Kudos to the organizers of the Fox Valley Marathon. It was well organized and executed, which is something you may not expect from a first time marathon. The communications leading up to the race were extensive. Packet pick up was a breeze and the merchandise selection, including training gear, was great. Race day was fantastic, with plenty of free parking close to the start/finish. The wave start was brilliant and made for no congestion on the course. The course itself was outstanding - flat and scenic with plenty of shade, although with perfect running weather, we didn't need the shade. Volunteers did an awesome job with everything. I have never seen so many hydration stations with plenty of water/Gatorade, Accelerade and oranges. I really liked the finish. There was a volunteer to meet you immediately and stay with you until he/she was sure you were okay. Love the medal too. What a great job. My heartfelt thanks to the organizers, volunteers, spectators and sponsors that made the inaugural race one to remember.

This was an excellent race for a very small venue! The directors hit on every aspect and left nothing to chance. The logistics, while very difficult, were flawless. As a race director myself, I was more than impressed! I would definitely recommend this very flat, fast course next year!

Beautiful setting, flat course, plenty of water/Gatorade stations, easy packet pick-up, friendly volunteers.

We probably lucked out on the weather, but this was the perfect time of year. No killer hills, but the course is not dead flat - it winds in and out of a shallow river valley with many gentle twists and turns. Keeps it interesting. Path is a little narrow for most of the race, which would be a big problem if this event grew much but isn't yet. Pace groups were a hazard. Pace gangs would be a better name for a couple of them, but I stayed out in front of the big ones so they weren't much of a problem for me, though I almost got run off the trail by one oncoming mob. Given the narrow trail, I think the race would be better off without them.
My only gripe: many of the mile markers were badly placed. I suspect this was a consequence of confusion resulting from running three races on the same course. This could be easily fixed next year with a little more attention or supervision.

It was surprising how good this event was, considering that it was the Fox Valley Marathon's inaugural year. I have run 3 large marathons (Chicago) and 4 smaller (1,000 to 3,000 participants) marathons in Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha, and Falmouth (MA). The organizers for this event were among the best at pre-race communication. The support during the race was on par with other well-established marathons. And for it being the first year, there were a good number of spectators. The course is mostly flat, with a lot of shade.

I noticed a few mile markers that were not placed properly but they had the course covered with volunteers to help runners stay on-course. I would recommend this event to anyone.

What a great marathon. The event staff, the numerous volunteers, and the medical team (yes, I needed their attention for about 15 minutes after the race) were friendly, supportive, and extremely well prepared. The course was scenic and fast.

Overall, a great event. Thanks to the event staff and the City of St. Charles for hosting a great race. It was worth the trip!

I've never participated in any sort of race event, let alone run a marathon. It has been a goal of mine for the past 18 years. The FVM event surpassed every expectation I imagined, and then some. Everyone was so friendly, helpful, and encouraging (even folks not participating in the event had lots of kind words and smiles to offer).

I will never forget how special and welcome St. Charles made me feel. I look forward to next years event, and every year after. Thank you, FVM team. Thank you for the wonderful experience. You guys and gals are truly awesome.

This was my first marathon and I already can't wait to run another after the wonderful experience I had doing the Fox Valley Marathon. Everything was so well organized and the course was beautiful! Even picking up your packet was a great experience because they wanted to get to know each runner and were very encouraging. I would highly recommend this race to anyone and am looking forward to running it again in the future! Great job and a big thanks to everyone who helped organize this wonderful event! You made this an experience I will never forget!

What a great inaugural race! I can't say enough good things about the entire event. For me, the highlights were the volunteers and the outstanding course. The race is mostly on the Fox River Trail, which runs along the Fox River. It is nice and flat, with just a few VERY minor hills to wake your legs up. Some of the sections of the course run through beautiful wooded areas and parks. At times I had to remind myself that I was in a race because it seemed so serene and peaceful. Also, it seemed as if there were a million water stations. You'll never have a problem getting enough fluids at this race. The only possible negative would be the lack of spectators. If you need tens of thousands of people lining the streets to keep you motivated, this race will not work for you. If you're more like me, and like small, spread out groups, then sign up as soon as you can because this race is sure to sell out fast next year. Lastly, I hope the organizers keep the registration cap low. Too many runners on a course like this could ruin the whole experience.

The volunteers were excellent and it was a very well organized race. I love the cool, long-sleeve, running shirts and nice medals.