CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A West Side Catholic nun who ran a marathon on a treadmill last year is preparing to run with thousands of other runners this year during the actual Chicago Marathon on Oct. 10.
Sister Stephanie Baliga and her 105-member Mission of Our Lady of the Angels Chicago Marathon team have already raised nearly $170,000 of their $250,000 goal. That money will go towards the mission’s food pantry, which serves 3,000 families monthly, and the completion of work on the mission’s outreach center in West Humboldt Park.
“My main training was running this construction project this summer and moving drywall, as well as moving various pieces of furniture. My training was a little bit minimal this year because I was so busy with the construction project as well as other things,” Baliga told WBBM Newsradio.
Baliga ran a marathon on a treadmill last year because the Chicago Marathon was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I promised my team in April 2020 when things looked like COVID was going to last four weeks and we were all very optimistic. I said, I’m so for sure this race will not be cancelled in Oct. 2020 that, if it is cancelled, I will run a marathon on a treadmill,” she said.
The nun was a cross-country runner for the University of Illinois more than 10 years ago. She said she’s hoping to complete this year’s race in three hours and 20 minutes.
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Baliga said last year’s treadmill marathon raised 190-thousand dollars for the mission’s food pantry and community outreach.
She said the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels will have a “cheer station” at Adams Street and Damen Avenue. She said the mission’s founder and director, Bishop Bob Lombardo, will be blessing runners for four or five hours there.
Also this year, Baliga said she’ll be joined by another nun, Sister Emily Persicketti, who will be running in her first official marathon.
Those interested in donating can find a link at MissionOLA.com.
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