It’s Illinois Marathon Week in Champaign-Urbana! After a few years without the full marathon — we are thrilled to have it back! There are plenty of ways for you and your family to experience Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon weekend.
We detail all the ways to get the family involved, from volunteering to cheering on runners to attending lots of fun events associated with the races. Marathon weekend is a point of pride for our community, and the level of Midwestern hospitality is beyond compare. Be part of it.
Here are 10+ ways:
Health and Fitness Expo: That’s the central hub for all things Illinois Marathon on Thursday, April 24, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.. It’s located in the ARC, just north of Memorial Stadium. If you like to pick up lots of cool swag and learn about races all over the country, that’s the place to be – and it’s totally free. If you want to go there: park in the lots west of State Farm Center. (My kids love the Health and Fitness Expo. Many exhibiters have fun activities and lots of free swag.)
Volunteers Needed: Marathon organizers always need more volunteers, and this is a fun way to volunteer together as a family. According to the Illinois Marathon Volunteer FAQ, children are allowed depending on which volunteer assignment the adult chooses. Multiple assignments remain, and Illinois Marathon volunteer shifts can be chosen online. Please read the description of the specific volunteer assignment, and use your best judgment to decide if your child is capable of assisting with the volunteer team.
Runners love to be cheered on! Spectators are welcome and encouraged, especially for the marathon and half-marathon on Saturday morning. Determining your spectator viewing place based on the on-course entertainment? There’s a full entertainment list online. There are DJs, live bands, a bagpiper, the Centennial High School drum line, the Urbana flag core and more.
Busey Youth Fun Run: There’s still time to get your kids running in the Busey Illinois Marathon Youth Run, a 1K fun run which starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at Memorial Stadium. The Youth Run is geared towards kids 10 and under (and we’ve seen kids as young as 2 run!). Be prepared that kids sometimes run away from their parents, but the run takes place entirely inside the stadium, so they can’t get far. It’s allowed in this event, don’t expect to keep up!
- It’s not too late to participate. In-person registration for the youth run will take place at the Health and Fitness Expo; and at Memorial Stadium, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., on Saturday, April 26. The cost is $15 per child.
Busey Youth Run Funzone: Celebrate youth fitness with the Busey Youth Run Funzone! Your little racer will be entertained as they wait their turn to take the field with FREE activities such as balloon artists, coloring, games and more. Located in the Great East Hall of Memorial Stadium, festivities will begin at noon and run through 3 p.m. on race day, April 26. Festivities will close prior to the singing of the National Anthem.
Run/Walk the Christie Clinic 5K as a Family: Did you know? The Christie Clinic 5K, run on Friday night, is perfect for those who “just want to have fun.” It’s also perfect for parents who want to push a stroller! It’s the only race where pushing a stroller is allowed. There’s still time to register, and all ages are able to participate. As a bonus, Mahomet’s very own Lexi Tieffel — who just wrapped up an appearance on American Idol — will sing the National Anthem for the 5K.
Post Race Fun at the 4th Mile (Friday): Join in the fun at 4th mile (held on Friday night, April 25), starting at 6 p.m.and located just outside Memorial Stadium on Kirby Avenue (see the area map for location), the 4th Mile is the perfect place for you to kick up some excitement before your Saturday race and where you can celebrate with your friends after the 5K. In addition to live music, there will be food trucks as well as a beer tent. No, you don’t have to be racing in the 5K to participate.
Early risers? Get a free breakfast from the Bagel Bite Bar, west of the State Farm Center, on Saturday morning. Sponsored by our friends at Einstein Bros. Bagels and Columbia Street Roastery, they will serve 5,000 bagel halves and cream cheese to runners, spectators, and volunteers starting at 5:30 a.m. Get the bagels/coffee while they last.
Post Race Fun at the 27th Mile (Saturday): Everyone is welcome at the 27th Mile Celebrate Victory Bash on the south side of Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 27. Purchase a bite to eat from local food trucks and enjoy free live music. No, you don’t have to be racing to participate. (8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Traffic on your mind? If you are concerned about traffic on Friday night (Christie Clinic 5K) or on Saturday (marathon day), here’s a list of resources with maps of the course so you can plan local travel accordingly. There is also a list of estimated times when runners will pass through certain mile markers.
Start times for the races:
Thursday night: The Michael Hogue Team Mile starts at 7:30 p.m.
Friday night: The Christie Clinic 5K starts at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Wheelchair Half – starts at 7:31 a.m.
Marathon, half marathon, and marathon relay runners start in waves based on pace. Runners will leave between 7:33 to 7:55 a.m.
The 10K starts at approximately 8 a.m.
The Busey Youth Run: 3 p.m.
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