Runners crowd the road at the start of Sunday's Fox Valley Marathon, Half Marathon and Fall Final 20 Mile Run in St. Charles. Andrew Dorgan, of Glen Ellyn, the eventual winner of the marathon, is in orange at right, under the 3:05 sign.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Hundreds of runners poured through the streets of St. Charles on Sunday for the Fox Valley Marathon, Half Marathon and Fall Final 20.
A qualifier for the Boston Marathon, the event took runners on a scenic and shady course along the Fox River, passing through Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora and Aurora. The race supports runners with 15 aid stations and plenty of volunteers, and is limited to 4,100 participants so it does not become overcrowded.
The races are also good for first-timers looking for an supportive, family-friendly race setting, according to organizers.
Before the races, runners could sign up for one of several Dine-n-Dash Pre-Race Dinner Parties on Saturday, which feature two local hosts and up to 10 runners meeting at a local restaurant. Organizers say it was a great way for runners to share stories and meet new friends.
The races were also spectator-friendly, with a number of designated viewing areas at parks along the route.
Rhonda Carr of St. Charles is escorted across the finish line Sunday by her two-year-old grandson, Joey Fiesel, at the Fox Valley Marathon, Half Marathon and Fall Final 20 Mile Run in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Andrew Dorgan of Glen Ellyn wraps himself in a racer's heat blanket Sunday after winning the Fox Valley Marathon in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
A race worker grabs more medals at the finish line Sunday at the Fox Valley Marathon, Half Marathon and Fall Final 20 Mile Run in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Half Marathon winner John Collet, of Verona, Illinois, gets a prize for finishing first Sunday at the Fox Valley Marathon races in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Kevin Walker of Plainfield celebrates his finish Sunday in the Fall Final 20 Mile Run at the Fox Valley Marathon races in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Julie Ulery of Brentwood is the first woman finisher Sunday of the Fox Valley Marathon in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Ellyn and David Sempsrott of St. Charles cross the finish line Sunday at the Fox Valley Marathon races in St. Charles. They finished the half marathon together.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com