Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon

The Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon is Champaign-Urbana's flagship marathon, first run in 2009 as the first marathon ever held in Champaign and now anchoring race weekend on April 24, 2027. The course starts near the State Farm Center, winds through the University of Illinois campus, loops through Urbana, cuts back through Champaign, and heads south to Savoy before finishing on the 50-yard line of Gies Memorial Stadium. With only about 85 feet of total elevation change, the route is flat and fast, drawing runners chasing Boston-qualifying times. Marathon entrants must be at least 17 years old on race day and have 6 hours to finish before sag wagons return stragglers to the stadium. The full marathon distance returned in 2024 after a three-year pause, and the full race weekend -- which also includes a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and youth events -- drew roughly 11,000 total participants in 2025. Christie Clinic has served as title sponsor since 2009.