It’s the tenth year for the Starved Rock Country Marathon. Like previous years, there will be a 5K, half marathon, and full marathon. Runners in the half marathon will start at Starved Rock State Park. Full marathon and 5K runners will start in downtown Ottawa Saturday at the Lone Buffalo restaurant. Event Director Matt Skelly says once the runners go over Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, 5K runners will go down IL 71 and marathon runners will head toward the south side before heading toward Starved Rock. Runners will go through the same route on the south side turning right on Center St. and going through Guthrie St, College Ave, Adams St, and McKinley Rd, where runners will run around the Pembrook Subdivision, which was added to the marathon because it’s a perfect half a mile that’s needed for the full 26 miles. After that, Skelly says runners will turn on Dairy Lane, then on Adrienne Ave, then Adams St to Fosse Rd, and then turn left onto Rt. 71 heading west. He says the community’s involvement in the race is great to see.
After going to Starved Rock, runners will make their way back with the half marathon runners and finish where the old Central school is. Be prepared for traffic to be blocked off in downtown Ottawa when the race starts at 7am.
Correction: We were told by one of the people with the Starved Rock Marathon that a little less than 650 people have registered for this year’s marathon. We apologize for the incorrect number.