interest by the local residents. Some even had block parties on their front lawn. - Easy for spectators to navigate through town (obviously don't try to drive across the marathon route). - Finishing in Memorial Stadium (even the military guys were there ringing the bell). - Great shirts, finishing medals, etc. for all you "stuff" lovers out there. - Tons of volunteers with great attitudes. Great job to all! | |
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S. H. from Illinois
(4/12/2009)
"Good job by organizers for an inaugural marathon" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The positives: Amazing fan support - not what I was expecting for race in a small city. Having the finish line at University of Illinois' football stadium was nice. There were plenty of porta-potties on the course, and in several places, energy gels were handed out - and early too, not just in the later miles like some marathons do (where it is too late). Nice technical race shirt, and the finisher's medal is good. The negatives: Most of the roads seemed to be concrete, even in residential areas. The run through a park about miles 4 through 6 was too tight for all of the runners (at that point, the full and the half were together). Handing out bottles of water at some aid stations was a waste, as most runners just took 2 or 3 sips and dropped the entire plastic bottle-full on the course. The start was too congested. In general: I was talked into this race by friends who were running it. I was leery because of all the horror stories of inaugural marathons. Overall, though, I was pleased with this marathon, and would consider it again. | |
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Maniac 1257 from Chicago
(4/12/2009)
"So far, the best one yet" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the best of the 9 marathons I have run. The organizers did a great job directing traffic, there were 2 porta-potties at every mile (sometimes 4), and many spectators from the Champaign-Urbana area cheered as we went by. At the finish, there was more than enough pizza and pasta even for the 5-hour-plus finishers. You get the added bonus of watching yourself on the big screen at the U of I football stadium's 50 yard-line when you finish. I was raised in central Illinois and it was great to be a part of such a well run event. Highly recommended for all the right reasons, including a very nice finisher's medal. If you need to cross Illinois off your list, then seriously consider this one. Great job on your first event; I'll be back! |
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