You may be familiar with Chicago’s famous Turkey Trot or Saratoga Springs’ Furry Fun Run. But unlike the pre-Thanksgiving 5K or a trip to the dog park gone too far, Hopkinton, Massachusetts boasts the start of the world’s oldest run of the year. From Ashland to Natick, across to Wellesley, down Heartbreak Hill, and finally ending in Copley Square, the Boston Marathon represents an annual peak of athleticism for approximately 30,000 athletes from around 100 countries.
Similar to the other five World Marathon Majors, the Boston Marathon requires its runners to either qualify or fundraise in support of the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program to earn a spot at the starting line. Kieran McDaniel ’27 spoke on his journey getting the coveted runner’s bib: “I ran [a marathon] before Boston which was the Ottawa Fall Colours Marathon, and that was my qualifier.” Inspired to run by his cousin and the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, McDaniel expressed that running “comes hand-in-hand with happiness and balance.”
Well-versed in the cleansing, complex emotions associated with marathon running, Will Leonard ’24 had already run two marathons prior to the Boston one. Attracted to running from as early as middle school, Leonard conveyed how he “enjoyed the social aspect of training and running long distances with your friends.” The Boston Marathon holds an invaluable place in Leonard’s heart, as he expressed, the race is “right here with everybody I know.”
Embracing a similar warmth of emotions that Leonard expressed, Elise Hawkins ’25 chose to run after her experience at the Cambridge Half Marathon this fall. “My older sister was running the Boston Marathon, and my family came to watch me do the Cambridge Half,” she explained. “They were like, ‘Oh my gosh, you have to run it with Elena,’ my sister, and so then I decided to do it.”
Prior to the Marathon, though in different cities, Hawkins and her sister followed similar training schedules. Hawkins explained, “We would normally do our long runs on Thursdays, together, at the same time. And so we would text each other, ‘Oh my god, I’m eight miles in and want to die. What’s up with you?’”
Tailoring his own training plan, McDaniels looked to find what methods best suited his productivity and style. Equipped with a “general outline,” McDaniels prioritized distance training to gradually accumulate endurance. He stated, “My peak week was running maybe 40 miles in a week for my first marathon and probably around 35-36 for this one.” Likewise, Leonard also formulated his own regime, focusing on weekly long runs that gradually increased in distance. By the end of his training journey, Leonard embraced the philosophy that, “You know, I do 21 [miles], I can probably do 26.”
Regardless of the method, balance was key throughout the training process, as all three athletes were still students. McDaniels expressed that he struggled with managing two extremely rigorous schedules. “I would come back from a three-hour run and already feel super behind on my school work.”
Hawkins affirmed this, stating that, “the hardest part was finding the time to run twenty miles.” However, echoing similar values of community that Leonard and Hawkins channeled throughout their preparation process, McDaniels voiced that his “running buddies” helped fuel his motivation. “I don’t think I could have done it without that,” he commented.
Come race day, inevitably associated with countless hardships, each runner faced different challenges. And though each runner may only run past supporting friends for a few seconds, these three students emphasized how having supporters there mattered nonetheless. McDaniels recalled how his future blocking group, lab supervisors, and even his parents from Guatemala all cheered him on from the sidelines. “I’m really grateful for my friends, parents, and lab supervisors for showing up,” he said.
Hawkins echoed a similar sentiment, admitting that the last six miles were the toughest, as she felt “so depleted.” However, her Harvard support network proved irreplaceable, running up an entire hill to keep Hawkins company and boost her morale throughout the final stretch. Her friends, parents, and grandparents all came to watch her run. “I actually think I wouldn’t have made it without them,” Hawkins remarked.
Leonard added to the importance of community, discussing the Harvard community as a whole: “Most of the Harvard people end up in the last eight or ten miles of the race, and that is when you need people most.” Leonard recalled how one of his friends even made a custom sign.
The greater Boston area also added to the marathon experience. Leonard appreciated the small, yet memorable, conversations he had with strangers, reminding himself that he was not alone in the 26.2 strenuous miles. Hawkins reflected on the creative signs and funny slogans, remembering, “All these little kids would have a poster and then draw a Pokemon on it and then say touch here for a power-up. Whenever I saw those, I had to run over and get a power-up.” McDaniels explained how the cheers resonating across the path as he approached the home stretch renewed his determination. “It got really loud all of a sudden. I was like, ‘Okay, this is it. Last mile.’”
Looking back on the experience, all three runners expressed similar gratitude and fondness for the Boston Marathon. McDaniels said he would “100 percent” run it at least once more, maybe twice more… It’s just such a perfect opportunity.” Leonard shared similar excitement, stating, “I don’t think Boston will be any less exciting the second time. It’s really a cool experience to get to be there with so many people.”
And while Hawkins found the experience “way more of an empowering thing than [she] thought,” she would prefer to run again with a larger community of friends and family to preserve morale and enhance both the training and the day-of journey.
So with a few people in tow, the next time a marathon presents itself, think twice before rejecting the offer.
Sara Kumar ’27 (sjkumar@college.harvard.edu) gets winded walking up one flight of stairs to her dorm.