Spring Chance BQ.2 Marathon - Race Reviews

Not a ton of spectators but that was to be expected for the small race, but the support was amazing!! The spectators that were there cheered loud and the pacers were incredible. The marathon course is 8 laps, so you have to be mentally prepared for that, but it's a beautiful route and super well organized race. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to BQ!

This race is designed to specifically help you accomplish a BQ. The pacers were great, the race was well organized, and the communication beforehand regarding details was excellent. Ran Spring Chance 2025 and did accomplish my goal. Weather was perfect and there were no surprises on the course. The loop course is great for spectators to easily move around to cheer you on throughout the race.

The organization of this race is top tier! I couldn't even come up with questions to ask because everything was laid out so well! The race directors did such an amazing job making this marathon experience TOP TIER! Awesome course, volunteers were so helpful, and pre race run/setup was such a neat bonus!

The crew really does everything to help you get your BQ. I can't thank the pacers enough! I thought I might not like the race being a 3-mile loop, but it meant there were always people and support around which really helped.

The organization of this race is top tier! I couldn't even come up with questions to ask because everything was laid out so well! The race directors did such an amazing job making this marathon experience TOP TIER! Awesome course, volunteers were so helpful, and pre race run/setup was such a neat bonus!

This was my dream race. Although the temperatures climbed a bit higher than I would have liked for the Spring 2023 edition, I'm more of a warmer weather runner anyway and the mid 60's start made it easy to get up to speed right away. With a mostly flat, looped course, and an elite style water bottle table, I couldn't have asked for a better setup. The pacers were amazing, the spectators were supportive, and the logistics made everything stress free! This is a race I'd gladly run every year!

This was my first attempt to BQ for 2024 and I ran this race a couple of days ago (on 4/15/2023). Unfortunately I did not qualify because of the weather (64 at start and 72 at finish). I wish it were 15 degs cooler. BUT, this is an amazing race. The course is flat. There is great course support - 2 aid stations, 1 elite bottle station, and an energy gel station. Volunteers and course organizers did an amazing job. I might sign-up again. I highly recommend this race.

Great course, pretty well organized. They should have definitely gotten more porta potties since the line was very long at all times. Staff were very nice, but the photographer missed my finishing photo. You had one job buddy...

Everything is set to help you get your BQ, but you need to be well trained and focused. Not everyone who enters reach their goal.

The Spring Chance BQ.2 Marathon was an awesome experience. This was only my 2nd marathon and the first race I've been able to run in 2 years, due to a series of injuries. The most recent one was a pubic ramus stress fracture and it took 8 months to heal. Just to be able to toe the line was an accomplishment in itself for me and I was very excited to be able to do this in Geneva. The course is mostly flat and entailed a 2 small loop spur but then 8 loops around for the large loop. I enjoyed running the bridges and through the wooded area on the backside of the course. It reminded me of my training on the ATT in North Carolina. The race director was very informative and answered any questions I had. He and the staff/volunteers really orchestrated a top-notch event and everything flowed very smoothly the day of the race! Also, the weather was very unpredictable leading up to the race and the high that day ended up being in the 80's!! It got very warm as the morning went on but there were so many volunteers to make sure runners were staying hydrated and fueled! I was happy to finish 1st female overall, even with the weather conditions and challenges we all had to overcome. I'm grateful to all the staff and volunteers for making this such an amazing experience. Thank you all sooo much!

First time running this race and I didn't know what to expect. 8 laps around a park sounded...unexciting. The weather was not helpful (warmer than average/usual). But the experience at packet pickup was wonderful: it felt like a hometown 5K instead of a huge expo to navigate. And the water bottle table was a game changer. (Pro tip: freeze your later lap water bottles to pour over yourself if it's hot out. The race provides plenty of hydration.) And the race was wonderful: the crowd was perfect and just where we needed them, lots of EMT presence just in case, the course was perfect with few twists and turns and by lap 2, we knew where they were. And the course was lovely. But most importantly, race organization was perfection: great info, super helpful staff, and the pacers were amazing. Can't recommend the race enough. I finished with a 9 min BQ cushion and would be happy to run this again.

It was a great race, even though the weather ended up being not ideal. Craig, the race director, was very helpful with my many emails prior to the race. I really enjoyed having an elite style personal fueling table and also enjoyed the course very much (actually really liked that it was 8 loops - helped me know what to expect). The tee shirt material wasn't great but ultimately, I ran 3 minutes below my BQ time so that's the most important thing. What I didn't like was the company that was in charge of chip timing. It missed 1 or 2 of my laps and initially showed that I didn't finish the race! When I contacted the company, they were able to fix it quickly and show that I did finish the race, but my splits were totally messed up and they weren't able to fix it. Also, the email responses were short & rude.

Quality event

I signed up for this race after a ton of internet research on April marathons. The weather in many parts of the country can be iffy in the Spring, so weather was a non-factor in my decision (there's literally nothing you can do about weather!). This course presented as a flat, fast option to earn that coveted Boston Qualifier. Packet pickup was at the race start on the day before the race. The Race Director was on hand to answer any questions. This race features the ability for runners to place water bottles on designated tables just like the 'Elites' at major races. HUGE perk of this race. This gives a runner the ability to have access to their fuel of choice without having to wear a belt or pack. This alone should be a deciding factor over other races. Race morning was well-planned and seamless. Parking is located across the street from the park and volunteers help to guide runners to the race start. There are plenty of bathrooms pre-race and with the participation capped at 300 runners, there are no worries for bathroom lines. The course itself is two small loops on a paved park path (about 25 yards of crushed gravel) and then 8 larger 3 mile loops. These larger loops have one small incline but otherwise are very flat. These loops cross two small wooden bridges as the course crosses over the Fox River. There were plenty of volunteers at the two designated water stations (water, Gatorade, etc) and the 'Elite' bottle tables were also very well staffed. Each time that a runner passed through the eventual finish area, the crowd support peaked and the race announcer would call out runners by name. This was huge boost. Post hydration, food, and medical support (if needed) was top notch. If you are looking for thousands of spectators, you're looking in the wrong place. If you're looking for a very well-run race on a fast, flat course, you've found it. After all, your goal is to qualify for Boston, and there will be plenty of crowd support out there.

I pr'd at this race by over 4 minutes and beat my BQ time by 20 minutes. I didn't feel my normal pre-race nerves because it was a small race (200ish runners) 8 x's around a 3 mile loop so I could access my own fuel and hydration every 3 miles. I think this was my first marathon that I actually nailed the fueling and that's why it went so well. Also, the river is beautiful, the pace teams are VERY talented, and the supporters along the course were wonderful. My only negative would be one section of the course is on sidewalks, suspension bridges, and semi uneven trail, but at least 2/3rd of the course is on a nice smooth paved bike path.

Race Director Craig did a great job putting together this race. Wayne and the Dick Pond Pacing Team did a wonderful job for the racers. I was happy with the communication, organization and set-up of this race!

The purpose of this marathon is to give runners the best chance possible to qualify for Boston. The organizers of this race succeeded on all levels. Thank you for the wonderful experience

A great race with great volunteers. Lots of information leading up to the race. Very well organized. Nice partially shaded course along the Fox river trail, plenty of water stops, well marked, and a nice shirt and medal. Easy to find and plenty of parking.

I could not have asked for a better experience - wonderfully organized, great volunteers, great attitudes most of all. It was a great race and trip for me.

The race was so well organized (esp during COVID). Volunteers were friendly and helpful. Everything ran so smoothly. My biggest critique was that there were pedestrians/bikers on the course so you had to dodge them a few times. Overall, great experience!

The course and volunteers are worth 6 stars if I could give them here. The mostly asphalt loop course was well marked, accurately measured and almost pancake flat. Going around eight times helped me get water, Gatorade and gels in orderly fashion. Plus, runners can get into a strong and consistent running pattern, knowing where the turns, slight downhills and short uphills are. I knew exactly what the last 6 miles would look like, and for the first time in six marathons didn't slow down at mile 20. Finished with a 3:38:54, under the 4:05 BQ time for a 65-year-old male. In addition, running around a beautiful lake and over several wooden bridges broke up the monotonous feeling that could have occurred. The friendly volunteers got runners everywhere we needed to be on the morning of this pandemic-affected event. During the race, they were at every aid station yelling encouragement as we went by. As for fans, this is probably not a race for any runner who needs large crowds cheering them on. Yes, there are several stretches where fans can congregate. But this is a marathon on a trail in a park, not on a road. Organizers provided extensive pre-race information that was always welcome. Overall, I heartily recommend this marathon for anyone serious about getting to Boston.

It was little boring run no pacers so it was lonely run first few laps were confusing (not bad)

the staff's professionalism, enthusiasm and organization made this race a fantastic experience

This event exceeded by far all my expectations, from the pre-race packet pick up to the post race amenities. Everything was perfectly organized, considering this year's particular challenges and complying with safety regulations. Every volunteer helping with a big smile, all fellow runners encouraging and motivating along the course, and last but not least, every spectator cheering and clapping made this race so special. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU ALL! Congratulations for the amazing job!

Although I think we all want the pandemic behind us, so we do not have to wear masks, I really liked the wave assignment and staging from entrance/packet pick-up (if not done the day before) to bottle drop-off, pre-gear check, and gear check/warm-up. Each was just long enough...WELL DONE!!

BQ2 is an awesome event. Very well organized from pickup to completion and supported by dedicated, friendly, helpful, prepared individuals. A great weather day never hurts, but great course and set up. Thank you for pushing this event forward to successful completion.

Given the unique circumstances of COVID this race was organized and executed very well. The loop course is beautiful, not so flat so the legs would get stale. One side of the river is tree covered, the other side open to see the river. Spectators have plenty of access at the north and south ends of the course - very family friendly. The volunteers at packet pick and on race day were fabulous - very helpful, well informed and so supportive. The communication leading up to race day was frequent and addressed all issues. Race organizers did a lot of work to pull this off and it showed. I would recommend this event. And the surrounding towns are charming - a nice weekend getaway.

My fourth BQ.2 race. Superb job of keeping participants informed over the past months, executing the plan on race weekend, and keeping it fun.

The most friendly, caring and supportive organizers, staff and volunteers I have ever experienced. Very well organized. The pre-race starting line check-in was smooth and easy thanks to the dedicated volunteers.

Thank you for bringing racing back! Huge compliments to the organizers for pulling off a well-organized return to racing. I got a massive PR due, in part, to the structure and logistics of this race in particular. Specifically, the flat course, elite water bottle tables, wave starts, and spectator support (even done safely in the midst of COVID precautions) were key in helping maintain my goal pace. The one downside was that the 2021 course measured long, according to my GPS watch, as well as the watches and Stryd pods of others I ran by and others I have since found on Strava. I've seen total distances ranging from 26.35 to 26.8. This is important because the nominal point of this race is to help people qualify for Boston--the extra length added about 65 seconds to my time, which could be the difference between me running Boston and me trying again...

This was my first time running the BQ.2 and I was blown away in the level of organization and the thought that was put into our safety. From all the communication that consistently was being shared with us prior to race day to packet pick up the the race. I was in the first wave on Saturday so we were the first group they had to try it on. Everything went incredibly easy and it made me so comfortable and helped me prepare to start! The overall course was perfect and the weather was incredible. I'd recommend this race to everyone!

A great race with great volunteers. Lots of information leading up to the race. Very well organized. Nice partially shaded course along the Fox river trail, plenty of water stops, well marked, and a nice shirt and medal. Easy to find and plenty of parking.

This was my first time running the BQ.2 and I was blown away in the level of organization and the thought that was put into our safety. From all the communication that consistently was being shared with us prior to race day to packet pick up the the race. I was in the first wave on Saturday so we were the first group they had to try it on. Everything went incredibly easy and it made me so comfortable and helped me prepare to start! The overall course was perfect and the weather was incredible. I'd recommend this race to everyone!

I love the BQ races. I'be ran the Chicago one twice and Grand Rapids once. I qualified in Grand Rapids but missed the cut. I qualified in Chicago both times. Each a PR, one by over 8 minutes, and the other by over 6 minutes. The course is great and I was fortunate to have ideal conditions each time. The race staff is fantastic!! Very well organized and great runner support. No big post race festivities or super great swag but I don't care about that. Nice shirts and medals. The real reward is Boston if you qualify.

Elite bottle and laps are solid advantages. I cut corners hard and still 26.35. So cut corners as aggressively as you can. There is 486' of elevation gain and net elevation gain of -20'. So using the 2 second per 10' gain rule the elevation is going to cost 1:36 secs. Others will be on the course who aren't racing. Wasn't a problem but be aware. The crowd support was the best. The lap set up makes it a great race to bring your crew too. No crew? no problem. Make sure you have your name on you and you'll get fans. Great BQ and being your family race. But it's a straight up time trial type of race. If you look at results it's a clinic on pace management. Most have flat to neg splits. Weather was really good. Slight southbound wind. Path pretty protected from sun and wind.

I signed up for the April 18, 2020, BQ2 Marathon. The race was cancelled. Apparently a mass email was sent to participants that they needed to make an election by August 1 to roll their entry to next year or the Fox Valley Marathon. The email by the race director must have got stuck in my spam filter because I never received it. I contacted the race director after August 1st and was told they would not accommodate me in any way because I did not respond by August 1. I would recommend people avoid this race company. Poor business practices and not runner friendly.

Excellent course for PR/BQ. Fast, flat, 8 loops & scenic. No vehicle traffic as on park pathway, the odd cyclist and some geese! Superb organisation in every aspect. Easy parking a very short walk to start. Not thousands of spectators but those there sure made up for it with terrific support & they got to recognise the runners due to it being a lap course. Excellent for family to spectate at.