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May 7, 2024

Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.7

Organization 4.9

Spectators 4.6

Number of comments: 92 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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J. G. from KCMO (10/1/2015) "Flat course, great race." (about: 2015) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Thanks to the volunteers and organizers of Last Chance BQ. It was a great experience and well organized. Like others have said, the 8 loops/laps were not a problem at all. I thought it was very beneficial to know what the last miles would be like. Towards the end of the race there were no surprises. For me mentally it was a good thing doing 8 laps. I counted down laps and not miles. I did PR but missed my ultimate goal. The setting was perfect, great course, great weather. The good thing is that I plan to return next year.
Rae Ann Darling Reed from Florida (9/27/2015) "Exceeds expectations!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon far exceeded my expectations. I loved the course, the organization of the race, especially the elite drink tables, the announcing every loop, great volunteers on the course and at water stops who cheered you on every time you ran by. I needed a 3:45 to BQ and ran a 3:31. I trained really hard for this one but the weather, course, support, and atmosphere definitely helped me far exceed my goal. Thank you so much. I highly recommend this race if you are looking to BQ or just want to run a small marathon that is just about perfectly executed.
Don Morgan from Little Rock, AR (9/17/2015) "Great race for BQ/PR" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have ran 40 marathons previous to this one and have never left a comment, but this race was different and deserves some recognition. I am also on the race committee for a local marathon and so I do know how much work and logistics go into putting a race on, and I was very impressed with the professionalism and how smooth every aspect of the race went. I want to personally thank the pacers, Eric and Jerry for being spot on and doing everything they could to help everyone in our group try to reach our goals. This is a PR course. I highly recommend this race to anyone trying to qualify for Boston.
K. B. from Schaumburg, IL (9/16/2015) "great race to qualify for Boston" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was concerned 8 laps would get boring but it did just the opposite. Runners got to know the dips and cracks on the path so we were prepared for them. 8 was a much nicer number to get my head around than 26.2. Aid stations, course medics, volunteers, spectators being RIGHT along the path, post race food, shirts, medals, DJ sending music over the river to the other side of the path, all made for a magic morning.
D. I. from Iowa (9/16/2015) "Perfect weather and perfect course for an 8 min PR" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Can't believe the weather was 50 degrees for this BQ/PR made course. Support was great and must say I didn't mind the 8 loops. Highly recommend if you are seeking a PR or BQ.
K. G. from Kansas City, Missouri (9/16/2015) "Flat, fast course and perfect weather!" (about: 2015) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed the loop course (3.3 miles each) around the Fox river - it had a small number of runners (around 300) and was well organized. Preview course (1 loop) run on the previous day prepared me on the race day. Finally on my 6th marathon, I got a BQ with a PR by 11 mins. Thank you Last Chance BQ.2.
Dennis Funk from South Carolina (9/16/2015) "Excellent organization & support, felt like elite." (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Truly an outstanding experience. It was the best Marathon experience I have had. I felt like an elite runner. Very well organized and could feel the interest from everyone on qualifying for Boston. Great support from volunteers, pacers, and organizers. Suggestions: 1) Aid stations be on both sides of the path to allow more room. 2) Elite tables, aid station, and drop zone need more separation between them to alleviate congestion. At minimum make drop zone on opposite side of aid station. 3) Increase distance between elite tables and drop zone to allow more time for intake of fluid. 4) Increase number of pace groups to decrease congestion within a group due to the size of the path. 5) Get use of course restricted to eliminate bicyclers and other runners.
P. P. from Chicago, IL (9/15/2015) "A Great Race for the Purpose of BQ" (about: 2015) 4-5 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a great race if your primary purpose is to go to Boston in 2016. Incidentally, this race may also qualify a runner for Boston 2017. It is relatively small and does not have the fanfare of mega marathon races, but it is well organized and very friendly. The course is an 8-loop trail. I liked the loops as I knew exactly what is next and counting the loops made the running seem easier. I also liked the counter-clock wise direction as I did not have to deal with the downhills at the wood bridge and the underpass. They became uphills, which are less hard than downhills, in my opinion. There is a little distraction as the course was not sealed off from bikers and other runners, but the pacers were pretty good in giving out alerts. All-in-all, a good race for the purpose, and it qualified me for Boston with some 15 minutes to spare.
G. D. from Menomonee Falls, WI (9/14/2015) "If BQ is your goal, this is your race!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 If your goal is to qualify for Boston, this race was designed for you. I ran it in 2015. I had already qualified for Boston in 2016, but was hoping to improve on my time to qualify for early registration. Success! I actually beat my BQ by 11 minutes, and improved on my PR by 7 minutes. Perfect weather (45-55 deg) and better training/diet helped, but so did a number of unique factors about this race: - Flat, shaded course. - Loop course design. Running 8 loops may sound less than ideal, but it actually helps you plan your splits. You always know exactly what is ahead. - Hassle free logistics. The whole experience was designed to be low stress for the runners, from 'elite' runner-specific aid stations to well-coordinated logistics. All I had to do was run fast. ;) - High energy atmosphere. The volunteers and coordinators were incredibly responsive, and the fact that all of the runners had a common goal made for a great experience. My only suggestion for future years is to add a few more portolets. It wasn't a crisis, but a little close down the stretch getting everyone through their final pre-race pit stops. I've run close to 50 full and half marathons, and this race was the overall best experience I have ever had. Kudos!
M. D. from South Dakota (9/14/2015) "Amazing volunteers!! Great race!!" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have been over to 100 races and easily one the top races for organization but it is the great volunteers and spectators that make this race exceptional.

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