Fox Valley Marathon Races Into the Area This Weekend

It began as a passing idea between longtime friends three years ago.

After plenty of planning sessions, the idea will come to fruition Sunday with the inaugural running of the Fox Valley Marathon.

Nearly 1,100 participants are scheduled to appear in the grueling 26.2-mile event and take their first steps at 7 a.m. from Indiana and First streets in St. Charles.

After heading south down Route 31, runners will cut across the Fox River on State Street in Geneva (at approximately the two-mile mark), then follow the paths alongside the river that wind through Batavia, North Aurora and Aurora before turning and heading back north—ultimately concluding at Illinois and First streets in downtown St. Charles.

Co-organizers Craig Bixler and Dave Sheble first brought up the idea of bringing a marathon to the Fox Valley area after competing in the 2007 Grand Rapids Marathon in Michigan.

"The conditions were very hot for the Chicago Marathon that year," recalled Bixler, who has competed in more than 20 marathons over the past 20-plus years. "A group of us, including Dave (Sheble) and my daughter, Allison, ran in Grand Rapids and we were all impressed with what a wonderful event it was."

"That was our light-bulb moment," Sheble said.

According to Bixler, it was Sheble who kept the light shining the past couple years.

"Dave kept bringing it up every few months, and I kept saying, 'yeah, that would be a great thing to do,'" Bixler said.

Last summer, Bixler attended the documentary, "The Long Green Line," which is based on Joe Newton, the legendary York High School boys cross country coach.

"The theatre was packed," Bixler said. "The story really impressed and inspired me. Last fall, Dave brought up the idea again and we've been serious about it ever since."

Talking about putting on a marathon and actually planning for such an event are two very different things.

"The biggest thing is finding a route," said Bixler, whose daughters Allison will participate in the Half‑Marathon and Fall Final 20‑Mile Run also slated for Sunday. "Then you have to get the cooperation from all the jurisdictions involve. In our case, that's five different cities and five different park districts.

"You have to find out what's possible and what's not," Bixler added.

Planners of such an event also must think about the spectators who will be in attendance on race day, as well as safety precautions for runners and other variables.

"You have to have a business plan and a marathon plan," said Sheble, who ran his first marathon in 2004 as a way to raise money for a friend who had been diagnosed with leukemia.

"You need a medical director (The Fox Valley Marathon has tw—Dr. Jodi Pelegrin and Dr. Joseph Boyle) because the runners' safety is critical," added Sheble, whose daughter Kristen will be a first-time Half-Marathon entrant Sunday.

A core group of volunteers also is essential.

"There's no way we'd be where we're at without our volunteer group and committee members," said Sheble, who navigated the course alongside Bixler as a "test run" last weekend.

The list of marathon participants is headed by Tera Moody, a former St. Charles High School standout who helped lead the Saints to back-to-back girls state cross country titles in 1997 and 1998 before going on to run cross country and track at the University of Colorado.

Moody, who placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Boston, represented the U.S. at the 2009 World Championships held in Berlin, Germany.

Both Bixler and Sheble hope to make the Fox Valley Marathon an annual event.

"That's what we fully intend to do," Sheble said. "This will be a great way to start but we believe there's so much more potential."