Inspiration meets perspiration at Naperville Woman's Half-Marathon

Crossing the finish line first Sunday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville was a familiar experience for Amber White.

The 32-year-old from Naperville set records on the same track as a middle-distance runner at North Central College, before her first-place run in this year's Naperville Women's Half Marathon and 5K.

"I have run all of these roads many, many times, being here for the past 14 years and being a competitive runner," White said after finishing with a time of 1:22.51. "It was a little nostalgic in that we were running along the paths that we used to run in college, over by Elizabeth and past Prairie, over by Benton. So it was kind of fun to go back and run all those loops again that I used to do when I was younger."

A total of 4,200 registered for Sunday's run, and crowds of supporters lined the nearby streets equipped with signs and even cowbells to cheer the runners along.

Among them were Quinn Sigal, 9, and Sam Sigal, 7, who were there for their mother, Elizabeth Sigal of Naperville. They held a sign reading "Our Mom is our superstar," with American flag balloons attached.

Naperville resident Stephanie Tatar said she was inspired by the huge crowd of women supporting each other in a healthy activity.

"Running together in a race like this, accomplishing something difficult together, seeing other women accomplish something difficult is inspiring," she said. "It's uplifting, and it's humbling."

It is also a great example for children, she said.

"I have an 8-year-old daughter, and she sees me get up every morning to go out for a run in the cold in the rain. And I hope she takes that with her," Tatar said.

One runner providing an example was Maywood resident Marijo Wimbush, who was diagnosed a month ago with colon cancer. This will be her only race this year. She begins treatment in two weeks and plans to use her endurance skills in recovery.

"It's just to help prove that I could push through anything," she said. "That's the one thing about endurance sports, marathons and half marathons. There are going to be moments that it's going to be hard. And you have to learn to push through it and get to the other end."

As she prepared to start her race, Lisa Larsen of Warrenville said the most challenging thing about the course is the hilly surface.

"You don't realize how hilly Naperville is until you're running up it for 13 miles. But honestly, I'm 16 weeks pregnant, so this is not going to be my fastest race."