More than 4,000 runners are expected hoof it through the streets of Naperville Sunday for the 2017 Healthy Driven Naperville Half Marathon and 5K, with about one in 14 running for a cause.
The number of people participating to raise funds for charities has grown by more than 100 runners, according to Barbara Martin, charity coordinator for Naperville Marathon Races.
“We have a total of 543 charity runners this year; 497 of them are half marathon runners and 46 of them are 5K runners. Last year we had a total of 409 runners so we are growing each year,” Martin said.
“They have all worked hard to recruit runners and the runners have gone above and beyond again this year with their fundraising,” she said.
Indian Prairie Education Foundation, Naperville Education Foundation, Gigi’s Playhouse, Donka and Community Christian have the largest number of half marathon runners. A Man In Recovery, Gigi’s Playhouse and Illinois Independent Living Center have the most 5K runners.
Sunday’s half marathon and 5K aren’t the only races this weekend.
On Saturday, 890 children running in the Kids Marathon, in which children complete the last 1.2 miles of the marathon route at Naperville North High School after logging 25 miles on their own over the last few months.
Of the 890, more than half are participating on behalf Team Indian Prairie Education Foundation (IPEF).
The school district foundation is counting on this year’s event to be one of its most successful fundraisers to date.
What started as 31 runners representing 17 Indian Prairie schools has grown into a fundraiser involving more than 800 children and adults to benefit every District 204 school and the STEPS program for young adults with special needs.
Foundation Executive Director Susan Rasmus said of the total number, 487 District 204 students ages 5 to 12 representing 29 preschool, elementary and middle schools are signed up for the Kids Marathon.
With so many runners, the money adds up.
Students raise at least $26 each, a dollar for every mile they run, which goes back to their school, Rasmus said.
Half-marathon runners agree to raise at least $204 for Team IPEF and their designated school.
“That’s quite a commitment, both in terms of funding and running,” she said.
Quite a few runners collect more than the minimum. Last year Team IPEF was the largest single campaign in the foundation’s history, raising $171,354 — roughly 40 percent foundation’s total revenue for 2016-17.
With 182 more runners competing this year than last, Rasmus said she’s hopeful Team IPEF can surpass the $171,000 mark.
Sgt. Steven J. Schindlbeck said the Naperville Police Department will provide the same security presence it does for any large, special event in the city.
“In addition to an obvious uniformed police presence both at the start/finish area and along the race route, we will also have members of our special response team on scene along with bomb-sniffing K9s,” said Schindlbeck, the department’s coordinator of special events and community relations.
He added the department is working with a number of local, county, state and federal agencies to vet any threats directed at this event. “To date, we have none,” Schindlbeck said.
Race director Dave Sheble said eliminating the full marathon in favor of a 5K this year allows organizers to give runners a good view of Naperville without putting too much inconvenience on residents.
With the half marathon starting at 7 a.m. and the 5K at 7:15 a.m., Sheble estimates the races will be wrapped up by 10:30 a.m., though many of the roads will be open before then.
Both races begin on Eagle Street, just north of Aurora Avenue.
While the 5K race gives runners a glimpse of the downtown area through the Edward Hospital campus and back, the half marathon gives runners a tour of the city from Naperville North High School on the north end to near Washington and 75th streets on the south end of the course.
“This shows a taste of what Naperville has to offer,” Sheble said.
To help motorists get around the city, Naperville developed a traffic control plan including the locations of no-parking zones, rolling closures and the times roads are expected to reopen. That information is available at www.naperville.il.us/marathon.
Detour routes also have been uploaded to the free smartphone navigation app, Waze, and will be updated when available. Additional information about the app or to download it, visit www.naperville.il.us/waze.
People can register online through Thursday at runnaperville.com. Marathon and 5K runners also can register on race day.
Registration for the Naperville Kids Marathon is closed.
