Your plan in four answers
Fox Valley Marathon has not announced its next date, so we have estimated September. Change the date below once you know it.
- Distances
- Marathon, Half marathon, 20 miles, 5K
- Terrain
- Flat
Course
The Fox Valley Marathon course
All races start and finish in historic downtown St. Charles, west of Chicago, and every distance of 13.1 miles and longer goes off at 7:00 a.m. with no late starts.
Read the full course notes
The course leaves town on streets and then follows shaded paved paths along the Fox River through Geneva, Batavia and North Aurora, past waterfalls, parks, bridges and an authentic Dutch windmill. The organizers call it gentle: essentially flat, with short rollers around mile 10 (marathon and Fall Final 20) and mile 17 (marathon). The finish crosses the Fox River and can be seen from more than a mile out, so the crowd pulls you through the last stretch. A large part of the route is on trail with some gravel, narrow points and curbs, and the Fall Final 20 offers a 20-mile option on the same course.
- Terrain
- Flat
- Distances
- Marathon, Half marathon, 20 miles, 5K
- Weather on race day
- Mid-September mornings in the Fox Valley are usually 55–65 °F at the start, warming into the 70s by late morning, and warm, humid years do happen. The river paths are well shaded, which helps, but start conservatively and drink at the regular stations if the forecast runs warm.
What to train for
This is a pace-holding course, so the key sessions are long runs of 18 to 20 miles with the final 6 to 8 at goal pace, plus a weekly tempo run on flat ground.
Mix in runs on paved and crushed-gravel paths and practice tight turns and narrow sections without losing rhythm.
The minimum pace is 13:45 per mile for the half and longer, strictly enforced on the marathon and over the first 5 miles on the roads, so newer runners should get comfortable well under that pace. Gels are offered at only two stations, so carry your own and fuel every 30 to 40 minutes.
Sample week
A sample Fox Valley Marathon training week
A week from the middle of the build, about six weeks out. Your plan sets the real distances and paces from your own fitness and adjusts them every week as you train.
- Monday
- Rest, or 20 minutes of mobility
- Tuesday Key session
- Intervals: 5 × 1 mile at 5K to 10K effort, easy jog between
- Wednesday
- Easy run, 6–7 mi
- Thursday Key session
- Goal-pace run, 10 mi with 6 mi at race pace
- Friday
- Recovery run, 4 mi, or cross-train
- Saturday Key session
- Long run, 16–18 mi, the last 4 mi at race pace
- Sunday
- Easy run, 4 mi, then 6 relaxed strides
Taper
Tapering for the Fox Valley Marathon
Start the taper two to three weeks before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course is flat, so pacing decides the day: rehearse your goal pace in short segments during race week.
Also in Claude
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Build me a training plan for the Fox Valley Marathon in September. I run [distance] a week, [days] days a week, easy pace [pace].
Fox Valley Marathon training questions
How long should I train for the Fox Valley Marathon?
Most runners give a marathon sixteen to twenty weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The plan above counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
Is the Fox Valley Marathon course hilly?
Flat. All races start and finish in historic downtown St.
What is the weather usually like at the Fox Valley Marathon?
Mid-September mornings in the Fox Valley are usually 55–65 °F at the start, warming into the 70s by late morning, and warm, humid years do happen. The river paths are well shaded, which helps, but start conservatively and drink at the regular stations if the forecast runs warm.
When should I start tapering for the Fox Valley Marathon?
Start the taper two to three weeks before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course is flat, so pacing decides the day: rehearse your goal pace in short segments during race week.
Do I need an account to get a Fox Valley Marathon training plan?
No. The plan above builds in your browser with no account, no email, and no card. Make a free account only if you want to keep it, log your runs against it, and have the coach keep adapting it as your training goes.