Above / Signs remind residents that the new Marathon route map is available online and an interactive online map featuring real-time road closures and reopenings is now available. (PN 2015 File Photo)
UPDATE Nov. 9, 2015 / Here’s a link to a gallery of photos, a representative sampling taken in downtown Naperville during the first two hours of the Healthy Driven Naperville Marathon on Nov. 8.
UPDATE Nov. 7, 2015 / With a forecast of sunshine and cool overnight temperatures expected to rise into the fifties, runners likely aren’t sweating out the weather for Sunday’s third Naperville Marathon, now called Healthy Driven Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon.
By now most packets have been picked up as preregistered participants are well prepared for race day.
Festivities begin at 6:45AM Sun., Nov. 8, with the National Anthem. Both races start at 7AM along Eagle Street, followed by post-race celebrations at 9AM in the Race Village along Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville.
Links to maps appear to be connected on the City’s website, so here’s hoping the community has been alerted to the best way to navigate road closures on Sunday morning as runners rev up for their part.
Be prepared for road closures
Motorists who plan to travel through Naperville Sunday morning and early afternoon are encouraged to visit www.naperville.il.us/marathon to review a comprehensive traffic control plan that shows no-parking zones and rolling street closures and to view an interactive map that will show real-time road closures and re-openings.
The Naperville Police Department also will update info live via Twitter to send real-time road reopening information directly to followers. Twitter users are encouraged to follow @NapervillePD to receive the road reopening updates during the marathon as well as program updates, events, alerts, arrest information, safety tips and more throughout the year.
Anyone interested in these updates who does not have Twitter accounts can see the department’s Twitter updates by visiting www.twitter.com/napervillepd.
The Naperville Police Department would like to remind motorists not to use smart phone or other devices while operating a vehicle.
Healing Field of Honor at Rotary Hill
Two days into the Healing Field of Honor at Rotary Hill, located less than a block from the start/finish line of the marathon, will give runners who finish the race a chance to take a “victory” lap upon around 2,015 American flags in tribute to all veterans before heading to the Race Village along Jackson Avenue.
No doubt, the patriotic display will attract spectators while they’re waiting for runners to finish the race, too.
ORIGINAL POST, Oct. 22, 2015 / With the third annual Healthy Driven Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon only two and a half weeks away, the City of Naperville reminds residents and interested parties of the upcoming street closures and parking restrictions that will be in effect throughout the event on Sunday, November 8.
Marathon begins, ends on Eagle Street by City Hall
Above / A new start-finish line is planned for the 2015 Marathon along Eagle Street, just west of City Hall. (PN File Photo 2014)
The marathon and half marathon will start on Eagle Street along the west side of the Naperville Municipal Center at 7AM and finish in the same location. To ensure runner safety, this year’s event will take place entirely on City and County streets.
Portions of streets that are part of the race route will see “rolling” traffic closures throughout the six-hour event. For example, as runners pass mile marker one of the route, nearby road closures will reopen by approximately 8:30AM.
A comprehensive traffic control plan that shows no-parking zones, rolling closures and the times roads are expected to reopen is available at www.naperville.il.us/marathon. Traffic control plans for different sections of the City and entities that require special traffic control plans, such as area houses of worship, schools and affected neighborhoods, are included as separate links on the website.
Look for interactive map on City Website
Similar to last year, an interactive online marathon detour map that will allow residents, visitors and spectators to view real-time road closures and re-openings during the Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon will also be available. The map also provides detour directions to help people enter and exit Naperville and get around the city throughout the race using major intersections.
The map will soon be available at www.naperville.il.us/marathon.
The new Shuttle Map and Parking Guide, which is available now at www.naperville.il.us/marathon, provides parking lot locations in and around Downtown Naperville for marathon spectators. Shuttle service is being provided to and from the Burlington parking lot, located at the southeast corner of 5th Avenue and Washington Street, to the intersection of Eagle Street and Van Buren Avenue. Shuttle locations, routes and shuttle times are noted in the guide.
Spectators are encouraged to use the shuttles and walk to spectator areas to help alleviate traffic on area roadways during the marathon and half marathon. In the near future, a guide will be posted to the website that shows accessible parking locations and information and specific areas for accessible spectator viewing.
Road closures & detours
Road closures and detours will be in effect near the following major roadways and intersections at the approximate times listed:
- Washington Street from Jefferson Avenue to Hobson Road – 6:30 to 9:30AM
- Pembroke Road and Chicago Avenue – 7:15 to 9:15AM
- Mill Street and Ogden Avenue – 7:30 to 10:15AM
- River Road and Aurora Avenue – 6:30 to 10:30AM
- 75th Street and Book Road – 8 to 11:30AM
- Leverenz Road and Book Road – 8:15AM to 12 noon
- 87th Street and Modaff Road – 8:30AM to 12:30PM
- 87th Street and Washington Road – 8:30AM to 1PM
- Emerald Drive and Elmwood Drive – 8:45AM to 2PM
In addition, the following streets surrounding the start/finish lines in Downtown Naperville will be closed throughout the event:
- Eagle Street from Aurora Avenue to Jackson Avenue
- Jackson Street from West Street to Main Street
Finally, the following parking lots and decks will not be available in order to accommodate race facilities, including a runner equipment check-in station, first aid station and vendor/sponsor tents:
- Municipal Center parking deck, 400 S. Eagle St.
- Naperville Park District main office, 500 W. Jackson Ave.
- Riverview parking lot, 151 W. Jackson Ave.
- Riverwalk parking lot, southwest corner of W. Jackson Avenue and Main Street
Expect Delays until 2PM Nov. 8
Motorists should expect delays throughout the morning and early afternoon in and around the race area and take alternate routes or allow extra time to get to their destination.
For more information on the Healthy Driven Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon, visit www.naperville26.com or www.naperville.il.us/marathon.
For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. To sign up for the City’s new notification system Naper Notify and receive important emergency and community information via a phone call, text message, email or smartphone app, visit www.napernotify.com.
Editor’s Reminders to Run, Walk, Run
It seems like just yesterday the Rotary Sunrise St. Paddy’s Day 5K set off the outdoor movement of family-friendly events for the season. Now the community is headed down the home stretch.
Noon Lions Club Turkey Trot 5K
Remember on Thanksgiving Day there’s no penalty for running fast and eating later in the Naperville Noon Lions Club Turkey Trot! Race usually reaches capacity of 7,500 runners by the end of October and has been sold-out for many years. Find info at Naperville Noon Lions Club Turkey Trot 5K, www.napervilleturkeytrot.com.
Celebrate the runners at Quigley’s Irish Pub Thanksgiving Morning. Cheers!
