Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see your question answered below, send your question to director@illinoismarathon.com.

Registration and Packet Pickup

If I received a deferral from 2011 to 2012, how do I register for 2012?

Send an email to director@illinoismarathon.com. You will be emailed a special registration form that you print, complete, and mail to the race PO box. There is no charge.

Can I switch races after I have already registered?

Yes, up to April 23, as long as the race you want to switch to is still open. There is no switching of races after April 23.

How do I sign up for one of the I-Challenge races if I previously registered for just one race and now want to add a second?

Contact director@illinoismarathon.com to make this adjustment.

Can I get a refund of my registration fee or transfer my registration to someone else?

We do not allow entrants to give or sell their numbers to another person, primarily for liability reasons. Both parties to a race number transfer will be banned from all future Illinois Marathon events.

We do not allow for refunds of your registration fee.

Can I pick up my packet or register on Saturday morning?

No. There is no registration or packet pick-up on Saturday for any of our events, except for the Busey Youth Run. All race packets must be picked up by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27.

Can someone else pick up my packet for me?

Yes. The person picking up your packet must present his or her photo ID, so we can note who picked it up in case there are questions later.

How can I confirm my entry?

You should receive an e-mail confirmation after your registration is entered. The week prior to the race, you will receive an additional e-mail which will confirm your registration and your actual bib number. You can also confirm your entry online. If you have mailed in your registration, allow two weeks before confirming your registration online.

Where is packet pick-up located? Where can I park?

Packet pick-up takes place at the expo at the University of Illinois Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), 201 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL, 61820. Consult the parking map to see your parking options.

What are the Expo / Packet Pick-up hours?

The Body n’ Sole / Marathon & Beyond Health Expo (presented by Great Harvest Bread) and Packet Pick-up take place Thursday, April 26, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. On race day, April 28, there will not be an Expo.

Race Day

Where is the best place to park on race day?

Consult the parking map to see your parking options.

How is gear check handled?

If you are in the marathon or half marathon, your commemorative Illinois Marathon drawstring backpack is your drop bag (no luggage or paper bags). Put inside your backpack any clothing that you want after the race. Use a safety pin to attach the gear bag check from the bottom of your race number to your bag and place it in the appropriately marked FedEx truck on the west side of the Assembly Hall, north of the starting line. Gear check opens at 5:30 a.m. After your race, you can pick up your drop bag in the Great West Hall at Memorial Stadium, the same area where the postrace food is located. Bag drop/retrieval is not available for marathon relay, 10K, 5K, or youth run participants due to the short length of these events.

Can I walk in the races?

We do allow walkers in all of the events, except the full marathon.

Can I wear headphones or use an iPod during the race?

Yes, you may wear headphones, iPods, and so on during the races.

Are strollers or pets allowed on the course?

We can allow strollers in the 5K Run/Walk only, and as long as you are walking. We require that those participants with such equipment line up at the back of the starting corral to ensure the safety of all participants. We do not allow pets in any of our events.

How is the start organized?

We do self seeding by projected finish time. We have volunteers holding up projected finish times in amongst the runners, with human chains of volunteers dividing the groups by pace. Please be considerate and honest. Walkers and slower runners should position themselves toward the back. Times are based on when your chip crosses the starting line. Slow participants who put themselves ahead of faster ones create a safety hazard and slow down other racers without any benefit to themselves.

Will there be pacers for both the half and the full marathon?

Yes. For more information, see the pace teams information page.

What are the start times for the race?

The 5K starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27. The marathon, half marathon, and marathon relay start at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, with the wheelchairs starting at 6:59 a.m. The 10K starts at 7:32 a.m.

What sports drink and energy gel are offered on the course?

To be determined.

Is this a Boston Marathon-qualifying race?

The Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon is a USATF-Certified Course and a qualifying race for those people seeking a trip to the world famous Boston Marathon.

Where are the port-a-potties located on the course?

We take pride in our “excessive” use of Port-a-Potties! As such, we have located these temporary bathrooms at approximately every mile along the full and half marathon routes. The start of the race will have numerous port-a-potties as well as all of the restrooms located inside Assembly Hall, where runners can hang out before the race!

What are the time limits for the half marathon and marathon routes?

The time limit for traffic control on the course is a 3:30 finish time for the half marathon and a 6:00 finish time for the full marathon. If you are still on the course after the time limit, you will need to exercise caution as it pertains to automobiles, etc. We will, however, keep the finish line clock running for 7 hours from the start of the marathon.

Can relay teams finish together?

Yes. Meet up outside the entrance to the stadium and come in together. Be courteous to marathoners who are finishing at the same time and who will probably be a lot more tired than you will be.

How do I-Challenge finishers get their medals?

I-Challenge finishers pick up their I-Challenge medals on the field at Memorial Stadium from a specially marked table in the south end of the stadium. Bibs of I-Challengers will be coded to identify runners as I-Challenge entrants.

How do I meet my family after the race?

Meet your family after the race in the east bleachers of Memorial Stadium. Look for large letters of the alphabet to identify specific reunion locations. Spectators are not allowed on the field.

After the Race

Why did you make runners climb stairs to get food after the race?

We know it is difficult to go up stairs after a long run. Unfortunately for runners, we are not allowed to have food on the turf. (It could have been worse; we could have made you go down stairs to get the food.)

How do I tell you about incorrect or missing results?

Contact our timing company at GRaceMgt@aol.com.

How do I get my age group award?

If you won an age group award, it will be mailed via the US Postal Service within the next 30 days.

My GPS says I ran longer than 13.1/26.2. Are you sure the course is accurate?

The course was certified by the same man who certifies other marathons, including the Chicago Marathon. GPS devices are not as accurate as many runners believe. Even if you had a perfectly accurate GPS device, you should expect it to record a distance slightly longer than the official length. When you factor in the crowds and the water stops, it is nearly impossible to run the shortest possible path that the course certifier takes when measuring. In fact, if your GPS ever gives you the precise official length of the race, it is most likely that either your device is off or the course is short. GPS gadgets that sample position infrequently, on the other hand, will cut off corners and record a shorter distance than you actually ran.

When and how can I order official race photos?

Our official race photographer is Brightroom. It takes a few days to match photos to bib numbers. Photos will be available for purchase within the next few days. In addition to going to the Brightroom web site, runners who supplied e-mail addresses when they registered will probably receive e-mail notification when photos are ready.

What do I do if my shirt or medal is defective, or if I did not receive one or the other at the end of the race?

When you order as many thousands of shirts and medals as we did, you inevitably have a few slip through that should not. Tell us your goodie problems, and we’ll make it better.

Can I still get my shirt even if I did not run the race?

If you preregistered for one of our events, but were unable to attend, we will be happy to mail your shirt to you. Please send a letter requesting your shirt and a check in the amount of $5.00 (for shipping) to: Illinois Marathon, P.O. Box 262, Champaign, IL 61824.

When will registration open for next year?

Registration will open on July 1.

Why am I not receiving any of the e-mails from the race?

Maybe you registered with a different e-mail address, or mistyped it. It happens! Or maybe you have a spam filter that politely asks us to answer questions in order for our e-mails to reach you. We have 18,000 entrants, and it is not practical for us to jump through those hoops. Try adding director@illinoismarathon.com to your contact list or your spam filter’s whitelist.

It was hotter in 2010 and 2011 than it was in 2009. Why did you move the race to the end of April?

The date of our event is largely out of our hands. Our fantastic hosts at the University of Illinois and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics have numerous events taking place during the spring, and we cooperate with them in every way we can. Those U of I events include, among others, Mom’s Day and the Spring Football Game (held at Memorial Stadium, of course). In the end, May 1 was the only date available in 2010, April 29-30 in 2011, and April 27-28 in 2012.