Click Here to see instructions to Shuttle After the Race
Click Here to see the minithon Shuttle Instructions
Marathon Instructions - Shuttle Before the Race (Recommend Way)
You will receive a Start time in your email a week before the race. Use refer to the timing chart located in the following instructions.
Click Here to see the minithon Shuttle Instructions
Marathon Instructions - Shuttle Before the Race (Recommend Way)
You will receive a Start time in your email a week before the race. Use refer to the timing chart located in the following instructions.
1.) Drop your Boat off at the Start of the Race. Located at on Oak Spring Road Canoe Launch, Oak Springs Road, Libertyville. (42.28847411475875, -87.93820843048952) Note, that Oak Spring Road will only be set as one way for dropping off boats. Traffic flow from East to West. Please, make sure you have all your equipment is well organized before hand to drop off as there is very limited time to do so... (Did you remember your boat, PFD and paddle?)
2.) Drive your car back to the Finish line area. It will take about 30 minutes to drive to the finish using the 94 tollway. There is No Parking at the Finish Line but in nearby lots. Please start the parking in LOT A. Once lot A is filled. Park in Lot B. Once Lot B is filled park in Lot C.
- LOT A: 42.087251, -87.885886 (Camp Pine Woods Forest Preserve parking lot, east of Rt. 45, south Euclid/W. Lake Ave.)
- LOT B: 42.088071, -87.884953 (if needed for overflow, east of river, north of Lake-Euclid Ave.)
- LOT C: 42.089194, -87.891333 (if needed for overflow, west of river, north of Lake-Euclid Ave.)
3.) Board a shuttle bus to take you back to the start line. This will be about a 30 minute bus ride. NEW THIS YEAR!!! The shuttle buses will go directly to the Finish line. (Again do you take everything you need for the race Paddle, PFD?
The buses will run every 20 minutes. Starting at 6:25AM, with the last bus at 10:05AM. Note that the first stop on the bus will still be Dam 2 woods if anyone happens to pick up the bus from that location.
Refer to the Morning Bus Shuttle Schedule to the right.
4.) After arriving at the start line. Pick up your race packet and number at the registration tent. Place your number on your boat. Make sure your numbers are above the water line. You don't want to add extra drag to the race.
5.) Make your final boat preparations and launch your boat. You will want to have your boat in the water 15 minutes before your start time. While in the water you might want to paddle upstream for quick warm up or go to the side of the river with slow current and wait for your number to be announced and line up for the start. Hint if you have a GPS or watch set to the exact time you can try timing it so you go past the start line at just the exact start time. Just don't go to early or you will be disqualified.
6.) Have a great race and see you at the finish line! RACES (Amateur Radio) volunteers will be at several points along the river. They will check your boat number as you go past. You can shout out your boat number to them when you see them as it can be hard for them to see your numbers.
7.) Have a great race and see you at the finish line! RACES (Amateur Radio) volunteers will be at several points along the river. They will check your boat number as you go past. You can shout out your boat number to them when you see them as it can be hard for them to see your numbers.
8.) After you pass the finish line and get your most amazing time recorded for the race, race volunteers will help you get your boat the boat coral. Pickup you t-shirt and race patch. There will be venders, food truck and band at the finish line. Race results will be posted on a board. Awards will be TBD time.
9.) To get your boat back on your car... There will be a shuttle bus running to lots A, B and C. (You can also walk) Pick up you car can you can momentarily park at Dam 2 the Finish line to load your boat on the car. If you want to stay you will have to then move your car back to lots A, B, or C. and take the shuttle back or walk back.
10.) Thanks for coming to the race and we hope you had a great time!! and see you next year!!!
The buses will run every 20 minutes. Starting at 6:25AM, with the last bus at 10:05AM. Note that the first stop on the bus will still be Dam 2 woods if anyone happens to pick up the bus from that location.
Refer to the Morning Bus Shuttle Schedule to the right.
4.) After arriving at the start line. Pick up your race packet and number at the registration tent. Place your number on your boat. Make sure your numbers are above the water line. You don't want to add extra drag to the race.
5.) Make your final boat preparations and launch your boat. You will want to have your boat in the water 15 minutes before your start time. While in the water you might want to paddle upstream for quick warm up or go to the side of the river with slow current and wait for your number to be announced and line up for the start. Hint if you have a GPS or watch set to the exact time you can try timing it so you go past the start line at just the exact start time. Just don't go to early or you will be disqualified.
6.) Have a great race and see you at the finish line! RACES (Amateur Radio) volunteers will be at several points along the river. They will check your boat number as you go past. You can shout out your boat number to them when you see them as it can be hard for them to see your numbers.
7.) Have a great race and see you at the finish line! RACES (Amateur Radio) volunteers will be at several points along the river. They will check your boat number as you go past. You can shout out your boat number to them when you see them as it can be hard for them to see your numbers.
8.) After you pass the finish line and get your most amazing time recorded for the race, race volunteers will help you get your boat the boat coral. Pickup you t-shirt and race patch. There will be venders, food truck and band at the finish line. Race results will be posted on a board. Awards will be TBD time.
9.) To get your boat back on your car... There will be a shuttle bus running to lots A, B and C. (You can also walk) Pick up you car can you can momentarily park at Dam 2 the Finish line to load your boat on the car. If you want to stay you will have to then move your car back to lots A, B, or C. and take the shuttle back or walk back.
10.) Thanks for coming to the race and we hope you had a great time!! and see you next year!!!
Marathon Starting Line Parking
A. The best parking option is to move your car to one of the 3 Finish Line parking areas, see below, after unloading your canoe. You can take the free shuttle back to the Start Line to begin the race. See the shuttle schedule below.
B. Alternatively, after unloading canoes, cars may be parked along the shoulder of Oak Springs Road ONLY west of the river.
C. In addition, free all day parking will be available for approximately 100 cars at the Lake Minear Beach Club. The lot entrance is 1/4 mile west of the river along Oak Springs Road. Cars must be removed from this lot by 5:00 p.m., making this a less desirable choice for participants starting later in the morning.
Finish Line Off-Site Parking
There is NO on-site parking the Dam #2 Woods entrance on Rt 45 for the finish line.
***Note – Competitors can park momentarily at Finish Line, but only to load up paddlecraft and gear.***
Everyone MUST use lots A, B, or C and return to the finish line using the free local shuttle (provided) or by walking.
Available at 3 sites beginning at 6 a.m. the day of the event.
- LOT A: Camp Pine Woods Forest Preserve parking lot, east of Rt. 45, south Euclid/W. Lake Ave.
- LOT B: If needed for overflow, east of river, north of Lake-Euclid Ave.
- LOT C: If needed for overflow, west of river, north of Lake-Euclid Ave.
Minithon Start Parking
As with the Marathon Starting Site, there is nearby parking available in the Potawatomi Woods lot. However, the better parking option is to move your car to a Finish Line parking area after unloading your canoe and gear. You can take the free shuttle back to the Minthon Start Line to begin your paddle. See the shuttle schedule below.
Shuttle Buses
Shuttle buses will be available free of charge from the finish line to the start line and off-site parking.
A. To the Marathon Start Line - free shuttle buses will leave the Finish Line at Dam # 2 beginning at 6:30 a.m., 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00 and 9:30 returning to the Oak Spring Road start line. Beginning at 11:30 a.m. and thereafter, the bus will leave every 45 minutes until 5:00 pm.
B. To Minithon Start Line, one way - free shuttle buses from the Finish area to the Minithon Potowatomi Woods Start will run at 10:00 a.m., 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:15 with the final bus at 1:00 p.m.
C. To Finish Line Off-Site Parking - beginning at 6:15 a.m. buses will run continuously to and from Lots A & B. You may ride the buses both ways (courtesy of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.) Family and friends who wish to greet you at the Finish Line and enjoy the day with you may also use the off-site lots and free shuttle bus.
Canoe Pick-up
A. Before retrieving your vehicle, please bring your canoe and equipment to fenced "canoe corral" located at the Finish Line on the east side of the loading area along River Road.
B. Enter the loading area from the temporary entrance on the south end, load your canoe and exit promptly on the north end.
Pedestrian Crossing Route 45/River Road If you're parked in the residential area west of Dam #2, please cross Rt. 45/River Road only at the entrance or exit of the canoe loading area where Forest Preserve police will be directing traffic.
Marathon Hotline:847-604-2445
Info@canoemarathon.com
Info@canoemarathon.com