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Naperville co-workers snag marathon wins in hometown race

The winners of Sunday's second annual Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon not only shared a hometown, but an employer.

Naperville Running Company employees Yonatan Mascote, 25, and Marisa Hird, 28, both of Naperville, placed first for men and women in the 26.2-mile race, finishing with times of 2:33:51 and 2:50:57, respectively.

"I work at Naperville Running Company, so it's pretty special just to be here," Hird said from the finish line where she received her first-place award from Naperville Mayor George Pradel and Brian Davis, vice president and chief marketing officer for Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare. "It's very special; it's a lot of fun."

Hird placed second among women in last year's inaugural Naperville Marathon, so she said she trained hard to improve her performance.

Mascote, meanwhile, was something of a last-minute entrant, race director Craig Bixler said. Mascote, who won the men's marathon last year with a time of 2:34:25, accepted the organizers' offer of free admittance about two weeks ago after running in the Chicago Marathon in October.

"I figured I'd get another run in," he said.

Wearing only a sleeveless running top and shorts, Mascote said the race was "painful. I should have dressed better." But he said he enjoyed racing past the dining hall and dorm he frequented while a student at North Central College.

Mascote said Hird is one of his bosses at Naperville Running Company, so he was rooting for her to win the women's division.

Naperville Running Company owner Kris Hartner said Mascote and Hird were among 10 employees competing in either the marathon or half marathon. The store also organized 21 pacers to run the races at certain speeds to help participants meet their time goals.

"Some of the employees who are running right now will be working afterward," Hartner said during the race. "Customers will be stopping by the store to share their stories."

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  Marisa Hird was the first woman to finish the second annual Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:50:57. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
  Yonatan Mascote receives his medal from Naperville Mayor George Pradel after winning Sunday's second annual Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
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