Really enjoyed this event... it was well organized and the volunteers did a great job of manning the water/aid stations. The pace teams seemed to be right on the mark (though I ran between them) and the course varied nicely along the river route. Spectators were enthusiastic, though there are some stretches of the course where you are running alone. Overall, this event really impressed me for its professionally-run, quality even though it was an inaugural year.

Everyone knows Dick Pond Athletics, so it's natural that they would organize a top-notch marathon. They picked a beautiful course along the Fox River through St. Charles and Geneva, IL, with great trails, scenic views, and plenty of places for spectators to cheer. The staffing of this event was terrific, with friendly and helpful volunteers. The course was clear, but poorly marked in places where the mile markers were off so that one mile I'd record 6:14 while the next I'd record 7:50 with the truth was somewhere in between. There were free massages at the end and I appreciated that.

This was my favorite marathon that I've run so far. With the exception of having to run over one curb, the course was flawless, with some small hills between miles 15-20.

The organization was wonderful considering that this was the inaugural event. The staggered/wave start was a nice touch to prevent the constant battle for elbow room at the beginning of the race.

The crowd support was excellent, but there were sections where it was sparse (as could be expected for running a race with only 1,200 entrants).

I will be back again next year!

I actually didn't do the full 26.2. This marathon also had a 13.1- and a 20-mile run (for those prepping for a fall marathon). I did the 20-miler. Beautiful course, great organization, great volunteer support and great spectator support! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The course is very pretty, but it's shared with the public. It's an out-and-back course, so the two-way traffic got a little crowded in a few spots. Spectators were few but energized. On-course entertainment was negligible. There were long stretches of solitude, with no spectators and no other runners. Water stations are plentiful, but too short. Split times are few and far between  Mats are there to catch cheaters, not give splits.

This marathon was only 30 minutes from home, on a beautiful, tree-lined path, fit right in with the Chicago Marathon training schedule, and was very well organized. All details - from runner and spectator guides, to the website full of helpful information, to the communication via social media such as Facebook - were so well done. The volunteers were terrific and the aid stations fully stocked (with oranges at one of the stations - YUM!). I couldn't ask for a better local race. Thank you!

Many congratulations to the Fox Valley Marathon race committee for putting on a successful inaugural event. This marathon is held on a beautiful course, and although it is small, the number of spectators and enthusiastic volunteers along the way was excellent. This marathon is great for those who want to enjoy a marathon without some of the logistical concerns of the bigger races, yet it's still within an hour drive from Chicago. I would say the only issues I saw were with the mile markers, which were inaccurate in several spots, but this is something which I am sure will be improved for next year. Note that the half marathon is capped at just over 100 runners, so if you want to do that event, make sure to register early. However, I recommend the full marathon or 20-miler for this race.

They did a great job organizing this event. The information leading up to the race was exceptional. It was nice to be able to train on the course and know exactly what to expect. The course itself was beautiful along the Fox River. There were plenty of aid stations with plenty of water, Gatorade, gels and oranges and there was plenty left when I got to them even though I was toward the end of the pack. I would have liked a few more spectators to cheer, especially for the last 4 or 5 miles, otherwise is was a great experience for my first marathon. I look forward to running this event again next year.

I've run 5 half marathons, this was my first full. Best event I've participated in. Plenty of supplies at the rest stops, plenty of bio stops, plenty of medical personnel. LOADS of race volunteers all along the route, helping, guiding, cheering. Amazing event!
Being my first marathon, and being a slow runner, I only wish the race village didn't pack up before I got there. I crossed the finish line at 6 hours and race village was all packed up except for the food tent. The course limit was supposed to be 6.5 hours, I kind of expected race village to be there until then.

This scenery was beautiful, and the race was well organized. The only thing is that it needed more race marshals (I think this is what they are called) along the course. There were times when you were running all alone; something could have happened, and no one would have found out for quite awhile (or at least until you struggled to the next aid station).