FOX CITIES, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Runners, take your mark: the 33rd Community First Fox Cities Marathon is just 2 weeks away.
Ahead of race weekend, marathon officials are excited to announce route enhancements for those taking on the full course.
Runners taking on the 26.2 miles of the Community First Fox Cities Marathon are in for something a little bit different this year. Race officials are making some minor modifications to the full marathon course, with a greater focus on what makes the Fox Cities special.
“We strive to make it a great experience for everyone so we took in more of the trails and water views,” said race director Julie Johnson.
Those enhancements include the addition of the Papermill Run Trail in Kimberly. Runners will also wind through wooded areas on the Telulah Park Trail in Appleton, along the Fox River, before reconnecting with the Newberry Trail. And, part of the run through Darboy is being adjusted to straighten out the course, allowing for better flow for the runners.
According to Johnson, “We did confirm the elevation really didn’t change. It may appear to change when you’re running it, but the elevation really didn’t change, and we are pretty much a flat and fast course.”
It was back in the spring when race officials started to explore the modifications, taking until last month to finalize the plans. Johnson said, “We had to get the course certified and to make sure that all the tangents add up to 26.2 because we are a Boston qualifier, we are a certified course.”
It was back in the spring when race officials started to explore the modifications, taking until last month to finalize the plans. Johnson said, “We had to get the course certified and to make sure that all the tangents add up to 26.2 because we are a Boston qualifier, we are a certified course.”
With the full marathon at 86% of its capacity and the half more than 90% full, race officials are excited for all the runners to take to the courses.
“It really showcases our Fox Cities and all the different areas. We have so many people from outside of the area and outside of the state that you get to see a little bit of Wisconsin and why we like it here with the water and the trees and all of our trails,” added Johnson.
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