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Race Information

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Course

A course specifically designed to get you to Boston!

01

Runner-Friendly

Featuring a net downhill, (thanks to a gentle grade on the 1.8 mile starting spur), the 3.05 mile loop course offers plenty of shade, scenic views of parks and forest preserves bordering the river, and a glimpse of downtown Batavia.

02

Course Support

The 8 loop course means 16 Aid Stations, 8 rounds at the Elite Water Bottle table (yes, you are treated like an elite runner in this one), and plenty of opportunities for race-provided gel and of course, your own cheering section.

03

USATF Certification

IL22007NM

USATF Safe Sport Handbook

Note:  Mile 0.5 and mile 1.2 each have a 100 meter section of crushed limestone and loose gravel.  (In case gravel sticks in your planned racing shoes)

Packet Pickup

Spring Bib lookup is now available  for registrations as of 2/28
Pre-Race Packet Pickup
Spring Chance - Saturday, 4/11
Last Chance      - Saturday, 9/05
11 am to 5 pm

Fabyan Forest Preserve West, Pavilion

1925 S. Batavia Ave.(Route 31) Geneva, IL

Race Day Packet Pickup
Spring Chance - Sunday, 4/12
Last Chance      - Sunday, 9/6,
5:15 am to 6:15 am

Fabyan Forest Preserve West Entrance

1925 S. Batavia Ave.(Route 31) Geneva, IL

  1. Please bring your photo ID with a birth date (e.g., driver’s license) to pick up your packet. No packets will be given out without a valid photo ID.

  2. Only the registered runner will be able to pick up a packet.

Race Day Parking

Main Parking 
1950 S. Batavia Ave.(Route 31) Geneva, IL
  • Opens 5am 

  • 4 minute walk across the street from race village​

  • designated non-coned spots only!

  • Thanks to The Preserve of Geneva!

Overflow Parking (Sept race)
1500 Crissey Ave (Route 25) Batavia, IL
  • Opens 5:55am 

  • 7 minute walk across the footbridge from race village​

  • No-line washrooms available

  • NOT recommended for ...

    • race morning packet pickup

    • elite bottle drop

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Runner Guide
Available April (Spring Chance),  Sept (Last Chance) 

Pace Team

Our thanks to Dick Pond Athletics for providing the BQ.2 Marathon Races Pace Team.
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New for Spring 2027

Limited Personal Pacer options are available!

See below

Pacing you to your qualifying time would just ensure that you qualify but cannot run Boston.  Great for bragging rights, but your experience would end there.   We don’t just want you to register only to be shut out of the race.  We want to help you to the starting line at Hopkinton. The BQ.2 pace team will lead you to a finish time 4 minutes under your qualifying standard, so that finishing with your group not only gets you a qualifying time, but a time that could get you into Boston most years. Pace teams will be provided for every qualifying pace under 4:30 that has 5 or more registrants by 3/1 (spring) or 8/1 (fall), and at 4:30, when the race ends. The table below shows pacer goals. Runners are free to run with any pace group or on your own.   

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How many can you expect in your qualifying pace group?

While anyone may run with any group, ( a lot of you may be shooting for faster times than your qualifying standard), it is still a pretty good indication of how many of our runners you will be with on race day at the start, and hopefully at the finish.

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Looking for a larger cushion than our pace groups offer? ...
- You won't be the only one.  Find others in the starting corral and make your own pace group or...
- Run with your pace group for the 1st 4 laps (14 miles) and then 10 seconds faster per mile for the last 4 laps (12 miles) to drop to 6 minutes below your qualifying standard.

Limited Registered Personal Pacer Options are available

Spring race registration includes the option for a Registered Personal Pacer for runners looking to bring someone to help them achieve their goal.  Pacer Registration (coming soon) and a fee are required.

  • Limited to the 1st 26 to sign up for the option

  • Limited to 1 pacer per racer participant.  Pacer bib is non-transferrable.

  • Personal pacers can run the entire race or any portion thereof and will not receive a finish time.

  • Must register as a pacer by 2/28

  • Pick up your pacer bib between 5:30am - 5:55am race morning at gear check.

    • ID required,

    • bibbed runner must accompany you

  • Unavailable for the fall race due to capacity limits

Unregistered Personal Pacers are Prohibited

For all runners to have their best chance on an uncrowded course, runners cannot run with unregistered personal pacers. Violators will be disqualified, at the discretion of the race directors.
 

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