We had the opportunity to sit down with Julie Johnson, the Race Director for our Fox Cities Marathon (FCM), and discuss what it takes to plan this marathon every year.

This is a full time, year round position for Julie, so when we spoke with her in early November, she had already begun plans for the 2025 FCM. My big takeaways were how important every detail is and how many checklists are needed to make sure everything happens. One of the little details she had been discussing earlier that day was safety pin inventory. Four pins per participant bib times the number of participants in all events means that many, many pins must be ready to go every year. Doesn’t sound like much but it represents one of the many varied details that must be accounted for.

One of the bigger time consuming tasks is all the necessary permitting that must be readied. The FCM is a community wide event involving many communities within and around the Fox River, rather than only one big city like with the Chicago Marathon. That means many municipalities must be contacted for our event. Discussions must happen with the DOT about state and county roads, the local city police departments for traffic control, road closures and EMS considerations, and the city and counties Park and Rec departments. Each will have their own permitting requirements, so Julie’s past experience helps her determine how much time is needed to obtain each permit, what information needs to be provided, and how to complete and submit the necessary paperwork to make sure that proper notice has been given and that there will not be any surprises. Generally speaking, this permitting process begins in January each year.

One quick example here is Appleton’s Telulah Park. The FCM does not directly utilize the park’s pavilions or parking lots, only part of the trail that runs through it. Yet the volunteers and spectators who show up there certainly don’t want to discover that some local corporation has organized a big company picnic party in one of the pavilions and taken up park and parking lot space. So this park has to be reserved by the FCM.

The race course routes are important to determine early. The UW Oshkosh Fox Cities Campus has been used as the starting line for the Full and Half Marathons, but they announced that their campus will be closing next summer. How will that impact next year’s event? And quite often some part of the course requires road construction, yet dates are often not determined far in advance. Word is that portions of Valley Road will be redone in 2025. Might that mean a route revision will be required? If you recall from our October 2024 PaceSetters newsletter, if any part of the course is changed, time must be allowed to get the new course measured and re-certified.

One of Julie’s big focuses is how to make the FCM a special event. The goal is to create a great experience for all involved. Many discussions revolve around what made our events special previous years and how can we make them special again next year. Do changes need to happen, and if so, how much change should be made? Marketing and promotion are key to building excitement each year. Introducing the 5k several years ago has attracted younger runners, many who are children of past and current marathon participants. An emphasis is put on how we can attract a next generation of participants, and how to create a FOMO vibe, or a Fear of Missing Out. Everyone gets caught up in the excitement and wants to be a part of it. That is very real, you can feel it in our community as race day approaches. The staff spends time connecting with other marathon race directors and researching their events, both near and far, understanding what other events are offering and costing, and in what ways FCM can differentiate from the others.

It’s important to keep this race safe for all participants, volunteers and spectators. Road blocks and Marshalls are stationed at key points to assure that participants are safe from traffic. Many sets of eyes are watching the weather forecast and radar. Meteorologists from WBAY monitor and give input on how the weather looks that morning. The course is its entity; if weather threatens any part of the course actions need to be taken.

The difficult decision was made to cancel the 2024 Marathon when the lightning around our area just wouldn’t let go. Four transformers blew on Midway Road that morning. There were 118 volunteers setting up out on the course that had to be pulled, including a local school cross country team setting up a water station. Quick communication was vital. How important is running a race compared to the safety of someone’s child, family member, or friend?

Sponsorships are important, helping offset the expenses of putting together the FCM. Many great local organizations have stepped up every year. This must be known in advance to understand how the budget looks and what amenities will be included. Then after the race, a Proof of Performance summary is delivered to these sponsors showing them registration information such as number of participants, demographics, and event growth. Registrations were up 17% this past year. This was the 4th year to offer a 10k, and the number of participants was the highest. These things are important for continued sponsorships and potential new ones.

Without willing and kind-hearted volunteers, the FCM could not happen. Big thanks go out to all who help during the year and who come out and help on race day. The “Hoopla Club” provides DJ’s and Cheer Teams along the route and entertaining themed water stations.

Here’s another detail. It’s no fun using a dirty, ill-equipped porta potty. The FCM staff makes a particular effort to inspect all rented porta potties to assure they are stocked with hand washing/sanitizer supplies. Also, in each of these porta potties, the supplied paper-thin toilet paper rolls are removed and replaced with specially purchased higher quality toilet tissue. At wipe time that attention to detail is something we can all get behind.

And did you know the mile markers with bases weigh 50 pounds each, and some of the trails along the course cannot be driven to. Kind of makes your back hurt.

After the races are completed and costs have been covered, the FCM staff looks at who it can support by giving them some of the race proceeds. It is a win-win when giving back to a school district who not only promotes the event but has many of their students participating.

Julie credits Amanda Siecor for helping sustain the longevity of the FCM.  This past year was the 33rd year, and Amanda has been part of them all. Amanda is huge in helping with the planning of it every year. If you take the time to send either of them any feedback about the races, know that they will personally read and reply to your comments.

Whereas a running participant only sees what they see, Julie looks at what everyone sees. She is considering everyone’s experience as a whole and trying to make that experience feel the best possible.

Dr. Clark Gamblin, a 55 year old surgical oncologist with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, is preparing to complete 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days between January 31 to February 6, 2025. His challenge will begin in Antarctica, then travel to Cape Town South Africa, Perth Australia, Dubai, Madrid Spain, Fortaleza Brazil, and finally Miami Florida. That's 183.4 miles in less than 168 hours, which includes about 60 hours of air travel. Finishers are inducted into the Intercontinental Marathon Club, which has less than 200 members.

For Gamblin, this is more than just about running. Besides operating on cancer patients for more than 25 years, Gamblin is also a cancer survivor, battling testicular cancer for 2 years, enduring chemotherapy and multiple operations before becoming cancer free in 2020. He has completed several past marathons, and always felt you can complete one on just sheer dedications and grit, but this is different as it's more about training, discipline and approaching it systematically.

Gamblin is very proud and blessed to be a cancer survivor. He thought this challenge would be a great opportunity to increase awareness in testicular cancer particularly, but in men's health and men's cancer in general. Even as a physician, when he learned that 1 in 250 men will develop testicular cancer he thought that couldn't be right, that it seemed too high. Testicular cancer is now the leading cancer in men aged 15 to 44.

"The body will do whatever the mind tells it to do," Gamblin said. "I think far too often we don't set our goals high enough. This race is about pushing boundaries a little bit and recognizing that we can do far more than perhaps we think we're capable of. In my work and personal life, it's about providing hope for people."

Please welcome two new board members to our PaceSetters group, Robert Ferguson and Jordan Crawford. And special thanks to Justin Powell and Dave Bonson who have stepped down after years of service and dedication to this board.

First, here is a brief bio from Robert Ferguson: 

I was born in Ghana. I first visited the US in the summer of '99 and moved here permanently in '02. I spent a decade in Washington DC before relocating to Wisconsin in '12, seeking a change of scenery.

I work at Empowerment Living Services where I support individuals with special needs, a role I've been dedicated to since my move here. Outside of work I'm passionate about running. Although I had been running causually for a few years, I really got into it in the spring of '22. My first and favorite race was a 10k at High Cliff State Park. Since then I've participated in several more races.

To make our long winters more enjoyable, I taught myself to ski which has become one of my favorite ways to spend the colder months. I also love hiking, traveling and exploring new cuisines whenever I get the chance.

My wife Emily and I live in the Town of Buchanan near Darboy. We have a teenage daughter. A fun accomplishment of mine is completing the Manitou Incline in Colorado. I also have a knack for finding just about anything interesting if I give it more than 15 minutes of my time.

Next, a brief bio from Jordan Crawford:

I am originally from Atlanta, GA. I moved to the Fox Valley region in June '23. Before relocating to Wisconsin I lived in St. Louis for 5 years where I went to college for my Undergraduate Degree in Exercise Science and Masters Degree in Business Administration.

I work at Werner Supply in their Operations Development Program where I support our customers by going through different departments within the organization assisting and facilitating internal and external projects. Outside of work I love to race walk and run. I have been competing in athletics since I was 10 years old. This past year I competed in the Olympic Trials for the 20k race walk and placed 3rd!

Since moving here I have competed in many local events including the St. Joe's Food Run, Otto Grunski Runski, and Houdini 10k. I have also put on some race walk clinics for our Fox Valley community in conjunction with the Fox Cities Marathon.

I now reside in Menasha where I race walk and run all around the area meeting fellow runners and walkers.

We are grateful to have both Robert and Jordan joining our board and appreciate the energy and input they will provide.

Emily and Robert Ferguson at PaceSetters 2024 Christmas Party

Jordan Crawford (right) walks away with the Bronze Medal at the 2024 US Olympic Trials