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May 14, 2024

Illinois Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.5

Organization 4.5

Spectators 4.5

Number of comments: 168 [displaying comments 81 to 91]

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H. P. from Tennessee (5/3/2010) "Nice, flat course with lots of crowd support." (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Illinois Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first time running this marathon. The course is flat and fast, as advertised. It was a bit boring at times, with little remarkable scenery. The race organization was pretty good. My major complaints involve the race beverages and lack of clocks at mile markers. It was a warm day with 88% humidity, and no beverages - either along the course or at the finish line - were cold. Everything was luke warm... gross! Additionally, the post-race food left much to be desired, and the post-race "bash" was extremely lame. I did love the stadium finish and the crowd support! So many people came out to watch in these small towns! The race organizers do need to get clocks at every mile marker for the future. I don't know if I will return to this race. There are plenty of other flat, fast courses with good crowd support and COLD beverages.
D. S. from Central IL (5/3/2010) "I did it but I'm not coming back." (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Illinois Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Nice course with lots of crowd support. Weak expo. Finishing in the stadium was great, but then having to climb stairs to get to the food (which was cold and nasty by the time I got there) was ridiculous. Also, bikers along route refused - on two occasions - to help people. What was that all about? One guy said he had run this course 10 times and knew it was an easy one. The after party was a bust, so why not have everything at the stadium?
Cool Runnings from Around C-U (5/3/2010) "Move it back to April" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Illinois Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 I ran last year and this year. I was worried as soon as I saw the 2010 date posted, and sure enough, it was warm and humid. Bad decision by the organizers to move it back two weeks, plus the first weekend in May conflicts with the Lake Run just down the road. And what was with not giving out water at the water station at Mile 2? Not hot and humid enough? Thanks for moving the course so we didn't get congested in the park like last year. A great race and course, but I'm just not sure I'll come back if it's in May again.
C. H. from Illinois (5/3/2010) "Great Race, though not as Fast or Flat as in 2009" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Illinois Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great job with the organization and crowd support throughout the race. The post-race food and drink were awesome! I ran the half-marathon this year, but compared to last year, the full-marathon seemed much easier. From miles 6 - 10, the course was more challenging - running the reverse direction, with more steady uphills compared to 2009. If possible for the future, I suggest repeating the course from 2009. The weather can't be controlled, but the course can be made faster and flatter, like in 2009.
M. S. from Bourbonnais, IL (5/3/2010) "Loved the Illinois Half Marathon" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Illinois Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first half marathon. I LOVED IT! Everything was so organized from packet pickup to the race to the post-race food. The community was so supportive. I can't wait to return next year and possibly run the full marathon.
L. G. from Illinois (5/3/2010) "Great support, flat course" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Illinois Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I did the half last year and the full this year. There were plenty of spectators, volunteers, medical personnel, etc., even after four hours; and there was plenty of water and Gatorade at stops. The course was very flat and through a lot of neighborhoods (sometimes a bit twisty). I love the shirts - not the typical, oversized, unisex ones you see at other races. The finish is the best part, through the stadium. This year was better than last; we were able to run right through the stadium - no winding around the stadium or on the field. I would highly recommend this race!
F. B. from Illinois (5/3/2010) "Great event, volunteers and community" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Illinois Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is a great marathon with an excellent organization. Volunteers and community support are outstanding. The course is nice and diverse. Finishing in the stadium is fabulous. I would do it again. I would modify the section on the narrow trail (could be used later in the marathon when there are less people) and try to do a better job at evenly spacing water stops (every 2 miles).
R. M. from Indiana (5/2/2010) "ONE FANTASTIC RACE" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Illinois Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I have run over 50 full and half marathons and this one ranks near or at the top of the list. The course was flat and fast, and spectators were everywhere. The support staff were super enthusiastic. The expo seemed a bit on the small side for a race this large, but the medal and shirt were very nice. The only real downside was getting back to our hotel after the race. The traffic was pretty bad. Perhaps they should consider buses. Finishing on the 50-yard line was also a nice touch. All of the people involved in the race, and the spectators seemed like the happiest people on earth. Perhaps they'd just left Disney World. Do this race. It is impossible not to like it. You will not go wrong doing this race.
B. P. from Chicago, IL USA (5/2/2010) "Awesome Support from Volunteers and Community" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Illinois Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Well organized event with multiple races. Logistics, expo, parking, start/finish line access, etc. were all very good. The stadium finish is a blast! You can collapse in the seats before attempting the walk up the stairs for the post-race food. The best part was the support received all along the course. I can't say enough good things about the staff, volunteers, community officials and members. As a back-of-the-packer who completed the full marathon, I was continually impressed and grateful for the helpfulness, encouragement and friendliness of all of the local officials and volunteers who directed our way, controlled traffic, and/or gave us refreshment - even after being at their jobs for a LONG time. And the support, cheers and entertainment from the community members whose neighborhoods we invaded was truly inspiring.
M. S. from MO, USA (5/2/2010) "Overall, pretty darn good" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Illinois Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 After running several hilly marathons in a row, I really liked this course... a good scenic tour of Champaign and Urbana, mostly flat except for a few short gentle inclines, and one long but gentle grade at mile 24 (but then you are immediately rewarded with a nice long downhill at mile 25 into the home stretch). I was genuinely impressed with the volunteers and crowd support for this race. Much of the course is along residential streets, which can be very hit-or-miss for spectators. But all along the route there were ordinary folks sitting at the end of their driveways cheering and running homemade aid stations. CU as a town seems to really be behind this marathon, and that's great to see. Big thumbs up all around. My two minor gripes are time-related. 1. This race should really be run earlier in the year. It looks like this race was held in early April in '09, so I'm not sure why it was moved a full three weeks later; it looks like it was the difference between a perfect morning in the 40s and a muggy, humid day in the 60s/70s. Any time you get to May in the Midwest, the weather is a roll of the dice. At least the thunderstorms moved off in time. 2. It's great to see a race that tries to incorporate all distances on the same day, but either start the 5K AFTER the full/half (instead of before) and have them come in the stadium from a different direction or have it a day earlier. It was at least cloudy at the start, but on a different day it would have been frustrating watching the sun climb in the sky on a warm morning while I stood around, waiting for a bunch of people who were going to be done with their race hours before me anyway. Also, the barricades separating the half and full at the end are very much appreciated, but I still just about plowed into the back of a bunch of walkers from the half who suddenly decided they needed to do the last 50 yards five abreast. Abrupt lateral movement 26.15 miles into a marathon is not one of my best skills! Not sure what could be done other than barricading them off all the way to the finish, but it would be nice if walkers would realize they're not the only ones out there. Might as well wish for a Ferrari while I'm at it. All in all, though, this is a great race that's doing a very solid job in only its second year.

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