Self-Made Marathoner: How Audrey Fischer Found Her Purpose

Audrey Fischer, Delta Epsilon–University of California, Los Angeles, was always active in sports but never fully committed to just one. If you told high school Audrey that she would be running marathons for fun at this stage in life, she wouldn’t believe it. Now, Audrey has completed her first Boston Marathon.

“After I graduated from college, I found myself feeling lost. A lot of my self-worth was derived from performing well in school or leading organizations. When I entered the workforce, I felt the weight of being one person in a world of billions. I needed something that I could actively work towards and meet goals quickly. With running, every half mile more felt like a victory. I always want to outdo myself, and when I reach a certain distance, then I can train to see how fast I can go.”

Through self-training, Audrey pushed herself to the limit. Since starting her running journey, she has completed one full marathon, four half marathons, and countless smaller races. While this is her first time competing in the Boston Marathon, it’s not her first time running 26.2 miles. 

“I did the LA Marathon in March 2023, and it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I like to call it the best, worst day of my life. It was so incredibly difficult, but the feeling when you are done is indescribable.”

By challenging herself to do things she thought she was never capable of, she has learned how to create goals around bettering herself. 

“I do have a goal to run the six major marathons in the world. Those are the Boston Marathon, New York Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon. When all those are complete, it's a big deal, and there is a special medal, too.” While Audrey has big racing goals, she tries not to put too much pressure on herself. Her main goals are finishing the race and having fun. 

Another satisfying part of being a runner is choosing a cause to run for. Having had family members afflicted by cancer, Audrey chose to run for a cause close to her heart—to support the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. As of April 15, she has generated over $8,000 in raised funds, over halfway towards her $11,000 goal.  

“Almost all my grandparents have been afflicted by cancer. I am running in honor of my grandpa, James, who lost his battle with cancer in 2017, my grandmothers, Lenora and Karin, who are in remission, and my late grandma, Linda, who also won her fight against cancer.”

Feeling connected to a bigger purpose gives her training and races a whole new meaning. Audrey feels lucky to be showered with generosity and kindness from those who want to help her raise funds for the cancer institute. Knowing that her support system and loved ones are cheering her on makes her feel very proud. 

“My family has been so incredible and supportive during this entire process. They are great accountability partners. My boyfriend, Nick has also been a great support system. He took me to my first marathon in Los Angeles, which meant waking up at 3 a.m.”

While getting to where she is today took a lot of willpower, Audrey wants people to know that anyone can do it. 

“Before I started training, I couldn’t even run down the street, then nine months later I ran the LA Marathon.” 

The 128th Boston Marathon was on April 15; Audrey’s bib number was 24269. Learn more of Audrey’s progress towards racing for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/Audrey.