Wheaton runner gets expert training for Naperville marathon

Editor’s note: Theresa Ferguson of Wheaton is running in the Naperville marathon after training through a Saucony program that matched her with an experienced marathoner.

A 43-year-old mom of six girls from the suburbs, I’m not your typical sponsored athlete.

A first-time marathoner mom, I was selected by Saucony in a program the company created to give everyday people an opportunity typically offered to elite athletes. In this national running program called 26 Strong, 26 novice runners are matched with experienced marathoners to mentor them as they prepare for their first marathon.

I’m paired with former Olympic trial marathoner Kate DeProsperis of Downers Grove to run in the inaugural Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 10, which also happens to be my 44th birthday.

After returning in August from a 6,000-plus mile, five-week, tent-camping journey across the country with my family, I stepped up my training.

I run at least six miles every weekday morning, getting up at 5 or 5:30 a.m., and usually get in a long run on the weekend. I ran my first 10K just six months after returning to running again, finishing in the Top 10 for my category, and I just completed my first half marathon in under 2 hours, placing seventh for my age group. I recently ran part of the course during Dick Pond Athletics’ Trailrunners practice runs for the Naperville Marathon.

I was always a recreational runner before having children. Never did I realize the discipline I learned as a mom would lead to a more disciplined passion for running.

It was last year when my youngest turned 2 that I began running every morning before my kids wake up and husband goes to work.

You hear stories about novice marathon mistakes like people hitting the wall in their last few miles because they started too fast or didn’t take in enough fuel and water. If everything seems right on race day, I’d love to complete my first marathon in four hours.

To help me reach that goal, the sponsorship includes mentoring from an elite athlete. DeProsperis serves as an individual running coach, providing advice on runs, adapting training schedules and accompanying me on training runs.

The 26 Strong head coach, Mike Norman of Chicago Endurance Sports, oversees all 26 Saucony teams and has created general training plans for all of the athletes. Saucony provides the team with running shoes and gear.