The Community First Fox Cities Marathon opened registration this week for the 23rd annual races, without the $175 entry fee or computer problems of the super-sized fall counterpart in Chicago.
Early registration for Fox Cities – through May 1 – costs $60 for the full marathon and $50 for the half. The price goes up to $75 and $65, and tops out at $100 and $90 on race weekend.
The Community First events start on Friday, Sept. 20, with the Guardian Kids Fun Run at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Humana Health and Wellness Expo will open on the 20th and has moved to the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley Fieldhouse in Menasha, which is near the starting line for Sunday’s race events.
Also new this year is the Affinity Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine 5K Run/Walk to be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Riverside Park, Neenah, with participants running or walking the final mile along Lake Winnebago and past the Kimberly Point Lighthouse to the park.
In 2012, the full marathon reached its capacity of 1,100 in early September. The run also has a cap of 3,200 for the half marathon.
Race Director Steve Zich the community support and 2,300 volunteers “bring the wow” to the experience for the participants in the Fox Cities. The flat, fast course is ideal for first-time marathoners and runners pursuing a Boston Marathon qualifying time.
