Marathoners’ finishing thoughts

“It’s nice. You can sleep in your own bed, eat your own breakfast, you’re not stuck in a hotel room the night before. Hopefully they repeat it.”

— Yves Leclerc of Naperville, who previously ran marathons in Chicago and Toronto

“The turnout was great. Some of us runners, we were kind of shocked. We thought nobody would be here. The only thing is, some of the non-paved portions of the course were not fun. Chicago, you’re just going over bridges. There were more hills on this course than Chicago.”

— Jay Johnson of Naperville, who previously ran in the Chicago Marathon

“I was doing pretty good until right here at the end. Hills and I don’t mix. It was a great race. I’m pleased with the amount of spectators. It was awesome to see so many neighborhoods out here. I hope they do it again.

— Christine Hendrickson of Naperville, who previously ran in the Chicago Marathon

“Why do they make us run uphill before we get to the finish? I was trying for four hours and the clock said 4:08, so I was close. I was really glad to have friends and family here. It’s always good to have people in the crowd you know.”

— Lindsay Wilson, originally of Bolingbrook, who returned home from St. Paul, Minn., to run the marathon with her sister

“I thought it was a very classy marathon. I got under four (hours) and that was the goal for today. The course was rather beautiful through the grasslands. My buddies thought it was a little hilly, but I’ve seen hillier.”

— Keith Gercius of Burbank, who ran his 41st marathon — and 16th this year — in a suit and tie

Ÿ Compiled by Daily Herald staff writers Marie Wilson and Josh Welge