Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon

The Fox Valley Marathon is introducing an innovative new event in 2014: Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon, a race designed to give runners a final chance to qualify for the 2015 Boston Marathon. The notoriety of the Boston Marathon has made the event a goal for serious marathoners, but the standard Advocate Dreyer Fox Valley Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 will possibly be too late to qualify for the 2015 Boston Marathon. It is a qualifier for the 2016 Boston Marathon. As such, FVM co-race directors Dave Sheble and Craig Bixler have created the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon, set for Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, the week before Boston General Registration opens. The idea is to give runners one last chance at qualifying for the upcoming Boston Marathon, rather than waiting 18 months for the 2016 Boston race. The Boston Marathon scheduling changes last year meant 2013 FVM runners who qualified could not take part in the 2014 Boston Marathon. In the four-year history of the Advocate Dreyer Fox Valley Marathon, more than a thousand runners have qualified for the Boston Marathon and in 2011, the Advocate Dreyer Fox Valley Marathon was the 25th best Boston qualifier in the U.S. The inaugural Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon will start in Geneva and run through the flattest, easiest portion of the Fox Valley Marathon course. The event is limited to a field of 330 runners. “We’re excited about the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon,” Sheble said. "Since so many runners have a goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, we wanted to give Fox Valley Marathon racers an opportunity to qualify for the nearest Boston event, rather than wait 18 months after qualifying. So much can happen in that year and a half, but the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon provides an opportunity for qualifiers to ride the momentum into the 2015 Boston Marathon. “It’s a flat, shady course and with a 6:30 a.m. start, there should be optimal conditions for runners to put forth their best time in their bid for Boston. It’s also great to run with a group where everybody has the same goal. All 330 runners will be trying to qualify for Boston.” For more information on Last Chance BQ.2, check out www.fv26.com About the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon – Chicagoland Another race innovation created by Fox Valley Marathon Races, Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon – Chicagoland is a race designed to give runners a final chance to qualify for the 2015 Boston Marathon. Scheduled for September 13th, 2014 before the anticipated opening of Boston’s general registration, the race will draw a nationwide audience of runners attempting to meet or improve on their qualification times. About the Fox Valley Marathon Races In its 2010 Inaugural Event, the Fox Valley Marathon Races quickly became Chicago’s premier west suburban running event and one of the best in the entire Midwest. The Marathon, Half Marathon and 20 mile races showcase the towns, parks and paved trails along the Fox River from St. Charles to Aurora, and draw runners from across the country and internationally. The fast, flat, shady course and extensive volunteer support make it a favorite for all runners from first timers to Personal Best and Boston hopefuls. The Advocate Dreyer Fox Valley Marathon is a great course for first timers and is the largest single day sporting event in the Fox Valley. It was named Best Marathon 2012 by Chicago Magazine, a Midwest Top 25 Marathon and is a great Boston qualifier. Advocate Dreyer Fox Valley Marathon 2014 is timed perfectly to the Chicago marathon schedule, including an innovative Fall Final 20TM race a few weeks before Chicago 2014. The Race FlexTM allows runners to double the chance of finding good weather for their fall marathon attempt. The Fox Valley Marathon Races — for runners, by runners. For more information, visit us at www.fv26.com