Matthew Moo's Staging Area

Believe the other reviewers when they say the Illinois Marathon is one of the most well-organized races out there.

I hadn’t planned to run the 2025 Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon, but fate had other ideas: my intended race, the Carmel Marathon, was canceled due to severe thunderstorms just a week prior.

This event is led by race director Jan Seeley, and it’s clear she pours her heart into it. When I reached out with questions after registering at the last minute, Jan responded quickly—even late at night. I even bumped into her twice on race day in her neon pink vest.

I’ve run other races that offer multiple distances on the same day—Indianapolis, Hong Kong, Atlanta, to name a few—and in my experience, this underrated race in east-central Illinois is just as well-organized, if not more so, than those in larger cities. Despite the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, and 10K all taking place around the same time, the course avoided bottlenecks. I never had to weave around runners from other distances.

The course is exactly as advertised: flat and fast, with hydration stations placed at regular and helpful intervals. Another standout aspect was the course markings—clear and consistent—with volunteers stationed precisely where any potential confusion might arise.

If you’re seeking a scenic race, the Illinois Marathon might not be for you. It’s a college town surrounded by cornfields—which has its own kind of charm. BUT—if you’re looking for a well-organized race that reflects your fitness and hard work, then you should seriously consider the Illinois Marathon.

I was supposed to run Carmel on my birthday, so not being able to was incredibly disappointing. But storms—and disappointing times—pass. A week later, in crisp 55-degree weather in Urbana-Champaign and Savoy, I ran my first sub-3-hour marathon. I am immensely grateful to the Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend team for so graciously adopting and welcoming those of us who couldn’t run Carmel in the spring of 2025.