More than 3,000 people found reason Sunday to spend the last weekend day of summer getting a picturesque view of the Fox River.
The sixth annual Fox Valley Marathon started and ended in downtown St. Charles, with the majority of the course taking runners along the Fox River Trail.
Some 3,300 runners participated in the event, which included the 26.2-mile race, a half-marathon and the Fall Final 20-mile race, organizers said.
The Fox Valley Marathon traverses five communities: St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora and Aurora.
New runner Lisa Latimer, of Naperville, convinced her friend Heather Baker, of Aurora, to compete in her first half-marathon.
“This was on our bucket list. We aren’t spring chicks anymore,” Latimer said.
The runners stepped off in waves of 200, a strategy organizers used to intentionally create a tranquil setting on the course for participants.
“Running gives me a sense of calmness, especially on beautiful days as this with nice scenery,” Algonquin marathoner Amit Patel said.
Patel, 44, had been building for his second marathon by running an average of 15 to 20 miles a week, with peaks of up to 45 miles in a seven-day stretch.
“It keeps me in great shape and it doesn’t take much to get into,” he said.
There was a full range of serious, recreational and novice runners, each with his or her own ambitions to finish one of the races.
The marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier, giving competitive runners a final chance to get into the spring 2016 Boston event.
Sarah Mahaney is a lifelong runner with her sights on finishing the Chicago Marathon in three weeks, so she opted for the 20-mile run as part of her preparation. She completed the prestigious Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 7 minutes in April.
“I can’t even put into words the emotions people were feeling on that day. Boston was everything I ever dreamed of and then some,” the Montgomery woman said.
Her fast time gave her an automatic entry into the Chicago Marathon, plus she is running on the elite Tag Heuer Swiss watch team. Tag Heuer is the official timekeeper for the Chicago Marathon.
“I am using this as my last long run before Chicago with a goal to finish under 3 hours,” said Mahaney, the top finisher Sunday among women in the 20-miler, with a time of 2:20:31.
Mahaney, 33, made the commitment to the demands of marathon training, including running 50 to 60 miles per week, in addition to working and being a part-time student.
“I am the best version of myself when I am running and competing. It is truly like therapy. I find that I am much happier when I run and it keeps me in shape physically, mentally and emotionally,” she said.
Co-race directors Craig Bixler and Dave Sheble decided to organize their own race when they ran a marathon in Grand Rapids, Mich.
“This is a marathon for everyone — we love all of our runners,” Bixler said. “This is a unique river trail that takes you through communities from St. Charles to Aurora.”
Bixler, who has completed 25 marathons, said the majority of the course runs along both sides of the Fox River, so people can train all summer and avoid surprises come race day.
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He said the “gentle course” is ideal for veterans looking for a fast course and first-time marathoners looking for an uncrowded, family-friendly race setting.
In past years, runners have come from 36 states and as far as Canada, Japan, Romania, the Netherlands and Germany, he said.
Stacy Palmi, of Elgin, ran the half-marathon five months after giving birth to her second child.
“After a natural birth, I think I can handle the cramping from running,” she said, lacing her shoes prior to the official start.
Pam Walker, of Aurora, decided to sit out this year’s race but applauded her husband from the sideline for completing his second half-marathon.
“It’s a beautiful and cool day for this. We started running to get healthy,” she said.
A group of Aurora co-workers were on the State Street Bridge in North Aurora to cheer on their boss. They said Oswego marathoner Nicole Wojnarowski is at the halfway point of running 40 races this year.
“We love our boss so we decided to come out and support her,” said Caitlyn Wehling, of Aurora.
Sunday’s winners
Men
Marathon: Andrew Dorgan, 2:50:22
20-miler: Patrick Dorgan, 2:03:52
Half-marathon: John Collet, 1:17:05
Women
Marathon: Julie Ullery, 3:07:20
20-miler: Sarah Mahaney, 2:20:31
Half-marathon: Tera Moody, 1:17:20
Results unofficial. Source: fv26.com, the Fox Valley Marathon website.