Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon - Race Reviews

This race was an absolute blast. I loved that everyone had the same goal - qualify for Boston. The first two loops before the big 8 loops had some tight turns where things had to slow down a little, but luckily is was in the beginning and we got it out of the way first. The aid stations were perfect, the elite bottles were perfect, the day of the race was perfect, the spactators and race organizers were perfect, and I even ran 16 minutes faster than my BQ standard, and PRed by 10 minutes (this was my third marathon). I would highly recommend this race. My only quarrel was that the path was still open to the public, so I had to dodge some recreational runners and bikers as the day got later. It did not slow me down at all, but when you are on mile 23 of a marathon and have to think about moving out of someone's way, it got on my nerves a tiny bit. I am so thankful for this racing staff for providing a great race with a great course! Thank you Last Chance BQ2!

This was my third marathon ever and I won the race with a PR of 2:37:53, seeded time (2:58:25-Chicago Marathon 2023). The course was clean because there were no major cracks on the pathway, the organization team did a great job picking up plastic cups and litters from the course, and there were trees all around the 3mile loop course that provided plenty of shade throughout the race (not to mention the beautiful river that you crossed over every lap). There was a biker who led us through the first three loops (2 small ones and 1 big loop) and there were clear directions. The course was simple: 8 major loops with 2 small loops at the beginning and it is all pretty much flat. The course is powerful because of the amazing spectators, and organization especially when you start to feel fatigued, they pick you up with their encouraging cheers; the elite water bottle station made the need to refuel easy on the mind; even the 90 degree turns weren't as bad as I thought they would be. It was a blast! Thanks to all who work to put this exceptional race together. Boston here I come!

Great course with so much positive energy! Very pretty loop, I was worried I would get bored doing the loop but that wasn't the case whatsoever. Highly reccomend

The organizers do a great job of making this race one where you should hopefully attain a Boston qualifying time. Conditions were perfect this year (2024). Given the date I was fearful of warm weather but it was ideal conditions.

Enjoyed the shady tree-lined bike trail, aid stations and reoccurring fans at the closing stretch of each loop. Also a big thanks to Brad, one of the volunteers for the great encouragement to get me across the finish line on time!

Had a great time at this well done event!

This race is outstanding. Everyone who is running is focused on that one goal, and everyone respects the mission they are on. The race from race director down to the volunteers are top notch. I can't say enough positive things about this race.

Incredible race, volunteers, announcer, photographers, athletes, spectators, course, everything! Way above my expectations! Clear communications eased my race nerves. Beautiful local community for pre/post race exploring. Highly recommend this race!!

First time marathoner and the race was very well done and I appreciate all the effort.

OK: The course is a little monotonous. But that's the ONLY thing negative I can say about this marathon. Great organization, super-professional pacing, and while boring, even the course is perfectly built to support your BQ. Perhaps the single best thing is the elite bottle tables, where you can get your personal pre-mixed drinks and gels every three miles. This is SO valuable in preventing a bonk and allowing you to PR. I'd totally recommend this marathon. It's worth traveling to if You're serious about getting a BQ.

I am a race director myself and have run 27 marathons around 10 countries. I know what I like and do not like in a race. This one, was by far the best race I have ever been on. Everything. From the clear communication about course, parking, hydration and fuel during race day, down to execution on race day. Really, there is not a single suggestion to improve. I love the event and without hesitation will come back in the spring for an attempt at a 3:02 marathon and personal record. The director had thought of everything. Even a bottle marking station with color tape and sharpies. I was going to do that at home with my own supplies but once I saw that station was just amazed. Pacers are flawless. I followed the 3:07 pacer and he did perfect splits of 21:30 each lap. Exactly what we needed for an even split race. After 5 laps, another pacer came, ran with us about half a lap and took over with fresh legs to secure the success of the group. I am 100% sure that without that pacing groups, I would not have achieved my Boston Qualifying race. The course was beautiful. River views and a simple rectangle to follow. I liked the bridges and the few short hills. I personally think that it keeps your legs fresh as you have a chance to use different muscles. In reality, according to my Garmin there is a negative elevation gain, so the course is flat and even slightly downhill. The VIP bottles are extraordinary. I have never seen that before. Just using that resource wisely will help you achieve a BQ or personal best. They have a person at each table pushing forward each bottle for you. Completely amazing the attention to detail. Love that all volunteers seemed happy to be there and were wearing a sharp jacket and hat. The full atmosphere is amazing. I highly recommend this race to everybody and if I could I would bring this type of high-level perfectly-executed kind of event to a city near me.

I am very grateful for everyone who made this event possible and memorable for me! Outstanding team work! Well organized at each stage to make sure that runners are not only reaching but exceeding their goals; communication/information before/during/after the marathon was seamless; perfect timing on the start; volunteers/spectators were stellar; continuously cheering up making you feel like you are an elite runner; pace leaders were extremely/super supportive; very neat town, the course area is a balanced combination of shady and open giving you a break from the sun and mostly flat! I call this as a high quality service; I strongly recommend...

3-mile loop was perfect for picking up self-prepared fueling bottle. It proved to be essential for the high humidity day. 14 min. BQ, no complaint here.

This race was incredible! The organization was top notch, the pacers were amazing and the overall energy was awesome. I loved the flat course and all the volunteers along the way giving out water, Gatorade, and snacks. I would recommend this race to anyone looking to qualify for Boston! Thank you BQ.2 for a phenomenal race experience!

The race lived up to it's claim that they give you the best chance to run a Boston qualifying time. The organizers and fellow runners provided that extra motivation to run my first BQ time. A good course, well organized race, and an ample number of friendly volunteers. I had a great experience!

Race was extremely well organized and race director was very engaged. Communications were great. Plenty of parking and toilets. I personally found running 8 loops to be very challenging psychologically and I would not run it again, but I did achieve my goal (a BQ!) and I would recommend this race if you are comfortable running loops. Be advised this is NOT a closed course and there are bikes and dog walkers on the same path.

This was my second marathon and the first time that I qualified for Boston. The venue was amazing and the spectators were so great!

Just a terrific marathon, period! So well-organized, so well laid out, and so fun, this is the Marathon I want to run again and again. The Last Chance fall BQ Marathon gives you the chance to qualify for two Boston Marathons: this year's plus the following year's Boston Marathons! The 'Elite' bottles really ensure you have what you need and prefer (Nuun anyone?!), and the Pacers get you around the course on time. 'Nuff said.

Overall this race is awesome for anyone looking to BQ the last weekend before registration. The course is set up great allowing you to have your own bottle station every 3 miles. The signs are easy to follow on the course with great energy from volunteers and spectators at the start/finish area. The loop course is simple with a variety of views on a flat terrain. I enjoyed this race so much! I appreciated all the emails and information prior to the race. The race director, volunteers and pacers were all so friendly and helpful. The location is easy to get to. If you're looking to qualify I would recommend this race!

I would absolutely recommend this race for anyone who wants to run a new PR and get as close to guaranteeing an entry to Boston.

I ran the 2022 Last Chance BQ and loved the course (most of the course has a wonderful canopy of trees which is awesome for shade and O2) and the ease of logistics. Big city races can feel like a chore just to get to the start line but this race is logistically seamless and so friendly. The only reason I gave the course 4 stars instead of 5 is because it is a bit narrow at some points and can be hard to run the tangents. If you're not trying to run tangents, it's 5 stars :) What makes the course so great for fast running (long straights in tree-canopied areas) makes it a little less conducive to crowd support on one of the sides. However, because the course is a loop, you get a LOT of crowd support very frequently - I saw my 'support team' 7 times which is more than I have at bigger races. The best part was how friendly the race director and all of the BQ team and volunteers are - they clearly love what they are doing and are so supportive. It feels special for each person (rather than bigger races where you are literally just a number). The pacers from Dick Pond were really enthusiastic and hit our splits like a metronome. I would recommend BQ2 to anyone who is trying to find all the optimizers available to make that BQ happen!

The only disappointment I had was the lack of respect I witnessed from some of the runners throwing their cups on the ground vs in the trash cans.

I highly highly recommend it; you will not be disappointed in the fall race; the eight loops were phenomenal.

I went to this race with, like everyone else, the explicit goal of qualifying for Boston. That meant under 3:10 for me. (I got 3:10:11, so I missed slightly.) The organizers and pacers are devoted to that cause, and I appreciate their work. One pacer even came back to help me with about a mile to go. That was kind, and I wish I could thank him personally. Further, the sense of camaraderie given the shared challenge was inspirational. The fans got to enjoy plenty of interaction with the loop course, and they lifted our spirits. However, there were problems with the course. In particular, there was a lot of traffic on the path: bikes, dog walkers, casual runners, and lapped runners. The congestion impeded a natural run and was a bit out of hand at times. Further, even without the congestion, there were many sharp turns and rises and falls (exacerbated by eight laps). The course is relatively flat, but it is not pancake flat. Of my group, pacing for 3:06, about 75 percent did not get the 3:10. From memory, four stayed with the pacers the full race - at least as far as I could see, since I fell back a bit after 20 miles. If you are in shape and shooting for your qualification time, you can do it here. The atmosphere is a lot of fun, but do not expect a cakewalk. Also, water load before the race, because we were all sweating like crazy as the heat got up. You might want to take advantage of the personalized drink stop as well. I did not, but you need all the hydration you can get.

I had such a blast running this race. I travelled in from Nashville, TN and felt like the event, packet pick-up, and pre-race warm-up went so well. I definitely want to come back to run the race again! And, might I add, I successfully got a 30-minute PR to BQ! YAYYYYY!!!

Great race . Keep up the good work.

This was my 15th marathon and first time doing a loop course. Let me tell you, if you are on the fence about a loop course this is your sign to sign up now. There are so many people around the course cheering you on and giving you speed. At the end of each loop a huge crowd with great music is there to count you down and give you the energy for the next loop each time. I will absolutely do this one again! I BQ'd with 4 minutes to spare. Flat as a pancake. The people are the nicest in the world. Over 10 starts for this race.

This race is: - no stress - well organized and run - laps on beautiful course, adjacent to river, runs both sides in loop with bridge crossings to keep interesting, - good shade - relatively flat - perfect loop size for fuel/hydration stations - almost exclusively experienced runners - best use of small pace groups any race, by far - minimal distractions, despite occasional well mannered bicyclists and shared path with small farmers market to keep interesting and focused - highest ratio race staff/support/Marshalls to runners

This race is simply amazing! The organizers know all the things marathoners need. It is the most organized, beautiful, fun, and encouraging marathon races. Seriously simply the best! Consider this race, especially if you are looking to get your best time!

Well organized race. If you're looking to qualify for Boston, this is the race to run. Great support from pacers, spectators and other runners. Great support on the course with three options for hydration and a station for gels. The course is flat and on a 3.2mile(ish) loop. Don't be discouraged by the loop as it disappears. Everytime I've run it, that has been my experience. Great race. Looking forward to 2022!

I was completely impressed with this race. It was done so well. The race staff was patient, kind, and so organized. There was wonderful support along the course from race staff to spectators and the "race village" was simple yet had everything. It was an easy in and out to start and after the finish. The loops did not become daunting and effort was made to make the race as personal as possible for each runner. Definitely worth a shot!

I was super disappointed in this race. I was hoping to have support by the pacers, but there wasn't one running anything close to what I wanted. I assumed there would be a 3:45 or 3:44 pace group, but there was only a 3:39 (way too fast) and a 3:49 (too slow). Needless to say I didn't qualify for Boston. Will never do it again.

I've done 6 Chicago, 4 Boston, 3 Madison, 2 Chicagoland, Erie (PA), and now LCBQ2! It's one of the best. No nonsense, easy to check in, bathrooms, start, etc all very easy. The loops are straightforward and mostly shady. Lots of water stops and having your own drink stop is so great! Also since they hand out gels at each loop you don't have to weigh yourself down carrying a ton of gels, always my problem in the marathon! The course is narrow so you don't waste crucial steps and it's easy to run the tangents. Only ran .1 extra compared to the .4-.5 extra I run in Chicago It's a quiet and peaceful course when you need it but cheering and spectators when you do. You can really get in the zone mentally which is important to me. I ran with the 3:49 pace group. They were excellent. I stayed with them until mile 20. I chatted a bit with all of them and they were really helpful, checking in with us, inspiring us, etc. At mile 20, I surged ahead - glad I ran conservatively for the first 20 because the sun did start to get warm. Dropped down to about an 8:20-25 pace to close out the race strong! Yes, I trained well at 60-72 miles a week average with speed work, tempos and hills, so I felt well-prepared, but starting slow and not hitting the wall helped me get a BQ with a 3 minute + cushion. A good strategy is to stay with the pacers until 20 and then break away. Those that didn't kind of burned out and I passed a lot of people. I would definitely do this again. The finish area food is just fine, nothing to write home about, but who cares? I was riding high on my BQ! I'd definitely do this race again.

Really loved the whole marathon experience from start to finish.

Great race!! Well organized & course was as advertised: flat & fast. Can't say enough about pacers. I ran with the 3:50 group, which meant they were targeting a 3:49 & they were spot on. There seemed to be a natural flow that some parts of the loop were faster/slower than others but overall pace was perfect. After a couple loops I just checked out and ENJOYED the run!!! I am usually checking my watch at every mile marker, trying to bank some time, etc. But, the pacers were SO good that I just enjoyed running in our group. At the 1/2 we were 20sec ahead of pace & stayed right there. Everyone - race organizers, pacers, volunteers and runners could not have been friendlier or nicer. I flew out here to BQ and did and would not hesitate to go back. Oh and the elite hydration tables were awesome. I usually slosh gatorade up my nose & all over myself trying to get a precious couple gulps down. Having my own water bottle available each loop? Heaven!! I actually drank my Gatorade instead of decorating myself with it! Loop course allowed ample hydration stations and crowd support. Initially I was dreading passing the finish line on each loop but it was great - lots of crowd support and many 'shout outs' over the PA to individual runners and pace groups. Overall, I highly recommend this marathon.

This race was so well organized which was a huge help in keeping my race day nerves down. The course was fairly flat and the perfect amount of scenic to keep my mind occupied for the mental battle it takes to run a marathon. Although I was taken down on mile 23 by a torn MCL (bummer), I will definitely be back at this race for many years to come! All around great race!!

Really, really loved this race. The organizers were fantastic. The course was flat and easy. The race was run like a top marathon - even though there were only 300 participants. I have only ever run the NYC marathon before, and so I can't stress enough how well this race was organized. SO many things can go wrong, and it can be hard to get everything right with only 300 people paying to participate. But BQ2 did! Bathrooms were accessible; there were 16 water stops total; everything went smoothly. The eight loops meant you had pretty constant support from fans, too. Due to construction, a last minute change had to be implemented, and BQ2 got that done and kept the course as an official qualifier. Can't imagine how stressful that must have been, so thank you thank you for everything! My *one* suggestion for improvement would be the pacers. For the 3:30 group (one of the biggest - 20 or 30 of us), we started with two pacers who pretty quickly had a significant gap. This left us runners questioning which pace group we should be with. I wanted to play things smart and start out slow, so I stuck with the second pacer. But the other group was running maybe 10-20 seconds faster, which is huge! And no one really knew if they were going fast, or we were going slow, or both. Also, the pacers switched out every 6-8 miles, and the pacers coming in weren't exactly sure if we were a few seconds ahead or behind - which, once again - huge, when it comes to executing this race. You don't want to get stuck at mile 23 realizing you have to *increase* your speed by 10 or 20 seconds when you are just hanging in. At mile 20, our pacer left and told us we'd have another pacer at mile 23 & but these are crucial miles! So the few of us left with her were a bit shell shocked. To be fair - I am not blaming anyone's performance on this, but I did think we'd either have 1 pacer for the entire race or two pacers for half a marathon each. If the two initial pacers hadn't split into 'fast' and 'slow' groups, this also wouldn't have been a problem. In the end, only 2 out of 11 in my age group BQ'd, and 4 dropped out. Once again - NOT blaming the pacers. So easy to blame everyone but yourself in these types of things. But 20 miles in, body dying and not sure if you're going to be able to take another step...having your super amazing supportive pacer tell you she's leaving was not a fun surprise! But let's be honest - I was dead at that point anyway, so it didn't make much of a difference. But it could have for someone who was just hanging in. All in all, once again - amazing race. All of the pacers, organizers, and volunteers were so, so fantastic. Thank you so much for putting this on!!