Last Chance BQ.2 Chicagoland Marathon

Even though the course is 8 loops, it never felt boring or long. Loved the elite bottle station, it made it easy to get the fluids I needed. Weather was perfect and the environment was amazing. Would love to do it again.

From the easy registration process to crossing that finish line, confirming my time on the large digital screen... and all the way to ringing that "BQ Bell", this race did not disappoint! Fantastic organizer, Craig Bixler, and his support staff deserve accolades! They were energetic, enthusiastic, gave us the push when needed... and were sure to have the spectators cheering us on each lap! Around the course were course marshals who kept us on track. And, of course, the weather helped too -crisp high 40's to start!

The race directors were very communicative leading up to the race. Packet pick-up, parking, bag check, and all other logistical aspects of the race were a breeze. The race had a surprising number of spectators for being as small as it is. Our pacer was very encouraging, kept us clear of hazards on the trail, and stayed consistently within 15 seconds of our target time. If you're close to a BQ and want to run a marathon which gives you your best shot of qualifying, this is the one.