Naperville marathon's new route includes convenient spectator spots
The Healthy Driven Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon, sponsored by Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare, steps off at 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, on Eagle Street between Jackson Avenue and Aurora Avenue in downtown Naperville.
General registration for the full marathon is closed. But, general registration for the half marathon and charity registration for the half marathon and full marathon were still open at the time of writing this article. Check the website naperville26.com/registration/ for current registration information.
While it's a little late to start training for this year's event, everyone can certainly come out to watch the race and support the runners in it.
The day will start at 6:45 a.m. with the national anthem; both races start at 7 a.m.; and the post-race celebration begins at 9 a.m. This is the third year for the Naperville event. Organizers this year moved the start/finish line to promote more downtown involvement, and reversed the direction of the course to create four spectator spots within easy walking distance. The Naperville marathon is a qualifying race for the 2017 Boston Marathon.
Organizers offer this advice to spectators:
• There is a course map on the event's website (www.naperville26.com) that includes suggested viewing locations.
• If you're planning to be with your runner at the start and/or at the finish line, it is highly recommended that you park early and remain downtown for the duration of race day. Several mile markers are within walking distance to the downtown area, allowing spectators to see runners at several locations without having to travel by car.
• If you would like to observe the race from a spot outside of downtown, it's recommended that you arrive early to your location, park in a legal parking spot, and remain at that location. Traveling from downtown to other locations (or vice versa) will be difficult due to numerous road closures.
• If driving, there are two suggested viewing locations for the full marathon: Book Road and Leverenz Road; and 87th and Washington Street.
To help navigate race day street closures, the city of Naperville has an interactive detour map, available at www.naperville.il.us, which features real-time race day road closures and re-openings. It also provides detour help throughout the race.
Parking is free in all downtown Naperville parking decks, municipal surface lots and on-street. There are no time limits for vehicles parked downtown on Sunday.
Shuttles will be available for both race participants and spectators. Shuttles will depart from the Downtown Naperville Train Station's Burlington Lot, located at 22 E. Fifth Avenue, beginning at 5:30 a.m. Shuttles will drop-off/pick-up at the corner of Eagle Street and Van Buren Avenue, located two blocks north of the start/finish Line area. Shuttles will run every 20 minutes until 7:30 a.m.
There will be no shuttle service from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Shuttle service will resume at 9:30 a.m. with the last shuttle leaving the Burlington Lot at 1:30 p.m. The last shuttle will pick up at Eagle Street and Van Buren Ave. at 1:40 p.m. For a map and list of shuttle times, visit www.naperville26.com.
Last-minute tips
Dr. Michael Hartmann from Edward Hospital and Laurie Lasseter, from Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness Centers, offer some last-minute advice to runners participating in the Naperville marathon and half marathon:
• <span class="fact box text bold">Plan everything</span>. Plan transportation to the race and from the finish area. Do everything you can in advance, right down to trimming your toenails and pinning on your bib the night before the race.
• <span class="fact box text bold">Weather rules.</span> The most important thing is to wear layers on race day. You'll be shedding clothing as your body heats up. And be sure to wear items you're OK with tossing in the garbage throughout the race, if necessary.
• <span class="fact box text bold">The perfect gear bag.</span> The following items are must-haves for a well-stocked race bag: throwaway clothing, plastic garbage bags, throwaway blanket, almost-empty Body Glide or Vaseline, sunscreen, toilet paper, pre-race hydration, pre-race food, early race hydration.
• <span class="fact box text bold">Lubricate.</span> Make sure to lubricate all potential chafing spots with Body Glide or Vaseline.
• <span class="fact box text bold">Do what works. </span>Do not try anything new on race day. Shoes should be broken in and apparel pre-worn (preferably during your long training runs). Eat food you know digests easily. The same old choices leave less room for surprises.
More stories on Pages 2 and 3