Illinois Marathon has a new route

Runners race down Washington Street in Urbana during the 2023 Illnois Marathon. The marathon course on the Champaign side has changed for this year's race.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

URBANA - This year's Illinois Marathon is just a little more than three weeks away and there is something you should know. The course on the Champaign side has changed. A four-mile section of Prospect Avenue starting at Armory south to Curtis Road will be utilized as part of the marathon's course from approximately 9:08 a.m. until 1:05 p.m. on Saturday (see map below).

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Vehicle traffic in both northbound lanes will remain open for the duration of the race. Southbound car traffic will be reduced to the left-hand lane only from Armory to Curtis Road while marathon competitors will run south in the right-hand lane.

If you routinely travel east or west on Curtis Road, Windsor, or Kirby Ave on Saturday mornings, you can also expect a major delay. You can avoid the race day traffic and road closures by using the traffic beltway to make your way to your destination going to the north side of the twin cities to the south, or vice-versa.

According to the information provided on the Illinois Marathon website, road clousures for destinations north of Illinois Street in Urbana should be lifted by 10:55 a.m.

Spectators along the marathon route motivate runners as they pass by on McHenry Street in Urbana. This year's race will be held on April 27.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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St. Joe Santa 5k is set for December 21

If you live in St. Joseph, don't be surprised if you wake up four days before Christmas and see hundreds of fit-looking Santas running through the village. No, these Kris Kringle knockoffs won't be looking for lost reindeer or handing out early holiday presents to those who've been extra nice this year. The red shirts will be running in the 2019 St. Joe Santa 5K run/walk on December 21.

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Runners start out on the 2018 Ho-ho-ho 5K in 2018. Re-dubbed the St. Joe Santa 5k this will be the second installment of the Christmas holiday season race. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Last year's race attracted just over 300 runners and organizers hope that number will grow. The St. Joe Santa 5k Run/Walk is a non-profit organization whose main mission is to raise money to benefit local charities through various health and fitness events.

When runners pick up their race day packets, each participant will receive a Santa hat, Santa beard and a red race shirt to wear while running the course. Each runner will also receive a commemorative medal as they cross the finish line.

The event, organized by veteran runners Brenda Hixson and Max Painter, is slated to start time at 9 am. The registration fee is $25.00 for each runner.

For the latest information runners and spectators can find more information on the St. Joe 5K Facebook group page or on the official race website at https://sjsantarun.weebly.com/. Online registration is going on now here: St. Joe 5K.

Memory Monday: 2012 SJO 5K

Above: With 15 yards to go, Beau Barber (left) and Dean Meyer go all out as they approach the finish line at the 2012 SJO 5K. Barber, who held on to his ultra thin lead, crossed over a split second ahead of Meyer. Barber was 30th, while Meyer finished 31st in their Chariots of Fire like sprint to the finish line. See more than 300 additional photos from the 2012 race here: 2012 SJO 5K photo gallery. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

     

Left: Aiden Meyer runs to a 90th place finish at the 2012 SJO 5K. Meyer, who graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School in May and signed a national letter of intent to play football at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, before that back in February, completed the course that day at 25:06. Right: Brenda Hixson runs to a 120th place finish. She finished the race in 26 minutes, 38 seconds. Below: Sara Wolfersperger heads to finish line to clock in at 26:22, good for a 113th place overall. (Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)