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☰
Illinois Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Illinois Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 4.5
Number of comments: 168 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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J. M. from Peoria, IL
(4/27/2015)
 "Great race despite the weather" (about: 2015)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Illinois Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 For the first time in the 7-year history of the race, we experienced bad weather. I was at mile 19 when police first drove by announcing through the speakers that the race was 'shut down' and to seek shelter. With the current culture's propensity for lawsuits, management made the correct choice. However, my group and I never did see lightning, and it even stopped raining once, so we kept going and finished. Some of the amazing volunteers kept working (including the finish line), and the rest left their water stands set up for self-service. Besides that weather-related negativity, the race was awesome. The chilly weather was actually great for keeping cool during the run. Flat course as always, and the 'hill' at mile 24-25 is negligible. The increase of fruit at water stations was great. Spectators (fewer than most years) and volunteers were wonderful too. Even some of the entertainment improvised, setting up under bridges and awnings to keep playing for us. Definitely a grade-A marathon for first-timers, PR's, or those with a connection to the community. | |
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J. R. from Aurora, IL
(4/27/2015)
"Mostly Flat & Great Support/Volunteers" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've ran the 1/2 marathon a couple times but this was my first at the Illinois full. This year's weather was not great besides the temperature (50 degrees) due to heavy rain & 20mph winds. They actually had to 'cancel' the races at 10:15am which left a number of runners on the course. They still finished on their own (without traffic control because of storms) but still were allowed to finish and get their medals. The course is mostly flat with some rolling inclines/declines and the biggest hill is at 24 when it feels much worse than what it really is. Volunteers were great and every turn was marked off really well with someone there. I've never had a marathon (#7 for me) where every single cop holding traffic gave words of encouragement! You start the race with the 1/2 racers and you split off around 12 miles before running with/past the 10K races (which start 42 min after the full). So it was nice to have a boost of runners around you through 18. After that, you are pretty much on your own as it does spread out then. Overall: fast course, those that are on the course are very supportive and encouraging (hardly anyone did not say something),nice medals and post-race food (pizza, pasta, pretzels, Gatorade, water, bananas...). They also have a convenient medal engraving booth that costs only $12-15 to engrave your medal on the spot in 30-45 minutes. The weather wasn't optimal this year but if you like very encouraging and supportive crowds, greenery, want to run a PR and don't mind running solo a little bit then this is the marathon for you! | |
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Robert Rayder from Memphis, Tennessee
(4/26/2015)
 "A Fantastic Marathon Even with Cancellation" (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Let's start with the obvious. I know a lot will be made of canceling the race at the 4:00 mark. I was on the course at mile 21 when I heard the news. There was rain and thunder, and that alone would not have stopped the race. What I didn't know was the Storm Center based in Lincoln IL had warned the race directors DIRECTLY of a line of severe lightning that was heading straight for the race course. Had they left hundred of volunteers and thousands of runners unprotected against the elements, it may literally have resulted in people dying. No finish is worth that. Kudos to those who made the hard decision to cancel the race rather than risk the lives of the people left on the course. As to the race itself, few races enjoy more community support than the Illinois marathon. The whole town comes out to support this race. Further, every detail is considered. The expo and course literally overflow with signage and volunteers more than eager to help. The blooming trees and emerald green grass contrast dramatically with the well kept houses and make for a very scenic course. The finish on the 50 yard line of the UI campus (as I experienced it during the previous night's 5K) was super cool. A jumbotron projected images of every runner, and even a local TV station devoted hours of coverage to nothing but the marathon. The I-Challenge, which included a 5K Friday night, followed by a 10K, half, or full the next day gave out 3 awesome medals. Definitely a plus for medal chasers like me. The 5K is also VERY cool, and well worth arriving a day earlier to run. Really there is very little negative I have to say about this marathon, and I have run a lot of them. Well worth the couple hours drive from Chicago. Great job Illinois! I'll be back! | |
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L. B. from Kansas City, MO
(4/26/2015)
"Well-run" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Illinois Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race is run very, very well: seamless packet pickup; organized parking at the expo and race start; and very good course support. Another nice touch is that the finisher medal and race shirt have a matching design. I also like the fleece blanket given at the finish line. Support from the local and university community is outstanding and enthusiastic. This year the marathon was cancelled mid-race due to bad weather. The directors and local law enforcement did a fantastic job of spreading the word and giving instructions to the runners on the course. Locals offered their garages to runners wanting protection from the weather. Props to the local and race officials for making the difficult decision to cancel the race in the name of safety. It was the right choice. | |
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J. P. from the midwest
(4/26/2015)
"Tough Weather" (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Illinois Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Thank you to all the volunteers and staff for this race who worked tirelessly in some difficult conditions for the race. You are the race heroes!! This is my fourth year to run the half. It's a very well run event and while some will grumble about stopping the race because of a little lightning in the area, it was the right move. You would be the same people grumbling if someone would have gotten struck by lightning. Let's hope for better weather next year and we'll CU-there! | |
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T. B. from Illinois
(9/7/2014)
"Best race in the midwest" (about: 2014)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run a few other courses, but none of them are as good as this one. Flat and fast is right. I've run the marathon once and the half marathon 3 times. I've made this a staple in my yearly training plan. | |
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Joe Ely from Indiana, USA
(5/24/2014)
"Outstanding Marathon!!" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Illinois Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the 4th time I've run this marathon and I really have come to enjoy it a lot. It's very well organized and a very pleasant course. I'm puzzled by folks who say this course is not 'flat'...I suppose this is a measure of what you've run. The very minor grades on this course are actually a nice variation for the legs...but it's really flat. Further, I found the crowd support and interest over the whole course, second half included, to be terrific. Outside the Chicago Marathon, which is a huge event, this is the best support I've seen in a full marathon and this was #47 for me. The fact the course is in neighborhoods, not commercial/industrial areas, makes all the difference. I found these folks very encouraging and very plentiful. I too ran the Full I Challenge...the 5K on Friday night was a hoot. I've never run a 5K with 7,000 others!! It was fun to take a simple jog the night before a marathon. Hotels are full, indeed...I beat that by just taking my tent. There's a small campground in Mahomet, just 10 minutes from the race site and it worked wonderfully. One other fun fact...on race morning, they had a full 2 hours of radio broadcasts all about running. Hal Higdon was a major guest and it was so cool to drive in and wait in the parking lot listening to solid, well-considered discussion of running...that never happens on the radio but it does in this race!! Mega kudos to the organizers, this is an event that has grown wonderfully...it's been neat to be watch it grow. | |
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R. P. from Illinois
(4/30/2014)
"A nice well organized race." (about: 2014)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Illinois Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a well run race with a great finish. My only complaints are: relay runners finishing together getting in the way of marathoners, and concrete running surfaces. | |
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D. R. from Cincinnati, OH
(4/27/2014)
"Great race for Illinois!" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I recommend this race...great option for Illinois. Pros: 1) Great neighborhood support. 2) Great volunteers. 3) Beautiful course. 4) Well staffed and stocked aid stations. 5) Nice medal and shirts were nicer than I expected. 6) Easy, organized packet pickup. 7) Lots of food and muscle milk after the marathon. 8) Plenty of convenient parking for the expo and race. 9) $5.00 gets you into activity center so you can use the pool after the race and shower...I sat in the pool for 20 minutes in lieu of my usual ice bath and it was cool enough to do the trick. 10) Awesome finish in stadium. 11) It was a hot day and they had hoses and misters. Cons: 1) More aid stations in a few places would be good given how hot the day of the marathon was this year. Note to racers: Book your hotel room VERY EARLY. I had to stay in Danville because everything was booked so soon. Also, I did the Full I-Challenge (ran 5K night before full marathon) and can say that the 5K was about the best I have EVER run. Finishes in the stadium and includes a nice shirt and medal...great support...really fun! | |
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A. B. from Chicago
(4/26/2014)
 "A well-run race, but not flat and few spectators" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Illinois Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 PROS: This was a well-run race from start to finish and I have no complaints about the organization. Everything was easy to get to, there was plenty of parking, the race started on time, the medals were pretty cool and the results were posted fast. CONS: I have to disagree, though, with anyone who says this is a flat and fast course. I have run a lot of marathons and would not put this one in the flat category. Chicago is flat. There aren't any big hills, as noted below, but it is rolling pretty much throughout with a lot of subtle inclines that are sustained for long stretches. Some of the hiller segments come late in the race when you're going through these quite, little neighborhoods and that can be tough mentally. As was also noted below, there is little crowd support and the course can get a little lonely in the later miles. That said, many of the residents come out and go to great lengths to support the runners, which I really appreciated. Also, the volunteers were great. |
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