Inside Naperville's marathon from start to finish
"It's a beautiful day for a marathon," a runner sings, to the tune of the theme from "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."
It's 5:44 a.m. in Naperville and only a marathoner would think the cold, dark morning was "beautiful."
But picture-perfect it was for nearly 6,000 runners who competed in the second annual Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon.
There were no security issues, no life-threatening health emergencies and plenty of personal records.
The men's and women's winners both call Naperville home and work at one of the city's businesses, Naperville Running Company.
Getting to race day took months of preparation by runners and race organizers with Naper Events, LLC. Although it was over in as little as 1 hour and 13 minutes for the fastest half marathoner or 2 hours and 33 minutes for the speediest full marathon finisher, the race brought plenty of action to Naperville.
Here's a look at how race day played out ...
5:10 a.m. Carl Schultz, an engineer for Naperville community television station, NCTV, has been at work for two hours making sure the temporary studio is just right. His first concern: Removing a screen that shouldn't be visible behind the anchors when they go on air at 6:45 a.m.
5:21 a.m. Jeff Friedman's title says it all: Manager of Everything. At the moment, he's hanging signs outside the beer garden, but once the race starts he's the guy in charge of sending vehicles to pick up runners who can't finish but don't need an ambulance. He says he's been incredibly busy. "I walked 26,000 steps yesterday," he says.
5:23 a.m. The Naperville municipal center parking lot is packed with cop cars as 160 officers have converged to provide an obvious security presence for the race.
5:43 a.m. Danielle Stumpt and Lauren Duval, 17-year-old runners at Naperville Central High School, sit near the entrance of a parking lot that's reserved for Naperville Education Foundation charity runners, who also get special food and bathroom access at a prime location. "They're really supporting the district's runners," Lauren says.
5:49 a.m. It's "typical chaos and ad-libbing" at Command Center, where people are asking volunteer Paul Aguilar where the gear check tent is, where they check in to be volunteers and where are the sweatshirts for the crews who will pick up runners who can't finish the race. The answer? Track down Race Director Craig Bixler; he'll know.
6 a.m. Bob Koch, representing Naperville Responds For Our Veterans, may be the smartest man in the Charity Village. First, he's brought a lantern and second, he's brought a space heater. The organization, he says, assists veterans who need help with repairs to their homes - from new roofs to no-step showers. "I didn't have the honor to serve," he says, "but I can give back in this capacity."
6:26 a.m. The line for the porta-potties has begun in earnest and marathoner Stephen Childress of Wilmette is sprawled on the ground with his arms and legs spread in a full-body stretch. "I'm trying to figure out when I want to take my sweatsuit off."
6:40 a.m. Dale and Pat Schuber have set up a chair so they're sure to catch their daughter and daughter-in-law when they run past. "We had to walk about a mile to get here," Pat says, "so I feel like I've already run a marathon."
6:34 a.m. A motorcycle troupe, the American Legion Riders from Post 43 in Naperville, takes its position along West Street. Nearly 20 riders will help lead the race, says Don Chasteen. "It's just a cool thing to do," he says.
6:45 a.m. Rule: If you're going to hold up a sign, it must contain at least one exclamation point. Examples: Toenails are for sissies! Beer ahead! Run? I thought you said Rum!!!
6:50 a.m. A trolley backs up to the start line, carrying seven veterans who get to ride at the front of the race. "I'm happy to go wherever they ask me to serve," said Army Reservist Doyle Tuisl of Bolingbrook, who has served in Iraq and Jerusalem. "It's nice to see these organizations supporting the troops."
6:55 a.m. Mayor George Pradel welcomes everyone to Naperville. This, he says, "is a day to dream big, run fast and finish proud."
7 a.m. Start line coordinator Althea Wasilewski gives the go-ahead and Pradel counts down from three. Nine minutes later, all the racers are off and running.
7:12 a.m. Volunteer Christina Janik is holding a sign that says "Ask Me" and people are doing just that. Strangest question so far: Can you take my garbage?
7:25 a.m. Anne Russe is helping get the food tents ready. There are, of course, bananas and oranges, but this is Naperville, so the bagels come with multiple toppings and there are pizza slices and beef sandwiches - "a little more higher end" treats than at most races. "We want to make this a classy marathon," she says.
7:31 a.m. A straggler wearing a "Lake Zurich Alpine Runners" jacket crosses the start. Instead of other runners, alongside this man are bags of discarded clothing gathered by volunteers such as Nancy Lullo of Naperville. The warm duds runners pitched before starting the race will go to homeless people at Hesed House in Aurora, she says.
7:35 a.m. Jim Belgio, president of the Naperville Sunrise Rotary Club, is alone in the beer garden that will open around 9 a.m. By 9:43 a.m., virtually every table is filled.
7:40 a.m. Nicole Hackett finally is able to take a breath after she and her crew have packed away roughly 3,000 bags at gear check. The worst part? Dealing with the rush just before and after the race. The best part? "When everybody gets their bag and there is no 'uh-oh' moment."
7:45 a.m. Penelope Moore and Abby Mickley, students at North Central College, stand on the corner of Chicago Avenue and Brainard Street next to a table piled with plastic cups. Mickley and Moore will hand out water to marathoners reaching the 18-mile mark. "This is where a lot of them will hit a wall, so the water will be important," Mickley says.
7:50 a.m. Jessie Marsala and Hannah Jurik are setting up an outdoor broadcasting station along Chicago Avenue for WONC 89.1-FM, North Central's student radio station. "Our goal is to share what the viewers are seeing with our listeners," Marsala says.
7:55 a.m. You know those signs on Jackson Avenue warning there's no parking on Sunday morning? At least two motorists do now, because their cars are being towed. Four cars total are towed off the course, but police don't write any tickets or make any arrests.
8:20 a.m. Pradel is being interviewed live by ABC 7. His closing line: "Happy Marathon Day!"
8:25 a.m. Alyse Mastrodonato stands on Chicago Avenue with a sign for her friend: "Audrey, cute boys ahead - run!" "A few years ago she couldn't even run three miles," Mastrodonato says about marathoner Audrey Burris. "I'm so excited for her."
8:40 a.m. Members of the North Central College Cardinal Athletic Band practice in front of Wentz Concert Hall. "We'll play some music from our halftime shows to give the runners a little boost and show our support," says Brooke Humfeld, director of athletic bands.
8:52 a.m. Finishing the half marathon in less than two hours seems to require a sarcastic shirt. Examples: "Oh my god it's freezing. Let's go running." Or "I am unable to quit as I am currently too legit."
9:49 a.m. The Fender Benders from Naperville School of Rock, are performing on the Celebration Village stage. They open with "Twist and Shout" and close with Twisted Sister's "I Wanna Rock." The lead singer, Lauren Rayburn, is 9 years old.
10:49 a.m. Bill Akins of Naperville strides to the results tent, confirming he finished the marathon in a new personal best of 2:59. Good thing, as he's a member of a running group called Team Sub 3.
11:16 a.m. The half marathoners are all finished, and Dr. Michael Hartmann's medical tent has seen about 40 patients, mostly with musculoskeletal issues and cramps. Seven have been taken by ambulance to Edward Hospital, but nothing has been life-threatening.
1:30 p.m. Police reopen the final stretch of road - Washington Street south of downtown - that was closed, and race day begins to blend into any other Sunday.