After five years, flagship distance will take participants along familiar and novel streets in Champaign, Urbana—and Savoy
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For the first time since 2019, the full marathon distance is confirmed to be returning to Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend in 2024 on Apr. 27. Race organizers held a press conference on Wednesday where they revealed the new marathon course map, the process by which they were able to revive the dormant distance, and the special promotion available for participants who take part in this year’s race and register for the 2024 marathon.
“While it may seem like the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, our event has continued to feel the effects four years later,” said Jan Seeley, race director of Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend. “Despite obstacles, we remained adamant that our full marathon distance has an important place in our race weekend and in our community! As we prepare to celebrate this year’s race weekend in just a couple of weeks, we’re also marking the marathon’s triumphant return to the streets one year from now!”
The pandemic’s effect on local police forces ultimately led to the cancellation of the marathon distance as part of the 2022 race weekend, with limited officers available to provide safety and security along the route. For 2024, a creative update to the marathon course, which will now take participants through Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy, allows for proper staffing of law enforcement every step of the way.
Race organizers shared that participants in this year’s event, which is taking place Apr. 27-29, will have the opportunity to earn a special shirt in 2024. Anyone participating in the 2023 1-mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, 4-person relay, or multi-event challenges—in person or virtually—who registers for the 2024 marathon by December 1 will receive an ASICS-brand “26.2 Is Back In C-U” shirt as a bonus swag item next year.
Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend is one of the 100 largest running events in the nation, with over 7,000 finishers in 2022. With the reintroduction of the marathon distance, participation is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels of 15,000 or more. Since its inception, the Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend has donated $1.6 million to charities in the community and generated an estimated $6 million in economic impact annually.
For more information about Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, visit www.IllinoisMarathon.com and follow the event on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
About Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend
The Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend is an annual running event that takes participants through the scenic streets of Champaign-Urbana, Ill. It is one of the 100 largest races in the United States, drawing close to 15,000 runners in past years. Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend is led by award-winning Race Director Jan Seeley. The event made a triumphant post-pandemic return and remains committed to fostering a happy, healthy community in central Illinois. The 2023 edition will take place on Apr. 27-29, and features a 1-mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, 4-person relay, youth run, and multi-event challenges. To learn more about the Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, visit www.IllinoisMarathon.com.
