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May 7, 2024

Fox Valley Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Fox Valley Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.6

Organization 4.8

Spectators 4.4

Number of comments: 431 [displaying comments 31 to 41]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 43 > ]

Denise Hatcher from Aurora, IL (10/10/2013) "The Fox Valley Marathon was AMAZING!" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Valley Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Fox Valley Marathon was my best race experience ever. I am so thankful that I decided to run this marathon close to home and cannot say enough positive things about each aspect of it: the organization, the friendliness of all involved, the course, the crowd, the training runs. When can I register for next year?
M. M. from Il (10/5/2013) "Great race on a beautiful shaded course!" (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Fox Valley Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race is well organized and lends itself to a great race experience. Beautiful shaded course with penty of water stations.
D. E. from Santa Clara, CA (10/3/2013) "Fast, nice course" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Valley Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The course was properly marked with plenty of volunteers and course markers to point people in the right direction, and the volunteers were still there for slow runners like me (taking almost 6 hours to finish). The race organization was very good, and the only complaint was that the bag drop area at the start was very crowded since it was kind of squeezed in behind some tables.
K. W. from Batavia, Illinois (10/2/2013) "Fabulous course for first time marathon runners!" (about: 2013) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race was extremely well-organized. There were lots of water stops with wonderful, encouraging volunteers! This was my first marathon, and it was an incredible experience. I hope to run it again! Thanks to everyone who made this race possible!
R. A. from Downers Grove IL (10/1/2013) "Beautiful race! ....just a tweak or two,.." (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Fox Valley Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Very well-organized event. Great, enthusiastic volunteer support - local cross-country teams, etc .. Appreciated that a lot. Good water stations, well-run and frequent. Beautiful course with a few rolling hills - namely at around mile 18 and a very short but steep one around 21 or so. The Fox River scenery is a nice atmosphere. Nice size to the race. Long training runs are done in the weeks prior and those in the area can run and get used to parts of the course. Quite beneficial. The medals and shirts are excellent. Sure, it was tight on some brief parts of the trail. Seems like it doesn't dawn on people that just because youre running with a pace group doesn't mean there's some rule that you cant pass your pacer and run is front of him/her in places. String it out a little! (Gets a little potentially contentious when you're already in a tight pack and someone comes up on you and says /Hey buddy can I ask you to move in a bit?') But for the most part there's plenty of room to maneuver and run your own pace. No 45,000 others like Chicago. A suggestion would be to have several visible splits. Unless youre wearing a gadget on your arm or sticking with a pacer, it's hard to know how youre doing. Sort of running blind, as opposed to races where they'd have an official clock running at various mile markers - 10k, 10, half, 15,20,22 whatever. I would have liked to know, at miles 20-23 or so, how far behind my targeted pace I was. I understand there some complexity when youre running three different races (26.2, 13.1, and the 20m) at once, but just have signage with color-coding similar to the bibs. Would make a big difference, IMO. The other thing is the refreshment/recovery area after the race. It was very crowded and cramped with no room to maneuver. No chairs to sit down on (the ground seems a long way down and tougher to get up from right after 26.2!). Would have loved to take advantage of the stretchout/massage tent but that would have meant standing in a thick crowd for a good half hour (judging from the waiting list). They should space the various tents farther apart. (Oh - and the free drink ticket - had I known I'd be walking a couple more blocks for a Miller Lite, I'd have either given my ticket away or brought some money to get a beer! Or just waited for the massage J ) But the main thing is the race itself. Outstanding. I'll take this over a Chicago 9 times out of 10. Really well done, with a beautiful course and great atmosphere. Oh - and the announcer was rather motivational and encouraging. And starting the race out with a loud Led Zeppelin song? Perfect!
S. W. from Madison, WI (9/29/2013) "Great Weather but a Little Boring..." (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Valley Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Although this race was fast and flat, I didn't enjoy running the majority of it through wooded areas. This was very boring and spectators were few and far between. I did enjoy the beautiful weather though! Probably wouldn't run this race again.
L. K. from Epworth, IA (9/28/2013) "Beautiful fall marathon with awsome volunteers!" (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Valley Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my 4th marathon. Looking to qualify for Boston and 'flat as a pancake' sounded good. There were some baby hills coming on and off the trail. Somewhere around mile 20 we had to climb a steep hill which wasn't fun. There was a couple areas of big rocks that we had to run through. And we went over quite a few bridges that reminded me of jumping on a jungle gym bridge when I was little. All these things take away from every second that you might need to hit that qualifying time. That being said, the scenery was wonderful; parking ample; easy access to race and expo; Volunteers were the best I've ever seen. They were everywhere encouraging us keeping us headed in the right direction. Spectators on the other hand were limited. We really feed off of the energy of the crowd, so hard when they are not there. It got a little confusing when we merged with the 20 milers for some reason. The finish was awesome with an energetic announcer! Expo was quite small...we ended up walking to the local Dick Pond Athletics. Beautiful town. Overall would recommend.
R. I. from Elburn, IL (9/26/2013) "Love this race!" (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Fox Valley Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Excellent race! Extremely well organized! Volunteers like none other! Gender specific shirt a plus!
D. A. from Elburn,Il (9/26/2013) "So much fun!" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Valley Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Thank goodness for the flex option. Was hoping to do the full marathon, but after two injures thru the summer, the half was the way to go this year. Beautiful course, lots of portapotties, well organized. Love having the names on the bibs, the announcer at the finish line was the best. Thanks and see you next year. Can we have the same beautiful weather as this year?
C. P. from calumet city (9/25/2013) "The 26.2 mile course was not clear on the return" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Fox Valley Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 The entire course was beautiful. Enjoyed the scenery, however, the return route was not properly mapped out clear. Tape marking on ground were very confusing, makers were too few, needed something to state that this way to return towards mile whatever.... 21-26. Something to indicate to the runners more clearly that they are on the right path instead of relying on neighborhood runners to direct you. Especially when returning from mile 14 after coming under bridge and have to make a quick right. Turn not clear... also leave markers IN PLACE FOR BACK OF THE PACK RUNNERS. DO NOT TAKE UP MARKINGS!!!!! Use tape that does not rub off the ground. Not fair to have people stranded in unfamiliar area with no return markings. REGARDLESS OF TIME PACE. That is not the issue. The issue is to also return safely and without stress trying to get back on the right path. Also, after leaving park area and entering the city/restaurant area there are NO MARKINGS on which way to go towards Riverside drive.

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