GREAT WESTERN HALF MARATHON & 10K

THE RACES: Fox River Trail Runners is proud of our 25+ year history of hosting and managing this competitive, flat, out and back half-marathon and 10k on the Great Western Trail that never disappoints! Join us Sunday May 4, 2025! FRTR will donate $5 per participant registration, together with any participant donations above and beyond registration fees, to be split equally among our three local, non-profit mental health charity partners. In 2024 your donations, combined with FRTR’s $5 per registrant donation generated a total of over $4,000 for those three Fox Valley local mental health charities! Channel the power of the Fourth, lace up, and join us for a race that’s out of this galaxy! 🌌✨		OUR CHARITY PARTNERS Tri-City Family Services, Suicide Prevention Services, and NAMI KDK (National Alliance on Mental Illness Kane-south, DeKalb and Kendall Counties)           Additional donations may be made as part of race registration. If you would like to donate without registering for the race, please click here: DONATION ONLY
Our Mission – Fox River Trail Runners (FRTR) was founded in 1995 and is a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Corporation whose mission is to promote running as a healthy lifestyle in the Fox Valley Region while also benefiting our community. If you are interested in supporting FRTR's mission, please consider becoming a member!		OUR SPONSORS

Start and Finish: LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve

Pace Groups - Yes

This 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 opposite 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 available around mile 7.

Strollers, dogs, assistive walkers, roller-skaters, or bikes are not 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.

It's hard to get lost on this out-and-back course but volunteers will be out there to direct you. Most importantly at the turn around :)

Train for the 2025 Great Western Half-Marathon or 10K with Fox River Trail Runners (FRTR) and their certified Road Runners Club of America coaches. An 11-week half-marathon training program and an 8-week 10K training program are available. Half marathon training plans include beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, and the 10K training plan is targeted for beginners. Training for the half-marathon begins Monday, February 17 (and the 10K training begins March 10), and group long runs will be every Saturday, 7:00 AM, at Fabyan East Forest Preserve.

To enroll in the Fox River Trail Runners training program, select the Race + Training Plan option during registration.

Location - Parking for ALL race participants is at the Kane County Judicial Center, Address: 37W777 IL-38, St. Charles, IL 60175 (don't be nervous it's only 1.8 miles from race village)

Free shuttle buses will be provided to transport participants and their family to and from LeRoy Oakes. Buses will be loading/unloading every 10-15 minutes in the morning.

Please note: There is no on-site parking for participants at LeRoy Oakes. Race participant drop-offs will be permitted. Anyone with a disability or in need of onsite parking will be accommodated race morning.

Packet Pickup will be at Dick Pond Athletics in St. Charles, IL on Sat, May 3rd from 10 am to 3 pm.

Race day packet pick-up will be available at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve starting around 5:45 am.

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

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

Emergency Medical Technicians and ambulances are available. In addition, the race will be staffed by Race Guards.

Gear check drop-off is at LeRoy Oakes.

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.

All registered runners will receive a commemorative medal at the finish line.

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

First, second and third place in the following male/female age groups: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34. 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+. Also, first, second and third place will be awarded in the non-binary category overall (not by age group).

Awards Ceremony

• An awards ceremony will be held for overall awards winners (top three).
• Age group awards may be picked up from the Results & Awards tent post-race. 

Results Posting / Look-Up

• Results will be available for look-up kiosks at the Results & Awards Tent.
• Results will be posted to the event website, allowing for participants to look up their results on mobile devices.

Please note: You must be registered by April 4th, 2025, to guarantee your shirt. In celebration of the iconic race date, choose your side: Rebellion (Light Side) or Empire (Dark Side). Will you race for freedom or power? The galaxy awaits your decision! May the 4th be with you!

NOTE: Men's (Unisex) and Women's cut available. 

Hydration Stations and Porta Johns:

1. Path & Dean St (by miles 2 and 11)
2. Path & Old LaFox Road (by Miles 4 and 9)
3. Path by The Windings Clubhouse (between miles 5 and 6)

GU and/or energy gels:

• Water Station 2
• Water Station 3

Half-marathon participants will go by each water station twice.

Hydration Stations and Porta Johns:

• Path & Dean Road (by miles 2 and 4)

10K Participants will go by the water station twice!

Sat, May 3, 2025 - Pre Race Packet Pick Up, 10 am to 3 pm @ Dick Pond St. Charles

Sun, May 4, 2025 - Race Day Packet Pick Up, 5:45 am(LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve)

Sun, May 4, 2025 - Start Time, 7:15 am

Event contact:   Great Western Half Marathon Race Director

Email:   greatwestern@foxrivertrailrunners.org

Website:  Visit website