The Starting Gun Sounds For Naperville Marathon Races Training

Now 18 weeks away, the 2014 Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon and Half-Marathon encourages runners to begin their training programs; everyone is encouraged to register for the Naperville race of their choice before September, when prices will increase. The races in Naperville will take place on November 9; registration and information is at naperville26.com.

Naperville Running Company, a partner of the 2014 Naperville Marathon races, hosts a myriad of events, such as a Training Kickoff Run, Pub Runs, Sports Bra Fittings, and their semimonthly, hourlong Good Form Running Clinics, the next being July 26 at 8:30am (register on runningcompany.com under “Races & Events”). NRC’s Nike NRC Run Club training program is currently full and not accepting registrations, but week-by-week training schedule charts for both a full marathon and a half marathon are available at runningcompany.com under “Resources.”  

Additionally, NRC’s north and south stores are the starting points for weekly evening runs from now until Race Day; Tuesday nights start at the south store and Thursday nights start at the downtown Naperville store. Each night’s runs are 3 or 5 miles and begin at 6:30 for anyone of any age, whether training for the marathon or not, and no pre-registration is needed.

“Just show up!” says Monica Prestifilipo, Marathon Training Group Coordinator at Naperville Running Company. “It gets you motivated and keeps you running. It’s like a fabulous collection of chapters in a book:  The chapters are like the miles we run, some filled with laughter, others with tears, others really boring, and others that you don't want to end.  The characters are fun, funny, strange, sweaty, amazing, inspiring.  At the end of the training season, we get to the final chapter, race day!  From start to finish, our chapter, our miles, our stories, our training group!”

Dick Pond Athletics in Lisle offers Naperville Marathon Course Preview Runs on August 16 and October 18; the runs are free for everyone, and everyone is invited to run regardless of registration status. Running clubs are also a favorite offering at Dick Pond; groups such as “Tuesday Speed Club” and “Thursday Fun Runs” are perennially popular, and there’s no registration limit. Visit www.dickpondathletics.com/CSLisle.asp for information.

“Training groups and run clubs are great during the week for harder workouts -- it’s helpful to do those in groups,” explains ABC7 News Reporter John Garcia, who is registered to run the 2014 Naperville Marathon, “but doing the long runs together means extra support, extra motivation, and camaraderie.”

The list of advantages of running this suburban race is long:  its all-streets course is a Boston qualifier, the 2-day Expo will offer runners and their families information and entertainment, the pre-, during-, and post-race Celebration Village will be a great place for runners and their supporters to gather and enjoy themselves, and the city of Naperville itself boasts award-winning dining, shopping, nightlife, accommodations, and more, along with free parking and lovely views throughout the DuPage River town.

A great way to keep abreast of developments, new events and offerings, great training tips and more is to subscribe to the weekly newsletter of the 2014 Naperville Marathon races. Get subscribed at http://www.naperville26.com/pages/news.htm.

About the Naperville Marathon races:

In its 2013 inaugural event, the Naperville Marathon races quickly became Chicago’s premier west-suburban running event and one of the best in the entire Midwest. The Marathon and Half Marathon showcase the city of Naperville, its parks, its great neighborhoods, its historic buildings, and its vibrant downtown, and draws runners from across the country and internationally. The course and its extensive volunteer and spectator support make it a favorite for all runners from first-timers to Boston hopefuls.

The Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon & Half Marathon is quickly growing into the largest single-day sporting event in the western suburbs of Chicago.

The Naperville Marathon races - for runners, by runners. For more information, visit www.naperville26.com.