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Jul 2, 2024

Naperville Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Naperville Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.0

Organization 4.6

Spectators 4.4

Number of comments: 78 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

G. R. from Grand Rapids, MI (11/18/2015) "Great Marathon!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Naperville Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon continues to evolve and get better each year. I loved the well marked, well supported course with many turns and lots to see running through neighborhoods, the center of town and then through the country. I had my best marathon time in 2 and a half years! The bling I received for being a repeat Naperville marathoner as well as participating in the Fox Valley Marathon was exceptional! I will return!
J. C. from Us (11/18/2015) "Great race" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Naperville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The race itself was great. The volunteers are helpful and pacers were amazing. Loved the marathon course: small hills (mostly in the first half). The city embraced the runners! Definitely recommend the race! A few suggestions would be to post the participant handbook about four weeks prior to the race. It was sometimes hard to find information on the website. Also would clearly mark in handbook where runners can get their legacy medals after the race and that top age groupers would be mailed their awards. Great race!
J. L. from Aurora, IL (11/18/2015) "Pleasant experience, good course" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Naperville Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The course was good and the organization was much improved from 2014. Gear check was seamless, a huge improvement from last year. Good support throughout the course. This race is a great option for someone not wanting to deal with the huge crowds of a large race.
B. M. from Naperville, IL (11/18/2015) "Great Marathon Experience" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Naperville Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Naperville is a well organized race, suitable for first-timers and seasoned marathoners. The issues from 2013 and 2014 seem to have been worked out. I loved the course this year, and the spectators and volunteers are fantastic. I wouldn't change the course, even though that Book Road section is awfully lonely. :)
J. M. from Naperville (11/18/2015) "Very good. Couple of tips." (about: 2015) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Naperville Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Well-organized, nice course, supportive crowds. Have run twice and would run again. Couple of suggestions: 1. There were several potholes that were not marked. Please check the course for these beforehand and fill or mark if possible 2. Initial course map for half was different around Pembroke than what was later announced. Final distance with tangents might be a touch longer than usual fudge factor. 3. Can you mark Gatorade vs water at aid stations? No way to tell when running up to the stations. Great race otherwise, look forward to the next one.
K. E. from Far West Suburbs (11/18/2015) "Great Experience, Amazing Energy!" (about: 2015) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Naperville Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran the half marathon. The course was advertised as having some small hills in the first half of the half marathon. Miles 2-6 had a few 'slight inclines' - but not what I would call hills. The challenge here is perspective. If you only run in Illinois, you would consider these hills. If you have experience running in other parts of the country, you won't consider these hills. It's just enough of an incline to adjust your turnover, but that's about it. The course was great - good condition surfaces. It winds through downtown & neighborhoods, it might not have the scenery of other areas, but the downtown section is literally BOOMING with energy. Marching bands, cheerleaders, screaming spectators - it's amazing. The neighborhoods were awesome - tons of folks at their driveways offering snacks, kleenex, support of all kinds. (Plus the houses are pretty impressive if you're into real estate!) Like any race there was a stretch (probably around miles 10-11) that wasn't super exciting, through a commercial area. But it didn't last long. Aid stations were very well manned and stocked. I had no issues with Gear Check before or after the race. I finished in the half in a little over 2 hours, and didn't hit the gear check right away, I had snacks, met up with family first, etc. So maybe that's why it was so quick - no wait at all. It is a crowded race, but not so crowded that it's a negative. I started with the 2:15 pace group and we crossed the start line about 4 minutes after the official start time. Pretty quick! I had a blast and will definitely be back!
J. S. from Shorewood, Illinois (11/18/2015) "Good experience" (about: 2015) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 With this being my first half marathon I didn't know what to expect. Long lines for the bathrooms was the biggest issue for me. I enjoyed everything else about the race. I'll be back next year!!
J. M. from Fox River Grove, IL (11/18/2015) "Fun race." (about: 2015) 2 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The starting area was quite crowded, but that is why we have chip timing. I was very pleased with the number of timing stations. There was plenty of water/Gatorade and porta potties. The course was well marked, with lots of spectators. The downhill into the finish was a nice touch. I would have liked to see a little more of the river during the run. It wasn't very scenic. Overall I am happy with the race. I'll come back next year.
M. B. from Naperville, Illinois (11/18/2015) "Great race, miss the beer tent" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Naperville Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Best course so far for the Full Marathon. Great volunteer support. Lacking in fan support, especially during the second half. Really missed having a beer tent where you could congregate and have a drink or two. Not a fan of having different establishments for the free beer.
N. A. from Schaumburg/Naperville, IL (11/18/2015) "Happy Medium" (about: 2015) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Naperville Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 One of the main reasons I even decided to do the half this year was because it went through North Central's campus and downtown. I'm a current student there and that was my favorite part about the full course from the year prior when NCC was at mile 17. My body was still recovering from the Chicago Marathon so I didn't want to have to do another full just to get to that area so I was glad they re-did the course this year! But there seemed to be A LOT more hills within the first few miles this year compared to 2014. But it's better having them at the front end than at the tail end!

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