Great Western Half Marathon (and 10K!)

Half Marathon and 10K on the Great Western Trail

Sunday May 1, 2022
Out-and-back course, Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve, St Charles, IL

Join us for the 25^th annual Great Western Half Marathon and 10K! The race is hosted by the Fox River Trail Runners and was a RRCA Championship race in 2017. Any participant donations above and beyond registration fees will be given to Special Olympics, Illinois.

Registration is now open!

Start Location and Course

Great Western Trail @ LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve
37W700 Dean St, St. Charles, IL 60175

2021 Great Western Half Marathon Course

Click the map above for an interactive view of the Great Western Half Marathon course.

PDF of the half marathon course

Click the image above to download a PDF of the Great Western Half Marathon course.

PDF of the 10K course

Click the image above to download a PDF of the Great Western 10k course.

Course

The course is USATF Certified. The race is run on the scenic Great Western Trail, which is mostly flat, consisting of asphalt and crushed limestone screenings. The Great Western Trail is a public trail system. Although we have taken many steps to inform the public of the races, the trail is still open to the public, so there will be bikes and others on the path that morning. Please stay to the right side of the path and always leave space to the left for passing runners and runners coming from the other direction. At most, please run two abreast, and always be respectful of other path users.

Mile points will be marked along the course so participants can keep track of splits.. Water and Gatorade will be available at water stations along the course. Energy gels will be given around mile 7.

No Strollers, dogs, walkers, roller-skaters, or bikes are allowed in the race. For safety reasons, the use of headphones or other electronic devices during the race is strongly discouraged.

Runners cannot be accompanied or assisted by bicyclists and will be disqualified if this occurs. This practice is unfair and dangerous to other runners.

Please listen to volunteers directing you through turns and tight spots on the course.

Training Program

Train for the 2022 Great Western Half Marathon with the Fox River Trail Runners (FRTR) and their certified Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) coaches. A 11-week half marathon training program geared to beginner and intermediate levels is available. Training begins Monday, February 14, and group long runs will be every Saturday, 7:00 AM, at Fabyan East Forest Preserve unless otherwise specified by FRTR or your assigned coach (the first long run is scheduled for Saturday, February 19).

To enroll in the training program, Select the Training Plan option during registration.

Pace Groups

We will have pace groups for both the Half Marathon and 10K distances.

Directions

The race starts and finishes at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W584 Dean Street, St. Charles, IL which is accessible from I-88 or I-90. From I-88, exit Orchard road north. At the Randall Road intersection, take Randall Road north to Dean Street in St Charles. Go west (left) on Dean Street approximately 1/4 of a mile to LeRoy Oakes entrance. From I-90, take Randall Road south to Dean Street. Go west (right) on Dean Street to LeRoy Oakes entrance.

Do not park at the Preserve; we provide shuttles between St Charles North High School and the Preserve.

Parking

Parking for ALL race participants will be at St. Charles North High School, 255 Red Gate Road in St. Charles. MAP

Free shuttle buses will be provided to transport participants to the start and back from the finish.

Please note there is very limited on-site parking for participants at LeRoy Oakes. Race participant drop-offs will be permitted at LeRoy Oakes.

Packet Pickup

Early packet pickup will be available on Saturday, April 30th from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Dick Pond’s in St Charles.

For non-Fox River Trail Runner Members, registered participants must pick up their own race bib and will be asked for a photo ID.

Fox River Trail Runner members may have another FRTR Member pick up your bib on your behalf. Members must send an email to greatwestern@foxrivertrailrunners.org prior to pick-up and include your name, Membership Number and the name and number of the Member picking up your bib.

Interested in joining FRTR?

Race day packet pick-up will be available at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve.

Gear Check

Gear check drop-off and pick up will be located at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve. You must use the bag given to you at packet pick up to secure your gear. Please use the gear check tag attached to your bib and attach to your bag.

Fees

Consider joining the Fox River Trail Runners to get the lower race fee. We’d love to have you join the best club in the Fox Valley.

Half Marathon Only

Half Marathon + Training Program

11 Week Training Plan – Beginning February 14 (Beginners and Intermediate), weekly group run and more. Learn more about the training program.

10K

Swag & Awards

All race finishers will receive a commemorative medal to wear.

Awards for the top three overall Male and Female winners. Overall winners will not receive age group awards.

Race Shirt

You will have the option during registration to opt out of the race shirt, which, if you choose no shirt, will give you a $10 discount upon completion of your registration.

But….you definitely want to have this shirt!

Race Services

There will be water, electrolyte drinks, and other refreshments for participants in Race Village.

There will be Emergency Medical Technicians and ambulance available. In addition event will be staffed by Race Guards.

Refreshments

There will be plenty of water, electrolyte drink, other refreshments for participants near the finish line

Race Results

The race will be chip timed. Results will also be posted on the FRTR web page on race day sometime later in that evening.

Volunteers

Volunteers are always needed, appreciated and rewarded. Please sign up to register as a volunteer and select an assignment.