HI 4.10.24

If you’ve seen a runner pushing dumbbells around town in a wheelchair and wondered why, there’s a good explanation.

Town celebrates 100th anniversary hosting start

As legend has it, the decision to change the start of the Boston Marathon course from Ashland to Hopkinton a century ago came from an unlikely source — the queen of England. According to a history.com article, Queen Alexandra requested that the 1908 Olympic marathon start on the lawn of Windsor Castle so that young family members of the British royal family could view it. It finished in front of the royal box at the Olympic stadium — a distance that happened

Kevin Clancy will push Chad Larivee in this year’s Boston Marathon.

Hopkinton’s Michael Alfano stands next to his sculpture at the Town Common, which is situated in front of other Winged Foot-themed artwork to celebrate the Boston Marathon’s 100th start in town.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Marathon Committee welcomes runners INTRODUCTION

128TH BOSTON MARATHON

It

volunteers and spectators. We are honored to host the world’s oldest annual marathon

Entrants will be assigned a bus loading window that corresponds to their seeding and bib number. All bib numbers will be color-coded according to bus loading times, which corresponds to start windows in Hopkinton.

RACE DAY ROAD CLOSURES

To ensure a safe and enjoyable race experience for all participants, race day road closures will be in effect on Monday, April 15.

Only official B.A.A. buses, official vehicles, and public safety vehicles will be permitted on roads in Hopkinton during that time.

PARTICIPANT SHUTTLE IN HOPKINTON

Very limited parking is available for participants at the 52 & 80 South Street lots in Hopkinton. Participant shuttle buses will run throughout race morning. Please visit www.baa.org for a list of prohibited items that are not allowed near the start or on Hopkinton shuttle buses.

SPECTATORS IN HOPKINTON

Several viewing areas in Hopkinton will have heightened security rules. Spectators entering these areas will be required to pass through security checkpoints and all items being carried will be subject to screening; backpacks, or any similar items carried over-the-shoulder, including handbags, are not permitted.

For more information on spectator policies, please visit www.baa.org. Spectator parking and a shuttle on race morning will be located at Hopkinton State Park.

Standing in front of the Hopkinton Marathon Committee’s historic sign at the Town Common are committee members (from left) Tab Kadlik, Judy Pitasi, Chuck Wallace, Dorothy Ferriter-Wallace, Jonathan Lewitus, Jack LeDuc, Tim Persson, Alex Danahy, Jean Cann, Craig Gormley, Police Chief Joe Bennett, Fire Chief Gary Daugherty, Bob Levenson and Adam Munroe. Missing

Jane Goodman, Fire Lt. Billy Krauss, Mike Mansir, Bob McGuire and Police Sgt. Scott van Raalten.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Nearly 30,000 entrants will participate in the 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, starting their 26.2-mile run on Main Street in Hopkinton and finishing on Boylston Street in Copley Square.

The Boston Athletic Association, organizer of the 128th Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America, would like to thank residents of the Town of Hopkinton for their patience and cooperation as we have worked with many partners to plan a safe and successful race. We look forward to welcoming many runners back to Hopkinton this Patriots’ Day. For more race day information, please visit www.baa.org

Town leadership recognizes race anniversary

By Muriel Kramer Hopkinton Select Board Chair

On behalf of the town, the Select Board welcomes runners and spectators from around the globe for the 100th anniversary of the first Boston Marathon start in Hopkinton. Volunteers and professional staff have long been planning the day’s events, and we look forward to the bustle of activities to come as we get closer to Monday, April 15, when the people around the world turn their attention to this big race that starts in a small and normally very quiet town. We look forward to the celebrations to come as we commemorate the 100th start from Hopkinton and thank all those who have been planning

wonderful events for the community to join in and help us all celebrate this anniversary. Hopkinton is proud to host the start every year, and we look forward to the special events that will be taking place this year — among them a celebration of the 100th start hosted by the 26.2 Foundation and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on April 4 and a spirited 100-yard dash for Hopkinton’s best and brightest future runners that is planned for Saturday, April 13, starting at 1 p.m. at the newly painted Boston Marathon start line. Many more fun activities are in store for the week leading up to the big day, and we hope you and your family members will venture out to join in the excitement.

None of this is possible without

the dedicated volunteers who the Hopkinton Marathon Committee and the Boston Athletic Association work with to plan, organize and host a successful and fun event each year. We thank them all for all they do throughout the year to make everything look and feel effortless on race day. And we thank all the professionals, vendors and more who collaborate year-round to keep us safe, mark the course, shelter the runners and line up all those muchappreciated porta-potties. We couldn’t do any of this without the help and support of so many dedicated staff members and volunteers.

Perhaps the most amazing and

wonderful features of this big race is the way so many pursue this as both a personal fitness challenge and a way to give back to charities near and far by “earning” their race bibs raising money for organizations that do amazing work for many neighbors in need throughout Hopkinton and greater Massachusetts. Join us in celebrating every runner on Monday, April 15 — from the elite athletes to the charity runners, and to those who dream big!

This is a big day for Hopkinton, and we welcome you all! Come on down to the start and make a little noise cheering on all those amazing athletes; we hope to see you there.

A runner takes a selfie in front of a BAA sign at the Athletes Village behind Hopkinton Middle School while others warm up prior to last year’s race.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

Banner day

Oakwoods Landscape Construction & Design

• landscape construction services

• planting installation

• maintenance services

Marathon Committee welcomes runners

and most prestigious athletic longdistance running event since 1924.

This year marks a historical marathon milestone as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon starting in Hopkinton. In 1924, the Boston Marathon course was lengthened to meet the standard marathon distance of 26 miles, 385 yards adopted permanently by the International Association of Athletics Federations. There were only 147 participants in 1924. As the decades passed, we witnessed so many marathon milestones with the addition of the professional, women’s, wheelchair, handcycle and para divisions. We’ve seen the field grow from hundreds of runners in the early years to over 30,000 today. To further enhance the race and its efficiency for runners, the traditional noontime start was moved to an earlier time and was followed by the implementation of the wave start system we enjoy today.

This year, Jack Leduc was honored to be selected by the Boston Athletic Association to start Wave 1 at 10 a.m. The Hopkinton Marathon Committee unanimously voted to select retired Hopkinton Police Officer Tom Griffin to start Wave 2 at 10:25. Paul Fitzgerald, vice president of real estate and facilities for the Americas for Dell Technologies, will start Wave 3 at 10:50. Sharon Lisnow and Mary McQueeney, cofounders of the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, will start Wave 4 at 11:15.

ment has organized many festivities that will take place on the Town Common, including art, music, crafts, activities for children, vendors and food trucks, so we hope all residents and spectators will make it a point to stop by over the weekend! Be sure to check out the Winged Foot exhibition on display at the Town Common. It consists of 26 artists who were selected to paint a winged foot for auction to enhance the celebration in Hopkinton, organized by the 26.2 Foundation and Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

To celebrate this historic year, the Hopkinton Marathon Committee has coordinated an event for children ages 5-12 on Saturday of race weekend. The 100-yard dash will give the kids an opportunity to run across the start line and inspire our future runners.

Our committee members, known to many as stewards of the start, have worked tirelessly with the Boston Athletic Association start operations officials and town boards coordinating all the logistics and planning pertaining to Hopkinton to ensure a safe and family-friendly event on Patriots’ Day.

I’d like to especially thank all my HMC volunteer colleagues and department liaisons for their ultimate professionalism, valued expertise and cooperation. Members include Police Chief Joe Bennett, Jean Cann, Alex Danahy, Fire Chief Gary Daugherty, Jane Goodman, Craig Gormley, Tab Kadlik, Fire Lt. Billy Krauss, Jack LeDuc, Bob Levenson, Jonathan Lewitus, Mike Mansir, Bob McGuire, Adam Munroe, Tim Persson, Judy Pitasi, Police Sgt. Scott van Raalten and Chuck Wallace.

Plan NOW for spring. Contact us today. 508.376.5197

Plan NOW for spring. Contact us today. 508.376.5197

Two local veterans will be honored and recognized at the start of this year’s Boston Marathon: Kerry Reed, director of Hopkinton’s Department of Public Works, and Ray Shehata from Hopkinton’s Highway Department. We look forward to recognizing these veterans for their service to their country and their communities on the starter’s platform.

The Parks & Recreation Depart -

Oakwoodslandscaping.com

Oakwoodslandscaping.com

As final preparations are made to welcome over 950 volunteers and 30,000 runners, we would like to thank race organizers, the Boston Athletic Association and the operations team for masterfully coordinating all the logistics in coordination with Hopkinton to ensure we have a safe and successful start of this most prestigious event.

We appreciate and are grateful for the support of the Select Board, Town Manager’s Office, town departments, residents, businesses and organizations that donate valuable resources, facilities, equipment and needed support, which is vital to the success of the marathon. In particular, we recognize Dell Technologies, CVS, E.L. Harvey, Hopkinton Shell, Hopkinton Post Office, Hopkinton State Park and Korean Church of Boston, as well as the Big Brother/Big Sister Foundation.

We all look forward to celebrating 100 starts in Hopkinton on Patriots’ Day weekend!

To all those running … we’ll try to arrange a tailwind and perfect weather for your trek through the eight cities and towns en route to the finish line.

“It All Starts Here” in Hopkinton!

Dorothy Ferriter-Wallace Chair, Hopkinton Marathon Committee

BAA Liaison and Organizing Committee Member

Welcome | from page 2

Members of the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce (from left) Mike Moreau from American Climbers, chamber president Cristina Morrissiey of Wesbster Five, Amanda Faucher of ABdesigns and Ted Twinney of Start Line Brewing hold sponsored banners commemorating the Boston Marathon’s 100th start in Hopkinton.

Anniversary of new start celebrated via art

to be 26.2 miles.

In 1921, the length of a marathon was formally standardized at 26.2 miles. Three years later, Boston Marathon officials decided to move the start from Ashland to Hopkinton, extending the course in order to meet the standard.

“If that hadn’t have happened, the marathon might never have started in Hopkinton,” said 26.2 Foundation Executive Director — and former Boston Marathon race director — Tim Kilduff.

A century later, the town is celebrating 100 years of hosting the race’s start.

Welcome anniversary

Kilduff, a Hopkinton resident, has a legendary history of involvement with the Boston Marathon that spans more than three decades. He served as the marathon’s race director in 1983 and ’84 and has been involved in broadcasting, fundraising and nonprofit activities related to the historic race.

Now Kilduff is determined to ensure that the spotlight shines on Hopkinton as the town celebrates the centennial of being the starting point for one of the world’s premiere marathons by incorporating several art and historic events into the pre-marathon festivities.

“We realize in terms of marathons that the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon starting in Hopkinton is a very significant happening,” Kilduff said. “The Boston Marathon is the oldest consecutive marathon in the world; no one is even close.”

Added Kilduff: “This is an impor-

We realize in terms of marathons that the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon starting in Hopkinton is a very significant happening. The Boston Marathon is the oldest consecutive marathon in the world; no one is even close.

— 26.2 Foundation Executive Director Tim Kilduff

tant time for our community. The Boston Marathon is going to give serious exposure to Hopkinton.”

Winged Foot exhibit adds flair

To help generate local enthusiasm, the 26.2 Foundation partnered with the Hopkinton Center for the Arts to create artistic displays to inspire what Kilduff called “an exhilarated community.” Kilduff noted that the foundation and the HCA “have very a strong work relationship.”

“We’re hoping this catches on and that other community groups will celebrate the Boston Marathon’s birthday,” Kilduff said. “We’re trying to create an esprit de corps.”

The HCA’s Winged Foot exhibit is being displayed outdoors beginning in mid-March through the Boston Marathon on April 15.

“The Winged Foot exhibit is going to be outrageous,” Kilduff said excitedly. “HCA put out a call to artists and got a very strong response. I think people are going to be very surprised

at the variety, design and the quality of the exhibits.”

The inspiration for this exhibit came after Kilduff and HCA executive director Kelly Grill each viewed Chatham’s Art in the Park exhibit during separate visits to Cape Cod. The display coincided with the Chatham Harbor Run, an annual 10K road race, and incorporated cutouts of whales.

The use of the winged foot Versatex cutouts was chosen as a nod to Dayle Doherty, who created the winged foot logo design used by Hopkinton, Kilduff explained. The winged feet are approximately 2 feet wide by 3 feet high exterior art installations mounted to a metal pole resting at eye level. Each foot was designed by a local artist. The artwork will be available for auction, and proceeds from the sale of the artwork will support the host organizations.

A related event launched last year is the “stART Line Experience,” a selfguided art and education tour of the Marathon Legend sculptures in Hopkinton. Attendees begin at the HCA, where they can view a short video about

the sculptures and a Boston Marathonthemed exhibit. They then are given a map to visit each of the statues, as well as provided with a coupon to the Start Line Brewery. This is a joint fundraiser for the Foundation and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

There also is a marathon mural in town to reinforce Hopkinton’s historical connection to the event.

Marathon history celebrated

The 26.2 Foundation is building on Hopkinton’s Marathon Footprint project, with the goal of preserving artifacts that commemorate Hopkinton’s historical association with the Boston Marathon. This initiative involves collecting, cataloguing, storing and displaying the artifacts for the common good, according to a press release. This will ensure their preservation for future generations.

Ultimately, the project’s objective is to archive and display these artifacts at the planned International Marathon Center in Hopkinton, the 26.2 Foundation’s signature project.

Kilduff said it is important for people to recognize Hopkinton’s historic role in the Boston Marathon. While other major marathons are run in a circular fashion, he stressed that the Boston Marathon’s point-to-point course was designed to resemble the course of the first Olympic marathon in the modern Olympic Games in 1896. That course ran about 25 miles between Marathon and Athens in Greece.

STARTERS

Honored residents recognized as race starters

By Jean Cann Contributing Writer

Since 2006, the Boston Athletic Association has entrusted the Hopkinton Marathon Committee with choosing starters for the non-elite waves of the Boston Marathon. This year’s starters include: Jack LeDuc (Wave 1), Tom Griffin (Wave 2), Paul Fitzgerald (Wave 3) and the team of Sharon Lisnow and Mary McQueeney (Wave 4).

LeDuc, a member of Hopkinton Marathon Committee, grew up in Hopkinton and has been a race volunteer for 43 years, including painting the start line for 37 years.

Standing on the starter’s podium is no surprise for LeDuc, who has been the longtime announcer for the start.

A six-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, LeDuc ran the Boston Marathon 15 times, from 1997 through 2011.

Griffin was a longtime police officer in Hopkinton. Raised in Natick, he moved to Hopkinton in 1972, and with his wife, Chris, raised two sons, Jamie and Sean.

He joined the Hopkinton Police

Department in 1978 as a patrolman. He retired in 2016 but stayed on as a special police officer and then a traffic constable.

On marathon day, he has staffed roadblocks, worked security in the cen-

ter of town, and served as a motorcycle escort.

“Other than being honored by such a role, what I am really looking forward to is seeing the runners cross the start line,” Griffin said. “In all my decades working this event, that is something I have never seen, except on the news after the race. I truly want to thank the Marathon Committee for this opportunity.”

Fitzgerald is a Dell EMC vice president of real estate and facilities who has assisted with the Boston Marathon since 1992.

When Fitzgerald started his Boston Marathon involvement, EMC was growing in the community and donated the use of its building parking while helping with staffing, security and traffic management. Fitzgerald still hosts a prerace law enforcement meeting and said he enjoys working with Dell to support the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, particularly during marathon time.

“The entire day is great,” said Fitzgerald, who grew up in South Weymouth and is a married father of five. “I love the excitement, as we have a lot of runners from Dell and

seeing people and leaders from town … but I have always joked about firing the starting pistol!”

Lisnow and McQueeney are the founding directors of the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, a home away from home for children and adults with disabilities. The facility is on Main Street, a few blocks west of the start line.

This marks the Respite Center’s 26th year as a Boston Athletic Association charity organization.

Lisnow and McQueeney have run the Boston Marathon together six times. This year, 73 runners will run for the Michael’s Miracle team, raising funds for the center.

Lisnow figured out that the money raised for the center through Boston Marathon runners has covered 186,000 hours of services to individuals with disabilities, specifically for those who can’t afford the care otherwise.

On race morning, the runners will gather at the Respite Center for a team photo and to recognize the Hall of Famers, those who have raised more than $15,000 or run five Boston Marathons for the team. The group then will walk to the start together.

Most of the runners on Michael’s Miracle team will start in Wave 4, the wave that will be started by Lisnow and McQueeney.

After starting Wave 4 and cheering on all the runners, McQueeney and Lisnow plan to go to cheer at Mile 10 and then to the finish.

Veterans Shehata, Reed recognized

The Hopkinton Marathon Committee also honors veterans at the start of the Boston Marathon each year. The 2024 veterans to be honored both work for the Hopkinton Department of Public Works, which plays a large part in getting the town ready for hosting the start, day-of logistics and post-race cleanup.

Raymond Shehata has worked at the Hopkinton DPW for 11 years. He lives in Milford.

After growing up in Alexandria, Egypt, he moved to the U.S. in 1997 at age 19. Shehata’s mother and younger brother joined him in the U.S. in 2008.

He served in the U.S. Army for six years, including one tour in Iraq in 2009-10, when he worked in military intelligence.

Kerry Reed was appointed DPW director last July. She previously served on Hopkinton Conservation Commission for about 10 years.

A New Jersey native who has lived in Hopkinton about 12 years, she is a graduate of West Point and served as an engineer officer in the Army, stationed in Missouri, Washington, Korea and South Carolina. She mostly managed construction while also training new soldiers and ROTC cadets.

She and her husband, Scott, have two boys, 15-year-old Lucas and 13-year-old Grayson, who will be backpacking on the Appalachian Trail with the Boy Scouts the weekend of the Boston Marathon.

Reed said she has many fond memories of watching the start with her family and cheering on friends running, as well as Kenyan runners that her son was especially excited about after meeting them at Elmwood School.

Hopkinton’s Jack LeDuc announces the start at the 2022 race.

Clancy set for Boston Marathon push

For his first Boston Marathon, Hopkinton’s Kevin Clancy will be pushing a quadriplegic relative, Chad Larivee, competing as a duo participant. During his training, however, Clancy often had to train without Larivee, due to weather or scheduling issues.

To replicate pushing a 200-pound man, Clancy often loaded dumbbells into the chair. Sometimes he’d get a little creative, like the time he put a doll of Grateful Dead legend Jerry Garcia on top of the weights and added a tie-dye shirt. It led to some interesting looks.

“One time, I had a cop follow me for like 2 miles,” Clancy recalled. “I don’t know if he thought I was crazy or something. He went back and forth, and eventually he stopped, rolled the window down and looked in the chair. Then he took off.”

On April 15, Clancy will trade in the Grateful Dead for a grateful living person.

New lifestyle after accident

Larivee, a former Franklin firefighter who worked in roofing on the side, became a quadriplegic almost a decade ago after suffering injuries from a fall off a roof.

With help from Spaulding Rehabilitation and his family, the married father of three learned how to cope with his new existence. Now, he is looking to give back to Spaulding, as the team already has raised well over $16,000 for the organization (givengain.com/project/kevin-raising-funds-for-spauldingrehabilitation-68523).

“Spaulding took me in after my original surgery, and I was there for 3 1/2 months,” Larivee recalled.. “They basically taught me how to live again — what I have to do to continue on with my life and kind of prepare for the new normal. Because everything I was used to for 40-plus years has been turned upside down, and I’m fully dependent on other people to provide that for me. Brushing my teeth, getting out of bed, I need assistance.

“They walk you step by step what to expect, pitfalls you might run into along the way. As someone who never experienced it or worked with any type of handicap population before, I had no idea.”

After settling into his new lifestyle, Larivee expressed an interest in taking on new challenges — finding a way to “participate in sports in one way or another,” as Clancy recalls it.

“The topic came up over dinner,” Clancy said. “He was itching to participate in something again. He was an athlete, his kids are athletes. We have a few runners in the family. So we said that this is something that could happen.”

Road racing was an immediate success, with various family members sharing the responsibility of pushing the chair. The reception from spectators and other runners was unforgettable.

“The first half-marathon I did with

my boys and Kevin, honestly, it brought me to tears at some parts,” Larivee said. “People you don’t even know cheering you on; it was a very cool feeling.”

Eventually, the family turned its attention to the Boston Marathon, where duo racing was made famous by Rick and Dick Hoyt. Only this time, one runner had to commit to pushing Larivee the whole way. The family could not trade off as they had been doing in other races.

“I was willing to raise my hand,” said Clancy, whose wife, Jess, also ran Boston two years ago.

Getting a spot was not easy. The Boston Athletic Association limits the number of duo participants, who take off from the Hopkinton start line at 9:30 a.m., shortly before the professional men and women. Applicants must first run another approved marathon, then — unless they meet a challenging qualifying time standard, which Clancy and Larivee did not — submit their information and hope to be selected via a lottery.

Clancy pushed Larivee in the Cape Cod Marathon in 2022 and eventually received a bib to run Boston this year.

Communication key

While they will talk some during the race, Larivee said communication overall is difficult, due to the positioning of his head and the fact that his voice does not carry that far — especially with the wind.

“I’m trusting him to take care of me, and he will check in to make sure I don’t need anything,” said Larivee, who is married to Clancy’s cousin, Jeanne. “Not only does he have to look after himself and try to focus on his running, he has to check in with me as well.”

Clancy has pushed the chair with dumbbells over much of the course to prepare for race day, although he always stops short of where the race will end on Boylston Street.

“I didn’t want to cross the finish line until the big day,” he said.

Clancy anticipates the Newton hills presenting the biggest challenge.

“I’m a little worried about those Newton hills, no doubt — Heartbreak and the three leading up to it,” he said. “Those are daunting. My strategy is just to walk fast. You can’t run those hills pushing 200 pounds.”

Going downhill also presents a chal-

lenge, as he will need to ride the brakes in order to maintain control while keeping his body moving forward.

“You’ve got to get it just right,” he said. “And with Chad in the chair instead of the dumbbells, the weight distribution does get a little different. I try to mimic it, but there is some difference with the feel of the chair.”

‘Life doesn’t end’

Larivee expressed gratitude to his family and everyone who has helped him get to Hopkinton for this year’s race, including everyone at Spaulding, people who donated money, and especially Mike DiDonato from Southbridge Tool and Manufacturing Co. in Dudley,

who supplied the racing wheelchair. Larviee also would like to make people aware that quadriplegics can live fulfilling lives.

“I’d just like to tell everyone that your life doesn’t end when you get in a wheelchair,” he said. “All you have to do is ask, and most people are very receptive to helping out.”

And while he said riding through the course clearly isn’t the same as being a more active participant, it’s still memorable. He noted that while runners might not be able to enjoy the crowds as much because they are focused on their run, he gets to take a different approach.

“As a rider, as a passive participant, it’s amazing to see,” he said.

Clancy | from page 1

Kevin Clancy (left) and Chad Larivee (right) are joined by two of Clancy’s children, Finn and Keira, at a past race.

Video crew calls Parmenter home

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

When the Boston Marathon began using Hopkinton for its start line in 1924, local septic tank services company J.C. Parmenter already was four years running.

MARATHON NOTEBOOK

A century later, both are going strong. And Parmenter, as it has for about 25 years, will continue to play a small but important role related to television coverage of the event.

Filming the Boston Marathon is not an easy task. Unlike most other sporting events that are confined to stadiums or similar smaller playing areas, the marathon spreads out over a lengthy distance (26.2 miles) and requires a great deal of planning and coordination — along with lots of high-tech equipment and talented individuals who know how to make everything work.

The headquarters for this effort is the Parmenter building at 85 Hayden Rowe Street, across from Hopkinton Middle School.

Camera operator/director David Alan Arnold, who has filmed programs including “Deadliest Catch,” “The Amazing Race” and “Survivor” as well as the World Series, prepares equipment for last year’s rainy Boston Marathon.

at nearby hotels, they spend most of their time at Parmenter, and they’ve become “like family” to the Parmenter people.

“Because we’re right across from the Athletes Village [the pre-race gathering spot for runners at the middle school], they happened to see that we had a great space and asked us if we’d be interested in being taken over for a week,” recalled Parmenter president Sue Costanza, whose father was running the business at the time. “They need the garage and yard space. My dad said, ‘All right, that’s fine.’ We can’t get out [due to roads being closed for the race] anyway. Then they just became family.”

A team of camera people and coordinators descend on the Parmenter property starting about six days before the race and immediately get to work.

“It’s like a great homecoming each April,” Constanza said. “I always refer to them as ‘our boys,’ but they’re all grown men — and a few women. It’s an amazing cast, a fantastic group of people. Every year, I’m just amazed at what they do and how they do it. It’s really media magic.”

Gronk named grand marshal

“They send a team of camera experts and coordinators and sports crews from all over,” Costanza said. “A lot of them are the people who film the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Bruins. Some do all the different marathons. A lot of them go out to Vegas and they film a car race that goes through the desert.”

Costanza said the crews are on site from about 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day, preparing and testing equipment, strategizing and making adjustments. Under the guidance of veteran production crew leader Art Collins, work includes assembling the platforms for the trucks and motorcycles that will drive the course with cameras. Alterations are made based on weather conditions. Test runs typically are held the weekend before the race.

“They are, without a doubt, the hardest-working, smartest, MacGyver-like people,” Costanza said. “They all have a uniqueness and a special talent. It’s a crazy job in a short time. They have four or five days to make the magic happen. They come up with amazing things to make it work in all kinds of weather and other circumstances. And they are the most fun, with the best attitudes.”

While the crews (at least those from outside the area) sleep

New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski is serving as grand marshal for this year’s race. A four-time Super Bowl champion, Gronkowski was named the recipient of the 2024 Patriots’ Award, which is presented to a person or organization who is patriotic, philanthropic and inspirational, and fosters goodwill and sportsmanship.

Along with his family, Gronkowski founded the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, which is dedicated to inspiring youth to reach their maximum potential through sports, education, community, and fitness. The current project of the foundation involves constructing Gronk Playground on the Charles River Esplanade.

“Giving back has always been a priority in my life,” Gronkowski said. “When I first got to New England, [Patriots owner Robert] Kraft and the Patriots Foundation ingrained in the team the importance of giving back to the community that gives back to us. And this community has supported me throughout my entire career. Now it’s time for me to give back to help set others up for their own journey, especially the youth.”

In his role as grand marshal, Gronkowski will tour the marathon course from Hopkinton to Boston on Marathon Monday in an all-electric 2024 Honda Prologue, delivering the trophy to the finish line ahead of the athletes.

The BAA also announced that Black Girls RUN! is the recipient of the 2024 Dick and Rick Hoyt Award, to be presented at the BAA Gives Back Celebration on Saturday, April 13. This award is presented to a person or organization who exhibits spirit through advocacy and inclusion.

Author to discuss race at library

Author Paul Clerici will appear at the Hopkinton Public Library on Wednesday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. to share stories about the iconic Boston Marathon. Clerici

has written extensively on the race in the “Boston Marathon History by the Mile,” “Images of Modern America: The Boston Marathon” and newly released “Boston Marathon Traditions and Lore” books.

Clerici will describe and illustrate such traditions as the connection between the Greek god Zeus, the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C., and the gold-dipped olivebranch wreaths each champion receives; the growth of the start and finish lines from simple origins as a single line to lavish colorful artistry; the unique athlete and culture exchange program with the Ohme-Hochi

Hopkinton runners

There are 53 individuals registered to run this year’s Boston Marathon who listed Hopkinton as their hometown.

NAME NUMBER

Santosh Avvari 28862

Rohit Bahal 27687

Louis (Ed) Beauvais 28092

Aamir Benincaso 26110

Annelise Brookes 29008

Nicholas Brown 28224

Nancy Burdick 27896

Julia Burdulis 10565

Ilana Casady 19450

James Casady 24337

Nicholas Cassarino 27680

Adam Castoreno 27563

Kevin Clancy (duo with Chad Larivee) D14

Sam Cote 28787

John Croasdale 24470

Kathryn Curry 28383

Dara Dalmata 18062

Kevin Dangelo 28830

Carol Daugherty 28757

Joy Donohue 29003

Ryann Forte 26702

James Haskell 27749

Michael Hovagimian 15744

Kelly Ianelli 26115

Jamas Lafreniere 27497

Chris Lavoie 27689

Scott Lennox 23710

Julia Macdonald 29154

Tara Medich 28631

Mark Mercer 26118

Diane Mimmo 27589

Rachel Palumbo 30026

David Pete 26374

Mitchell Riesenberger 24629

Amanda Ross 28394

Rikki Lee Sabasteanski 27562

Ross Sabasteanski 27528

Mallory Sakats 28352

Michael Schroeder 502

Alex Scott 4899

Marjory Selig 22201

Christopher Stevenson 24649

Rachel Stevenson 27493

Christin Tate 28328

Daniel Tate 28398

Jennifer Tedstone 27574

Caitlin Thomas 25600

Deborah Thomas 25595

Gary Trendel 26246

Victor Velazquez 1858

Tyler Vivian 24935

Rebecca Walsh 26484

Gabrielle Weilding 26822

30K in Japan that began with four-time Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers in the 1970s; statues and monuments along the course, including one of runner-sculptor Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon and who created the life-size statue herself; the ever-changing beauty of the finisher medal; the evolution of media coverage; the athlete villages, one of which began in 1996 to accommodate the race’s largest field of 38,000 for its centennial; and much more.

Clerici’s storytelling is supplemented with a multimedia presentation of images from his books, which include some from rare collections and some never seen before. Books will be available to purchase and can be signed by the author.

On a related note, the library held a reading marathon from Feb. 18-March 16 to celebrate the town’s connection to the race. Participants were challenged to read four days a week for a total of four weeks. For each week of reading logged, a librarian gave the participant five tickets to be entered into a prize basket.

“Just like marathon runners, good readers consistently practice and challenge themselves,” said library director Nanci Hill

New sponsor debuts this year

Bank of America was introduced last year as the new presenting partner of the Boston Marathon beginning with this year’s race. The agreement is for 10 years.

“We embark on the next great era for running in Boston and around the world with Bank of America as our partner in all that we do, most notably the Boston Marathon,” said Jack Fleming, president and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. “With alignment in values and commitment to both communities and leadership, we’ll work together to enhance one of the world’s great participatory sporting events. Bank of America will partner with us at every stage to grow, broaden and innovate new pathways in running,”

In recognition of the Boston Marathon’s 127-year heritage and iconic stature, Bank of America has elected that the organization’s name will appear after the words “Boston Marathon” in the event’s new official title: The Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.

Historical Society designs medallion

The Hopkinton Historical Society is selling Boston Marathon keepsake ornaments to benefit the organization. The front of the ornament includes a historical photograph of the Boston Marathon in 1938, and the reverse side can be engraved with a runner’s name, the year they ran the Boston Marathon and their official finish time.

The keepsake costs $30 plus a small shipping fee.

More information can be found at hopkhistsoc.org or by emailing hopkhistsoc@hotmail.com.

Brewer back with new can

Hopkinton’s Start Line Brewing debuted its annual Marathon IPA — brewed each marathon season — on March 20. This year’s can depicts the Town Common statue of George Brown firing the starter’s pistol.

Previous iterations have honored Hopkinton marathoner Wayde Marshall, the planned International Marathon Center, women’s marathon pioneer Bobbi Gibb, 26.2 Foundation Executive Director Tim Kilduff and Team Hoyt.

•

Stevenson runs Boston to support American Liver Foundation

Hopkinton’s Chris Stevenson is running his 10th marathon and fourth Boston, and he’ll be joined by his sister, Laura Fortin, as they raise funds for the American Liver Foundation, which they have done the past few years.

“We run for those who can’t,” Stevenson shared. “We lost our dad to liver cancer in 2017, he was 63 years old and recently retired when he found out he had Stage 4 liver cancer. He fought hard for a few months but it was too much. The American Liver Foundation was there for us as a resource for the worst time in our life, and my sister found out that the ALF was one of the first charities to get bibs for the Boston Marathon. My sister ran in 2018 then recruited me for 2019.

“That same year for the same cause, I met my now-wife, Kaila, who was also running the Boston Marathon for the American Liver Foundation, in honor of one of her best friends, Courtney Jones, who passed in the same year at the age of 25.”

As of early April, the siblings had raised more than $13,000 of their $17,000 goal via their online fundraising page (givengain.com/project/ laura-raising-funds-for-american-liver-foundation-67224).

Added Stevenson: “We run to honor those we’ve lost and to hopefully help spread the word of the American Liver Foundation.”

Dalmata runs as guide

Hopkinton’s Dara Dalmata is a veteran marathoner — primarily as an individual, but also as a guide for a visually impaired runner. She is raising funds for the Carroll Center for the Blind, a facility in Newton.

“I work for this amazing organization and witness the life-changing impact our services have on clients’ lives every single day,” Dalmata wrote on her fundraising webpage (givengain.com/project/dara-raising-funds-for-carroll-center-for-theblind-71455). “The Carroll Center provides essential skills training and education to blind and visually impaired children, adults and seniors, helping them learn the skills they need to be active and independent in school, at work, at home and in the community.

“Once again this year, I will be guiding Brett [Sims], a visually impaired runner, to the finish line. I had the honor of guiding Brett in 2022 and look forward to ‘chasing the unicorn’ with him again. Brett has choroideremia, an eye condition that causes him to experience night blindness and very limited peripheral vision, and unfortunately his vision will continue to deteriorate until he is completely blind.

“This is why the Carroll Center for the Blind’s mission is so important. Your support will help empower blind and visually impaired individuals like Brett to maintain their independence and lead their life to the fullest.”

As of early April, Dalmata was closing in on her $5,000 fundraising goal.

Scouting leaders make strides

Hopkinton’s Ed Beauvais and Tara Medich are running to support the Hopkinton Scout Leaders Association.

“As an Eagle Scout myself and a parent with children deeply involved in scouting, this cause holds a special place in my heart,” Beauvais wrote on his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/louis-raising-funds-for-hopkinton-scout-leaders-

Chris Stevenson, shown with his wife, Kaila, at the 2019 Boston Marathon, returns to raise funds for the American Liver Foundation.

association-73017). “My daughter has achieved the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts. My sons have been involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for nine years. My wife served as a board member for the HSLA. I have volunteered as a Hopkinton Scout Leader. Every year our family volunteers for the annual Scouting for Food drive, which brings in over 8 tons of food each year for Project Just Because right here in town.”

Adds Medich (givengain.com/project/tara-raising-funds-for-hopkinton-scoutleaders-association-73086): “We can provide essential resources and opportunities for Scouts to learn valuable life skills, engage in community service, and foster a sense of adventure. Your generosity will empower these young individuals to become responsible, compassionate and confident leaders of tomorrow.”

Penney races for KeepSmilin4Abbie

Ryan Penney is attempting his first Boston Marathon, and second marathon overall, and he’s raised well over $22,000 for the Hopkinton-based KeepSmilin4Abbie Foundation, named for a Hopkinton teenager who died from anaphylaxis in 2013.

“I have yet to train for a marathon through the winter. Running in Abbie’s memory and for the KeepSmilin4Abbie Foundation will give me all the strength and motivation I will need to get through the next 16 weeks of training as well as across the finish line at the Boston Marathon,” he wrote on his fundraising page (givengain. com/project/ryan-raising-funds-for-keepsmilin4abbie-foundation-71663).

Stephen Benford, Abbie’s father and the foundation’s cofounder and executive director, indicated the funds raised are going to good use.

“We continue to be focused on our mission to #stopanaphylaxis,” he wrote via email. “One in 20 in the U.S. is at risk of anaphylaxis, that’s about three times more than Alzheimer’s and about 36 times more than Parkinson’s disease. We think the unmet need is early detection of the reaction itself, so we prioritize funding research into the biomarkers of anaphylaxis in the hope of putting a diagnostic in the hands of those at risk, because in a reaction the patient has minutes to recognize the symptoms and intervene with epinephrine. We also fund awareness programs and two $2,500 scholarships at Hopkinton High School.”

Campion supports seniors

Maggie Campion grew up in Ashland, and her parents both were runners and “proud Boston Marathon finishers.” This year, she decided it was her turn, and she’ll run to raise money for the Friends of the Hopkinton Seniors.

“As a 2023 Worcester State nursing program graduate, I am passionate about helping others,” she shared at her fundraising page (mightycause.com/story/O6c82f). “I told myself it was now or never to check off that bucket list item of running Boston.”

Campion trained with a friend, noting, “We have both dreamed of this for years and are excited to train for this once-in-a-lifetime experience together.”

Lafreniere back for Sophie’s Hope

Hopkinton resident Jamas Lafreniere returns to the start line for the second straight year to raise funds for Sophie’s Hope Foundation (sophieshopefoundation. org), the nonprofit he cofounded to help children like his daughter, Sophie, who suffers from glycogen storage disease Type 1b (GSD1b).

Last year’s run brought in $53,000, and Lafreniere reported in late March that this year he was on track to top the $60,000 mark. Combining those totals with the amount his wife, Margot, raised running in 2022, the Boston Marathon fundraising is on pace to top $130,000 in three years.

Lafreniere shared that the organization recently hired its first employee, an executive director who will “continue and broaden our mission and help families affected by GSD1b across the globe.” Sophie’s Hope also invested more than

Jamas Lafreniere holds his daughter, Sophie, during a quick stop in last year’s Boston Marathon. Lafreniere | 12

Lafreniere back for Sophie’s Hope

$200,000 in research across multiple projects and multiple institutions across the globe, created virtual support groups for patients and caregivers affected by GSD1b, expanded its scientific advisory board, and began and expanded collaboration with multiple pharmaceutical companies to develop genetic treatments for GSD1b, Lafreniere indicated.

“We are currently fundraising to fund a five-year, $1.5 million project to develop an international multisite natural history study for GSD1b,” Lafreniere added. “This will help us continue to better understand the disease, develop genetic treatments for them, and better prepare for clinical trials and FDA approvals of any new treatments.”

Benincaso backs Respite Center

Among the runners supporting the Michael Lisnow Respite Center on Main Street is Hopkinton High School graduate Aamir Benincaso, who shares that the organization is “very close to my heart.”

“The reason why I am running for The Michael Lisnow Respite Center is because I have family members and friends who have been diagnosed with autism and other disabilities,” he writes on his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/ aamir-benincaso-raising-funds-for-michael-lisnow-respite-center). “I am an independent contractor through the Department of Developmental Services and provide support for individuals with disabilities. I am supporting my brother and many other community members who are impacted by disabilities to enable them to lead happy, productive and fulfilling lives. I have a strong message for families who share our common cause: Have hope and be strong. Believe in your child, never give up, and you will be amazed at what your child can accomplish no matter what the goal may be!”

Duo run for HHS senior class

Running for the Hopkinton High School class of 2024 are senior (and class treasurer) Nina Brookes and teacher/class advisor Mike Webb

“The money we raise will go towards subsidizing events to ensure greater class participation and that no student feels left out,” explains Webb at his fundraising page (gofund.me/3d106837). “A member of the high school community has run the Boston Marathon for many consecutive years, and getting the opportunity to have two runners on the 100th anniversary is extra special in keeping the tradition alive.”

The money will help make up for lost dues during the class’ freshman year, when activities were canceled due to the COVID pandemic.

• Free checking accounts

•

• Low-rate credit cards with cash back* and no annual fee

Avvari all in for HCA

Hopkinton’s Santosh Avvari will fulfill a longstanding goal when he runs this year’s Boston Marathon. In the process, he’s raising funds for the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

“Running has always been my passion throughout my life, and the Boston Marathon, my dream,” he wrote on his fundraising page (givengain.com/project/ santosh-raising-funds-for-hopkinton-center-for-the-arts-69232). “I have picked up a love for long-distance running recently and completed a 10K and a half-marathon [last] year. As I look forward for my next goal of participating and finishing the Boston Marathon, I could not find a better cause than supporting Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA), a wonderful organization that promotes arts and cultural education in our community.”

Lane returns for HCCCF

Looking to beat his finishing time of 3 hours, 23 minutes, 46 seconds from last year, Dave Lane Jr. returns with another goal: to again raise at least $7,500 for the Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation (givengain.com/campaign/supporthcccf-via-the-2024-boston-marathon).

“Our very own Dave Lane’s son, Dave Lane Jr., is back at it and running the Boston Marathon again in support of the HCCCF,” foundation president Fred Wahlers shared. “All proceeds raised will go to support charities that the HCCCF work with every year. This includes supporting charities in our local communities that provide economic assistance and youth development for those most in need.”

Trivedi to take on London

While the world’s focus will turn toward the Boston Marathon on April 15, Darsh Trivedi will be intent on his London Marathon run the following Sunday, April 21.

Trivedi, a Dell EMC employee and Legacy Farms resident, said he chose to run in London rather than Hopkinton solely because of its flat terrain.

He ran the Boston Marathon last year, raising $11,000 as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team to support a young cancer patient and in memory of his late father and grandfather, who died from cancer. A hamstring injury he suffered at Heartbreak Hill has hampered him since then, leading to iliotibial band syndrome. But he has taken it in stride for the ultimate goal of helping the organization Children with Cancer UK (2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/darsh-trivedi).

“I got an email that it was the last day to register for the London Marathon,” he said of his spur-of-the-moment decision. “I thought my pain is much less than any kid going through cancer.”

• Fixed & adjustable rate mortgages

• Home equity loans

• Business checking, savings and commercial loans

• And more!

Lafreniere

Trendel takes to roads for One Summit RUNNERS

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Hours after chairing a Planning Board meeting, Gary Trendel laced up his running shoes for a 3:45 a.m. run, training for his first Boston Marathon before heading to work.

Trendel is running on behalf of One Summit (onesummit.org), a North Andover nonprofit that pairs pediatric cancer patients with Navy SEAL mentors. The program, which instills a sense of determination in these young people, mirrors Trendel’s tenacity in achieving his personal health goals and support of his mother, a nearly 40-year cancer survivor.

Living just over a mile from the Boston Marathon start line, Trendel explained that the race has always been inspirational for him.

“Every single person running has a story in this massive event,” he said. “And every year, when I would watch the runners at the start line, I would say, ‘Maybe next year.’ ”

Trendel previously ran his first and only marathon in 1999 when he participated in the New York City Marathon. What has held him back from running the Boston Marathon over the years were concerns about his weight. Over the past eight years, Trendel has incorporated running and cycling into his lifestyle, shedding 80 pounds as part of his journey to “be in the best physical health of my life.”

Trendel is using his increased fitness to run for One Summit. He directly experienced its impact on young people after one of his best friend’s sons was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“Pairing Navy SEALs with pediatric cancer patients inspires them to have the grit in overcoming insurmountable obstacles,” he said. “While One Summit has allowed [the friend’s son] the ability to grow up like a normal kid, he and his siblings have benefited from their support. People don’t often think

about the support that family members of cancer patients need, particularly the psychological impacts.”

Trendel stressed that while his friend’s son still is fighting, “He is living a healthy and active life” thanks to One Summit.

Added Trendel: “It’s about resil-

ience, growth and grit.”

One Summit stresses experiential learning, storytelling, community engagement and mentorship. The nonprofit is hosting an upcoming rock climbing event called Climb for Courage with patients and their mentors. One Summit runs these events in Boston, San Diego,

New York City and Virginia Beach. The SEALs guide their mentees through a curriculum based on teamwork, goalsetting and overcoming adversity. They then encourage the patients’ rock climbing wall exercises, cheering them on as they persevere toward their goals.

“My understanding is that it’s very emotional and really touching,” said Trendel.

Another motivating force for Trendel to run has been his mother’s cancer battle. He discovered at age 9 that she was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.

“I also understand what it is like for a child to have a loved one fighting cancer,” he shared. “I know how hard it is for a family to cope with the diagnosis.

“We had amazing support from our friends and community,” continued Trendel, “and my parents did a great job of shielding me from truly understanding the risks of her diagnosis. But not everyone has the resources and support that we did.”

Nearly 40 years later, Trendel described his mother as “cancer free and thriving.”

While Trendel debated supporting a Hopkinton-based charity with his run, he decided to lend his support to One Summit (givengain.com/project/ gary-raising-funds-for-one-summitinc-67570) because of its direct impact on cancer patients’ lives and because it is a “relatively small” nonprofit.

“The first step I took was deciding I was going to run this thing,” he said with a laugh. “I was certainly not fast enough to qualify. What I love about the Boston Marathon is the fans who stick around to cheer for the final runners to cross the line.”

What has kept Trendel focused on his training is the support from friends and the community. While he has been battling minor injuries and receiving

Gary Trendel will attempts his first Boston Marathon in a fundraiser for the nonprofit One Summit.

Artist Felicia Tuttle

Ross returns to support Women’s Club

music, games, raffles For more info and to sign up online, visit www.sharontimlinrace.org

Funds raised go to The Angel Fund for ALS Research, a non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

By Jane Bigda Contributing Writer

Although she freely admits she is not a natural runner, Amanda Ross is excited to be running in her second Boston Marathon on April 15 to support the Hopkinton Women’s Club.

“I have a big job and four young children, so running a marathon is completely outside my comfort zone, but to be able to run Boston and to raise money for my town is really a cool experience,” said Ross.

She ran last year to raise funds for the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA).

“I was part of the team that helped HCA get enough funding for their new building, and I have an interest in its success,” she said. Ross added that her children have enjoyed many programs at the center.

This year, she was happy to receive an invitation to run from the Women’s Club, for whom she had raised closed to $1,500 heading into April (GivenGain. com/cc/support-us-via-the-2024-boston-marathon-28061/webpage).

“They are very involved in philanthropic and educational events in the town and put on many social functions. I am honored that they would ask me to represent them,” said Ross.

Ever since she and her husband, Patrick, moved to Hopkinton 10 years ago when they were starting their family, Ross has been involved in the community. Besides supporting the HCA, she was part of the fundraising committee for the Hopkinton Public Library expansion and currently sits on the school councils for both Elmwood and Hopkins elementary schools. She also has been active for about two decades in the community fundraising efforts of her employer, Bank of America in Boston, where she is a managing director.

This year, the Boston Marathon will be even more special for Ross, since Bank of America has taken over sponsorship of the event from John Hancock. She noted that more than 100 of her work colleagues will be running in the event, the majority raising funds for different charities

“Most of them are much faster than I am, so I will look forward to seeing them at the finish line,” Ross said with a laugh.

Her goal this year is to shave some time off her 2023 run.

“Last year, I stopped a lot to talk to everyone I knew along the route,” she said. “This year, I will hug and kiss my kids, but my focus will be on running faster.”

During her training, Ross has been making good use of the treadmill in her basement and the topography of Hopkinton to build up her stamina.

“I feel that those of us who live in Hopkinton have an advantage,” she said. “We have all these gnarly hills to train on during the weekends.”

She enjoys the local runners she met last year and the occasions when they get together for training runs.

“It has been great meeting a whole new group of people through running,” she said.

Summing up her feelings about the 2024 Boston Marathon, Ross said, “I feel really fortunate for my situation. The marathon starts in my town, I get to run for a local charity and represent my town, and my employer is the sponsor. It just doesn’t get any better. All the things that are very important to me are represented and wrapped up in this race.”

It also is important to her family, which goes to the start line the night before the race to take photos and turns out the next morning to cheer her on.

“It is good for my four young children to see me work toward a fitness, endurance goal and know you don’t have to win, you don’t have to be perfect, you don’t have to be fast, you just have to finish,” she said. “It is so cool to model that and to represent my community.”

Amanda Ross, who is running the Boston Marathon to support the Hopkinton Women’s Club, poses with her four children (from left), Madigan (4), Declan (10), Keegan (6) and Griffin (9).

McCluskey returns home to support Hopkinton Emergency Fund

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Growing up on Rocky Woods Road in Hopkinton, Stephen McCluskey was heavily influenced by the running of the Boston Marathon in his hometown. His “hidden goal” was to run it someday.

Now the former Hopkinton High School athlete is running the marathon in support of the Hopkinton Emergency Fund, a public nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide temporary emergency financial assistance to residents of Hopkinton through collaboration with existing local human services organizations.

Maryland resident Daniel Morrissey also is running on behalf of HEF. He ran the Boston Marathon in support of the 26.2 Foundation in 2019.

Marathon dream begins at home

Athletics have played a huge role in McCluskey’s life. He played hockey throughout high school and is an avid skateboarder. It was his longtime dream to run the Boston Marathon.

McCluskey, 28, decided to start running as a way to focus on his health two years ago. A second motivator to run was his job at the New Balance corporate headquarters in Brighton.

“I had never been into running that much because I was playing hockey,” he explained. “I also played football and lacrosse, so I was always involved in team sports.

“A couple of years ago, I got the job at New Balance,” he continued. “Just being surrounded by a lot of runners and running product all the time, I decided to start running just for exercise.”

McCluskey said he has “really gotten into fitness” over the past couple of years, making this the perfect time to turn his longtime dream into reality.

“I’ve been taking certain steps to get to where I’m at,” he said. “I’ve done a 180 when it comes to personal fitness. There was a point in my life when I thought I could never do that. The opportunity for me to run the Boston Marathon presented itself to me this year, and I jumped on it.”

Trendel takes to roads for One Summit

physical therapy, he keeps in mind the pain that those with cancer endure as well as the people who have positively influenced his life.

“For me, it’s taken a village,” he said. “This is a journey that I couldn’t do on my own.”

Every day for 26 days, Trendel participates in what he calls “26 miles of gratitude.” He dedicates each mile he runs to a friend, family member, physical therapist or other positive person who has influenced him. He focuses on how they have brought him one step closer to his goal of helping others.

“Every time I lace up my running shoes, I think of my friend and the 15,000-plus kids diagnosed with cancer each year,” he added. “Rain or shine, in the darkest hours or through fatigue, I keep running for them. They are my unwavering inspiration.”

While McCluskey doesn’t “plan on becoming a marathoner,” he is striving to support HEF because of its community impact.

“I’ll probably never do it again, because I’ve been dealing with some injuries while training, with Achilles issues and tendonitis in my left foot,” he shared. “It’s definitely been a roller coaster.”

He started with The Hal Higdon Novice 1 marathon training program, an 18-week program that intersperses long runs with rest periods and stresses running at a comfortable pace.

“I’ve adapted my training to be one week on then one week of total rest,” he said. “I go through waves where I’m feeling super confident and then feeling like it’s a big mistake.

“But I really wanted to run for the Hopkinton Emergency Fund,” added McCluskey. “Its services are very broad. It definitely helps a lot of people in Hopkinton. My goal is to finish the race and raise funds.”

McCluskey started reaching out to local charities after learning about a town Zoom meeting when marathon numbers were being distributed. HEF fundraising and outreach co-chair Stephanie Whelan was the first person to reach out to McCluskey about his interest in running for a local charity.

“I think a lot of charities are very specific on what they raise funds for, like the Jimmy Fund or the Boys & Girls Club,” McCluskey explained. “The Hopkinton Emergency Fund provides financial assistance to underprivileged families that might be going through a multitude of issues. I really liked that it wasn’t honed into specifics. It really struck a chord with me.”

He noted that there is a stereotype “that everyone in Hopkinton is white and privileged.”

“When I was growing up, it seemed like that as well,” he said. “But there are people who need assistance that live in town. I can think of some people I know that might have benefited if this was a thing back in the day.”

McCluskey added that the pandemic and its aftereffects, as well as the national economy, have impacted more families than people would likely expect.

“I’m just stoked to be able to do this for the Hopkinton Emergency Fund,” he said (his fundraising page can be found at https://www.givengain.com/project/ stephen-raising-funds-for-hopkintonemergency-fund-71466).

McCluskey also has begun to advocate for his other athletic passion of skateboarding.

“I think the biggest thing that has changed for me in Hopkinton is the tear-down of the skate park [at EMC Park],” he explained, noting that skateboarding is a favorite pastime. “When I was younger, I was actually part of a group that raised money for the wooden ramps in there.”

He added that recently he has been talking about how to develop a new skate park with Parks & Recreation Department program coordinator Colleen Allen to capitalize on the sport’s growing popularity.

Morrissey also runs to benefit HEF

Daniel Morrissey is a 66-year-old resident of Severna Park, Maryland. He met Whelan in 2019 when she was involved in the 26.2 Foundation and decided to support HEF because of her influence.

“Joining the Hopkinton Emergency Fund fit perfectly with my values,” he shared via email. “I am a board member for several nonprofit organizations in my area and feel that it is my moral responsibility to help those facing disadvantages in life, especially economic and financial struggles. I had the chance to visit Hopkinton in 2019 and loved the area.”

A self-described “late bloomer,” Morrissey began running 10 years ago. He was spurred into running after his wife participated in a 5K race and challenged him to run. He ran the Tokyo Marathon on March 3, supporting a nonprofit that provides services and education to children in Cambodia.. He has run 18 marathons so far, “with several more on the schedule.”

He added that running the Boston Marathon is particularly meaningful for him because of its timing. April 13 will mark his 36th year of sobriety.

Said Morrissey: “Running is a big part of how I stay in recovery.”

Stephen McCluskey

Kreafle continues fitness focus by running Boston for SACH

By Jane Bigda Contributing Writer

When he runs in the 128th Boston Marathon for the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton, Jeffrey Kreafle will be halfway to a personal goal. Kreafle, who became a marathoner when he turned 50, is working to complete the Abbott World Major Marathons. The international achievement honors runners who have finished six major marathons — Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin, London and Tokyo. Kreafle already has run two majors, Chicago and Berlin.

Excited to be running his third major, he said, “I would never but for the generosity of SACH have the opportunity to do this. Running in Boston is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Founded in 2018, SACH helps connect Hopkinton’s South Asian population with the larger community, celebrates the region’s diverse cultures, advocates for civic involvement and provides a variety of support for individuals and families. Kreafle, who lives in the area of Washington, D.C., and is chief executive of the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, connected with SACH through a friend of a friend, Carol Bliss, manager of the Chilton Club in Boston and a fellow marathoner who will complete the Abbot Majors when she runs Tokyo.

Boston will be Kreafle’s second big race in just a few months. In November, he ran the JFK 50 Mile, the oldest ultramarathon in the United States. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy, who felt anyone in the military should be able to walk 50 miles in a day, the event gradually evolved into an ultramarathon encompassing terrain from the Appalachian Trail to the C&O Canal towpath. “My running coach had me take off a month from training after the JFK,” said Kreafle. “It was hard to get back into it, but it was the right thing to do. I

It was hard. I started running a hundred yards and then had to walk. The next day it was 200 yards. It took a long time to go one mile, then two. But the good news was it got a little better every day.

am now on track for Boston.”

Kreafle likes running ultramarathons, noting, “I am not a super-fast runner, so the longer distance of ultras is better for me.”

Relatively new to running, Kreafle made his marathon debut in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2021. Like many people busy with their careers and families, he had let his physical fitness slip. In 2019, his wife said her birthday wish was for him to be healthy. To fulfill her wish, Kreafle decided he needed to focus on improving his rest, diet and fitness. Feeling that enhancing the amount of sleep would be the easiest, he started there, concentrating on it for seven months. Next came focusing on his diet for seven months. The last step was fitness.

“It was hard. I started running a hundred yards and then had to walk,” he said. “The next day it was 200 yards. It took a long time to go one mile, then two. But the good news was it got a little better every day.”

He began to work toward running a marathon when he planned to visit Alaska, a lifelong dream, the 50th state for his 50th birthday in 2021.

“I decided to run a marathon while I was there” said Kreafle. “And to show

— Jeffrey Kreafle

her support, my wife signed up for the half-marathon. It created extra meaning for the trip.”

From there Kreafle never looked back. Although a man of many interests — he speaks about leadership and golf management nationally and internationally, and he helped create PGA Reach, the philanthropic arm of the PGA Foundation — he makes sure to continue training.

“My family has been very supportive, managing things so I can get up early to do my runs,” said a grateful Kreafle.

Looking forward to Boston, he wrote in a fundraising plea at the SACH website (southasiancircleofhopkinton. org), “I am fortunate to be involved with the two sports that play a critical role in worldwide philanthropy — golf and running! By opening this door into the Boston Marathon for me, SACH proves once again that their mission to bridge communities, celebrate diversity and advocate civic engagement is not just a hope, but a daily reality. Please support me in this effort to raise funds for SACH, so they can continue to not just open, but run through, doors of opportunity.”

Jeffrey Kreafle, shown following his run in the 2023 Berlin Marathon, is running the 128th Boston Marathon in April to support the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton.

Curry tunes in on Boston for Hopkinton Music Association

By Sidhi Dhanda Contributing Writer

Hopkinton resident Kathryn Curry has run so many marathons that she has lost count. She knows that it is at least 20.

She was introduced to the sport at a young age, due to her father’s interest.

“My father was a marathon runner, and as kids we would root for him in the New York City Marathon,” Curry said.

Curry recalls standing at Mile 22, cheering on all the runners.

Eventually, she took up the sport herself. She ran her first marathon in 1997 in New York and will be running her eighth and likely last Boston Marathon this Patriots’ Day.

Despite her extensive marathon running experience, the Boston Marathon holds a special place in Curry’s heart because she running for the third time to benefit the Hopkinton Music Association (HMA). She was the organization’s first charity runner in 2015, and she returned in 2019.

The money raised will help support college scholarships, private music lessons and concert attire for students. As of late March, more than $6,000 had been raised for the foundation via Curry’s fundraising page (gofundme.com/f/boston-marathonrun-for-the-hopkinton-music-assoc).

While Curry is deeply passionate about the work of the HMA, she says that fundraising is outside her comfort zone.

“I don’t like asking anyone for money,” Curry said.

But she does so because of the personal significance raising money holds for Curry on multiple levels. Having benefited from scholarship programs herself, including a full scholarship to Boston University, she feels a strong desire to pay it forward.

“I always felt that somebody donated so I could benefit, so I want to return the favor,” Curry said.

Curry’s decision to run for the HMA also is fueled by the direct impact the association has had on her family members. Her children took part in Hopkinton’s music program, and it had a particularly noticeable impact on her nephew, Teddy Edgar.

In middle school, Edgar was featured in a concert, and a teacher from the Walnut Hill School For The Arts in Natick saw him sing. After starting high school in Hopkinton, Edgar was able to transfer on a full scholarship to Walnut Hill. He ended up pursuing a double major in music theater and vocal performance at Oklahoma City University and recently completed his master’s in opera performance at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Now, he’s a professional actor and teacher.

“That is all because of the exposure [to music] he had from the Hopkinton Music Association,” Curry said.

Her nephew is not the only artistic one in the family. To raise money for the HMA, Curry sells hand-painted bells at the Town Common on Boston Marathon weekend.

“It totally affects my performance, because my feet are totally tired [from standing at her table], but I hope that I inspire somebody else to try to make sure that we give back what we have received, and if we can give back more than we received, that’s even better,” Curry said.

Craig Hay, the school district’s subject matter leader for music, acknowledges Curry’s contributions to the HMA.

“She has been one of our greatest supporters over the years,” he said. “Kathy has always been there as a supportive parent, HMA board member and marathon runner.”

Curry dedicated the medal from her first Boston Marathon for the HMA to Hay.

Despite an illness during Christmas and an ear infection that disrupted her running schedule, Curry has continued to adapt and push through with her training. When running was not possible, she opted for walks.

Going into what she said might be her last Boston Marathon, her goal is to take in the moment.

“It’s the 100th run from Hopkinton. This is my town, and I want to be able to enjoy it, and know that I gave back again to the Hopkinton Music Association, which has supported my family so much through the years.”

Come in every day for fresh…

• Breakfast and lunch sandwiches & salads

• Muffins, pastries & bagels

• Cakes for all occasions

Open Daily 5 am - 5 pm

43 Main Street, Hopkinton 508-625-8100

Kathryn Curry is set to run run the Boston Marathon to benefit the Hopkinton Music Association, as she has done twice before.

Perry runs for eHop as she completes ‘Big Six’

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

Angela Perry is running the 2024 Boston Marathon to benefit local volunteer civic organization eHop.

Cleaning

• Wet Cleaning

• Tailoring & Alterations

•

Perry will be completing her sixth star of the Abbott World Marathon Majors — otherwise known as the Big Six: Chicago, Berlin, London, New York City, Tokyo and Boston. Despite the impressive achievement, “I’m not someone who was born to run,” she insisted. In fact, she started running just a few years ago.

• Shirt Laundry

• Over 30 years experience

It was a conversation at a dinner party that prompted her to start pounding the pavement. “A female friend said she wanted to run a marathon,” Perry recalled, “and I said, ‘Oh, I’ll do that!’ ”

What began on a whim turned into a quest. Like many former nonrunners, Perry was “bit by the bug.”

“It’s a super-big challenge, of course, but it’s a super high as well — you have random people yelling your name, you get to accomplish something that very few people in the world accomplish. You just feel really fulfilled when you’re finished.”

Despite only taking up the sport a few years ago, Angela Perry already is close to completing all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Globetrotting took on a whole new meaning for the international flight attendant who calls Houston home.

“My husband, Carlton, thought running would be a cheap interest — buy a pair of shorts and running shoes and you’re done,” she said with a chuckle. “Now, we’ve traveled the world.”

She was preparing to depart with her family for a race in Tokyo when she spoke with the Hopkinton Independent. Son Caden, age 19, and daughter Addison, 16, are both athletes (Caden plays football at Bowdoin University in Maine; Addison is into lacrosse) and proud to cheer on Mom.

“They’ve seen me go from barely exercising at all to being able to run a marathon,” Perry shared.

That journey hasn’t been without obstacles. Perry suffered an ankle injury after her first marathon. Although it’s never completely healed, aquajogging — a low-impact, high-resistance water exercise — enabled her to recover enough to race.

“It’s more of a workout than most people realize,” she said. “I do 80% of my training in the pool.”

Perry said running has given her more than just the ability to complete a marathon, as it’s had

a holistic impact on her life.

“I take more walks with my dog, I’m more interested in doing activities with friends that maybe I wouldn’t normally have done,” she reflected. “Now, I go hiking, I go surfing. I feel more capable than I felt before.”

In April, Perry is giving something back to the sport. She chose eHop (her fundraising page can be found at ehop.org/marathon) as her fundraising beneficiary for Boston 2024 because eHop “supports a community that supports runners,” she explained.

As stated on its website, eHop’s mission is to provide timely, factual information about key Hopkinton town matters with the goal of increasing government transparency and fostering civic engagement. Perry’s fundraising will contribute to eHop’s annual budget — and by extension, to Hopkinton.

“I love being able to support the town that supports all the runners. Without Hopkinton, there’s no marathon,” Perry declared.

McNeill’s run to benefit SEPAC

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

rowing up with deaf parents and now a special education teacher, Megan McNeill is excited to be running the Boston Marathon on behalf of the Hopkinton Special Education Parent Advisory Council.

McNeill is hoping to raise a minimum of $8,000 to help special education students who may want to pursue higher education after graduation.

“It’s to help them move into the next step of their lives,” she said. “For students with disabilities, it can be difficult.”

The Reading resident received an undergraduate degree in deaf studies from Towson University and a master’s degree in special education from Merrimack College.

She is a teacher at the Children’s Center for

Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf. McNeill is following the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) through social media and has been in contact with representatives of that group. She said she has seen the relationship between Beverly parents and the school where she works and is impressed by the similar setup in Hopkinton.

Although she has run a half-marathon in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, McNeill thinks the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon will be different.

For one thing, she is accustomed to running alone and it being quiet. Sometimes, she listens to podcasts and music.

In contrast, the Boston Marathon will have streets lined with massive cheering crowds along the route.

“I’m a little nervous about getting too excited” in that environment, McNeill shared. “There will be a

Tate takes on marathon challenge for Freedom Team

By Sidhi Dhanda Contributing Writer

Hopkinton’s Christin Tate will be running her first Boston Marathon this year to benefit the Hopkinton Freedom Team.

Tate has always been athletic. She ran track and played soccer in high school and then at Gordon College. In her 20s, while working in California, she ran a few marathons.

“I think finding opportunities to challenge ourselves mentally and physically is a great way to inspire growth in ourselves and others,” Tate said.

After having her second child, Tate decided to run the New York City Marathon in November of 2023 for a charity that her boss supported.

“We just had a wonderful time fundraising and being a part of that special weekend in New York City,” she said.

After already being in what she describes as “marathon mode,” she felt that running for the Hopkinton Freedom Team would be another great opportunity. And after running other marathons and watching the Boston Marathon, she could finally run the event that starts in her town.

The Hopkinton Freedom Team is an organization dedicated to creating unity in the community by fostering inclusion, solidarity and compassion. It does this by co-organizing the annual Pride Parade, running a hotline for reporting bias-motivated issues, and bringing speakers to Hopkinton. Tate learned about the organization through flyers at the library and has attended some events. Recognizing the importance of supporting such initiatives, Tate reached out and decided to run the Boston Marathon as part of the organization’s fundraising efforts.

“I have had friends who’ve struggled in this area of diversity, equity and inclusion, so it hits close to home and close to my heart,” Tate said. “When I think about raising funds for a charity that helps reduce some of the burden that comes with potentially being different, that really means a lot to me.”

Tate says she keeps those friends in mind while she trains.

To raise money, Tate has used her physical

therapy background, offering to design exercise programs for donors. She also has run some programming with the gym Resilience Fitness and has an online fundraising page (givengain.com/project/ christin-raising-funds-for-hopkinton-freedomteam-73319).

“The money Christin raises will help us to bring more events to the community and continue working towards social justice free of charge,” explained Cathleen Dinsmore, president and founder of the Hopkinton Freedom Team.

Tate is not the only person in her house training for a marathon. Her husband, Daniel, is running his first marathon to benefit the Hopkinton Police Department.

“He has committed to this marathon in a way I didn’t really expect, and we are excited to be there together,” Tate said.

Both of them have been training while raising two young children (a 4-year-old and 18-monthold). They are able to manage it by waking up early and staggering their long run days, so one parent can stay home with the children.

“We didn’t plan this. It just kind of like fell into us, and I think when an opportunity arises like this, you have to say yes,” Tate said.

McNeill’s run to benefit SEPAC

big difference, but I’m so motivated and determined to cross the finish line.”

The Boston Marathon is special, she noted, because of the emotional feeling people get watching participants turn the last corner, witnessing all the support they receive.

It is also gratifying to watch runners helping each other, she added.

To train, McNeill is running four days per week, with one long run and three shorter ones. She said her interest in running began when she played soccer in school, along with hockey and softball.

To raise funds, a recent bowling event in Gloucester attracted about 80 friends and family

members. Local businesses contributed gift cards, items and baskets (including one from the Boston Bruins) that were raffled at the fundraiser. Donations also are being accepted at a fundraising webpage (givengain.com/champion/megan-mcneill-932881).

She expressed gratitude to local businesses, friends and family members for helping her and anticipates having a lot of familiar faces cheering her on the sidelines.

“For a lot of them, it is a good reason to watch the marathon,” she said.

As for McNeill, running in the event has been a dream of hers, one she is eager to fulfill.

“With a push from my aunt, I’m going to see [my dream] through to the finish line,” McNeill said.

Christin Tate has been training for the Boston Marathon while raising two young children.

McNeill

Hometown run on tap for Sabasteanski

By Jane Bigda Contributing Writer

“I have always hoped to run the Boston Marathon,” said Sabasteanski, who has lived in Hopkinton since 2019, “so

“truly resonates with me,” she said. As a student at Bentley College, she majored in marketing and environmental sustainability science, and as a mother, she and her three daughters love to grow their own vegetables and spend a lot of time outside.

“Our garden is a work in progress, but it is a nice activity for all of us,” Sabasteanski said.

A member of the Hopkinton Garden Club, she has taken part in many activities over the years, including plant and pumpkin sales.

Always an athlete, she played competitive softball in Florida when she was younger, and she took up running more recently. She did her first long-distance race in 2015 when she ran the Twin Lights Half Marathon in Gloucester. After taking time off to have three daughters and following the COVID pandemic shutdown, she began running more seriously again last year. In the spring of 2023, she ran the Rock ’n’ Roll Half Marathon in Nashville with her siblings

and her husband, and then she did the Maine Marathon in Portland this past fall.

“Both of those marathons have good routes and were a great way to ramp up to do a major run like Boston,” Sabasteanski said, noting she had never stopped training. “So I was really very pleased to be selected for Boston by the Garden Club.”

Now near the end of her 18-week pre-marathon training schedule, she said she enjoys getting in her miles.

“It is a great mental and physical break,”she shared. “I like getting outside, putting on my headphones to listen to a podcast, and logging my miles. I get to run and learn something at the same time.”

Added Sabasteanski: “Running is my favorite form of physical fitness, and I enjoy the training. I like having a regimented plan of runs to do every week. It is very cut and dried. Having a black and white plan of training is a good fit for me.”

And while she enjoys the runs, she has found training during the winter a challenge. Between working full time in marketing for the Boston Consulting Group: Strategic Management Consulting and raising her family, she has to squeeze in her training, often at the beginning or end of the day.

“The shorter daylight hours in the winter make it harder to run,” Sabasteanski said. “Training during the long summer daylight hours was a lot easier.”

The winding, hilly roads on her training route near Lake Whitehall also have been a challenge, but she thinks they will help on race day, as she will be used to a variety of terrain.

“I am really looking forward to running the Boston Marathon,” Sabasteanski said. “I am very supportive and a big advocate for the mission of the Hopkinton Garden Club, so I am very pleased to represent them. I am now a Hopkinton resident and formerly lived in Boston, so it feels good to be running between the two towns. And my husband and I both try to set an example for our daughters about having our own interests as adults and enjoying physical activity. The girls love to put on my gear and pretend they are running, too. They are excited about our run and will be cheering us on during the marathon.”

Rikki Lee Sabasteanski, shown with her

Historical effort for Castoreno

By Jane Bigda Contributing Writer

Adam Castoreno could be called the Marathon Man. The 128th Boston Marathon on April 15 will be the third year in a row he will be running to raise funds in support of the Hopkinton Historical Society.

“It has been great, a lot of fun,” said Castoreno.

The race also will be the third marathon he has run in the last six months. Castoreno ran the Baystate Marathon in Lowell last fall and the Houston Marathon in January.

A San Antonio native, he moved with his wife to Massachusetts about 25 years ago for school and has lived in the Medford and MetroWest areas ever since, relocating to Hopkinton three years ago.

As a new resident of Hopkinton, he was hoping to participate in the Boston Marathon. The eldest of his three daughters came to the rescue. She was browsing through social media and suggested he connect with John Palmer and the Hopkinton Historical Society (hopkhistsoc.org) in 2022.

“They were looking for a runner, and I was glad to volunteer,” said Castoreno.

It was a good fit, as he is a supporter of the society’s mission to help preserve the history of Hopkinton, protect artifacts and reach out to the public about the community’s rich past. The society was pleased with his effort and asked Castoreno to return in 2023 and again this year (his fundraising page can be found at GiveButter.com/EnWCgi).

Running his first marathon, Houston in 2008, Castoreno found a sport he really enjoyed.

“I try to run two marathons a year, one in the fall and one in the spring,” he said. “That pattern has been pretty consistent the last five years.”

A research scientist focusing on cell biology for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, he works his runs in around his busy career and family schedule.

“I try to train four to five times a

Shown in good form at the Baystate Marathon last fall, Adam Castoreno is running in his third consecutive Boston Marathon on April 15 to support the Hopkinton Historical Society.

week,” he said, getting up early to log his weekday miles and saving longer runs for the weekends. “I usually run about 40 miles a week. For a while I was just running but more recently have added some cross-training like cycling to my routine. I used to run about 50 miles a week but don’t do that as much as I used to.”

He likes running along the hilly roads of Hopkinton and frequently does part of the Boston Marathon route.

“I really enjoy running from the different towns like Framingham and Natick and becoming more familiar with the course,” he said. That knowledge of the course helped him shave about eight minutes off his 2022 time when he ran last year, finishing comfortably under the four-hour mark. He hopes to do even better this year.

“I am not particularly fast, but I try to improve each year,” Castoreno said, noting a lot of factors play into how well he does in any race.

He is not the only runner in his family, as his wife likes to do shorter races.

“It is fun for us to travel together for half-marathons. It is something we both enjoy,” said Castoreno.

The Boston Marathon, with its Hopkinton start, is a celebration for his family.

“My parents fly in from Texas to watch me run, and pre-race, we drive along the route that I’ll be running,” Castoreno said. “My family members watch from different points along the race, offering me something to drink or a gel just when I need it. It is good to see a smiling, familiar face, especially if I’m getting a bit tired. I always try to rally before I see them so I look good running by. It really helps.”

He also gets a lot of support from his family as he follows his regular training schedule, and he’s inspired by helping a local organization.

“I am very pleased to be one of the local runners participating in the marathon and support nonprofits in our community,” Castoreno said. “It is great to be part of that group and to help organizations like the Historical Society.”

Townie Tedstone runs for Canty’s Underdog Scholarship

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

Jen Tedstone is proud to be running the 2024 Boston Marathon in honor of Brad Canty to raise money for the Canty’s Underdog Scholarship Fund.

“My family grew up in this town, my husband grew up in this town; we’ve been here forever,” said Tedstone. “My mom was a Hopkinton High School graduate, as well as my grandmother — so we’ve had a lot of ties to Hopkinton.”

As such, the Boston Marathon has a prominent place in her childhood memories.

“It was nice to go up to the start line and see the people running off,” she recalled. “As a kid, I always admired them, but I wasn’t much of a long-distance runner, although I ran track in high school.”

It wasn’t until after she’d had children that she began doing longer and longer distances. She ran her first Boston Marathon in 2013 — the year of the finish line bombing.

“It was really scary,” she shared. “I didn’t stop running, but it kind of left a bad taste in my mouth about the whole race experience. Plus, I had kids who were growing up and other demands on my time.”

When her children were older and more self-sufficient, Tedstone found more time for running. She connected with a local club, Hopkinton Moms Run This Town, via Facebook.

“I’m not much of a group joiner, but I just decided to do it … and it was a hit,” Tedstone said happily. “I really enjoy running with all these ladies. We can relate.”

When some of the club members began training for the 2024 Boston Marathon, Tedstone found herself wanting to give it another go. Buoyed by her husband’s support and fellow runners’ encouragement, and inspired by the opportunity to give something back to an organization in her community, she decided, “It’s time, and I’m going to do it.”

She appreciates her running buddies even more now, and said it’s nice to share the mindset of working toward a goal and the understanding of what training requires. “We speak the same language,” Tedstone said.

She’s now doing 18-mile runs and is excited to keep going. She also hopes to reframe the marathon experience for

Jen Tedstone jumps for joy after finishing a long training run.

herself in Boston this year.

Focusing on her fundraising mission helps. She chose Canty’s Underdog Scholarship Fund (gofundme.com/f/ running-for-the-underdog) because of their mutual community ties.

“I wanted to support a local organization, and knew the family from growing up, so I was familiar with their story.”

Canty’s Underdog Scholarship Fund was established in honor of the late Brad Canty, Hopkinton High School class of 2018. Canty suffered gastrointestinal and immune issues that caused him to miss school and endure various hardships. Nonetheless, those who knew him recall a thoughtful, kind young man who would go out of his way to make someone else’s day better, in spite of his own struggles.

The purpose of the Canty scholarship is to recognize deserving students in town who display that same strength of character. The fund awards 10 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to qualified seniors headed to a post-secondary program.

Keane brings competitive spirit to race

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Danielle Keane’s first time running the Boston Marathon was memorable for all the wrong reasons. An unofficial runner in 2013, she had nearly made it to the finish line when the bombs went off on Boylston Street.

Keane returned to the race the following three years with a bib, running for different charities, and she is set to make her return this spring.

“Running the last couple of times was grueling, the training was hard and I had some difficult marathons, so it wasn’t as fun

for me,” she said.

But life’s challenges slowly brought Keane back to running. Over the past year, her father has battled cancer. So has her husband, Tom, the longtime boys basketball coach at Hopkinton High School.

“I started running for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shorter races,” Keane said.

The shorter races became a halfmarathon and, last November, Keane held an 8-minute-per-mile pace for the Boston Athletic Association halfmarathon on her father’s birthday.

“I had not done that pace in a long time,” she said. “So I started putting feelers out for a bib for the Boston Marathon.”

Keane found her match with the Hopkinton Education Foundation (hopkintoneducationfoundation.org), which provides grants for teachers and students to help develop and grow educational programming in Hopkinton. As a teacher and the wife of a teacher and coach, Keane jumped at the chance.

“When they asked if I would be interested, I didn’t think twice,” the Northbridge resident said. “Hopkinton provides excellent education for students, but this goes above and beyond that.”

But Keane said she doesn’t just want to finish the race, she is hoping to continue the improvement she has shown in her training.

“I am extremely competitive by nature,” Keane said. “In the spring, when I started going out for jogs, I was proud because it had been a good eight years since I had run at all, and I just started watching my pace go down.”

Keane runs with a group of friends who compete with her in the Falmouth

English shows dogged determination for Baypath

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

Jen English will run her first Boston Marathon in 2024 to support Baypath Humane Society, a nonprofit animal shelter in Hopkinton, “because the shelter rescued and connected me with my best friend!”

Born and raised in New Hampshire, English moved to Massachusetts in 2016 for a job after graduating college. In 2021, COVID required her to begin working from the home she shared with her sister, and, like many, they began to feel the effects of pandemic-induced isolation.

Her coworker at the time, Sandy Gittlen, volunteered at Baypath and began to send English information about animals in need of a home.

“She showed me a picture of a dog she thought would be perfect for my sister and me,” English recalled. It was an older canine that had been surrendered by her owners and suffered a lot of stress.

At first, the sisters were only going to foster, but they quickly became attached to the sweet, timid rescue and ended up adopting her. English named her Obi, after Obi-Wan Kenobi of “Star Wars.”

English and Obi have been together for three years now and “forged a bond I can’t even begin to describe,” she wrote on her fundraising page.

Per its website (www.baypathhumane.org), Baypath Humane Society is “dedicated to providing shelter, care, humane treatment and loving homes for stray or unwanted companion animals.” Fundraising is critical to support Baypath’s mission.

After adopting her dog, Obi, from Baypath Humane Society, Jen English will run the Boston Marathon to support the shelter.

“I had done a half-marathon in October, and at the end of that run, I’d thought, ‘I couldn’t imagine doing another 13.1 miles after that,’ ” English shared. “But then Sandy needed volunteers to take Baypath’s marathon bib.”

English started running cross country and track in seventh grade. A natural sprinter, she said she wasn’t into long distances right away, but she eventually made a good friend through longer runs and kept at it until she tore her anterior cruciate ligament in college.

After a long recovery, she began running again because “it’s a good way to get out, to not have distractions.” Still, she hadn’t set her sights on a full marathon until Gittlen — who has run Boston for Baypath herself — encouraged her to sign up.

Seeing firsthand the difference Baypath made for Obi was motivation to go the extra miles, so English will be at the start line April 15.

“I know it can be difficult to get a bib, so I feel privileged to be able to experience Boston,” she added. “There’s so much history, and it’s really meaningful.”

It’s a lesson on the power of love to heal and inspire — for both humans and humans’ best friends.

Watching Obi transform from a traumatized dog to a joyful one has been a wonderful thing to witness, English reflected, and “to go from thinking I might not walk properly again to doing the marathon has been pretty cool.”

Added English: “The biggest thing I’ve been learning through training and fundraising is the incredible resilience of body and mind that we have when we push our limits.”

Keane brings competitive spirit to race

Keane | from page 22

Road Race every summer, and the camaraderie has driven her to continue to lower her times. But Keane knows that the long and difficult terrain from Hopkinton to Boston and the unpredictability of mid-April New England weather is always a challenge.

“I do have a goal in mind,” she said. “But, having run it so many times, you just don’t know what the temperature is going to be on race day. You could be sick, you might have an injury, but I am trying to set a practical goal of under four hours.”

Training, she said, has been going

well, but she has bucked the normal trend of sticking to a step-by-step plan. Keane instead is focusing on logging enough miles and maintaining a pace that feels like one she will be able to maintain on race day.

And while Boston always is a challenge, the energy of the day is something that cannot be replicated during her training runs.

“I feel confident that I can do it on race day, because Boston is so magical,” Keane said. “You get out there and you’re so inspired by the spectators on the course and the other runners and the charities they are running for.”

Smith tackles first Boston for Friends of Hopkinton

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

Jen Smith will run the 2024 Boston Marathon to benefit the Friends of Hopkinton.

The mission of the local civic organization is “to provide community activities that encourage and support town spirit, enthusiasm and pride.” It holds annual family-friendly events that are open to the public.

Smith, a nurse anesthetist, said a patient got her connected with Friends of Hopkinton (friendsofhopkinton.org).

“Someone told her I was a runner, and she asked if I’d ever thought of running Boston,” Smith relayed. “I said, ‘Yeah, but the $10,000 price tag for charity runners is kind of daunting.’ She said Friends usually gets a bib, and would I be interested? And I said, ‘Of course!’ ”

A runner for more than 20 years, Smith started doing half-marathons in 2008. Her first full marathon was Chicago in 2022. The past two years, she also ran the Tough Ruck — a marathondistance race in which participants run wearing a ruck sack to honor our nation’s fallen service members. (“If you don’t get a tear in your eye during the opening ceremony, you’re heartless,” she declared.)

This will be her fourth full marathon, and first at Boston — or at least, the first in which she will race. The Medway resident grew up in Bellingham and has many fond memories of cheering on runners from across the reservoir.

“Ever since I was a little kid, my whole family would set up camp in Framingham and pass out oranges and water to the runners,” she recalled.

“My grandfather would bring a generator and set up a little black-and-white rabbit-eared TV so we could watch them cross the finish line — that was our ‘streaming’ back then.”

Smith wasn’t an athlete in high school, but she enjoyed running. She said she “took to organized races because the energy was kind of electric — it was a lot of fun running with other people.

“As the years went on, I started to run with friends, and we’d sign up for

Jen Smith grew up watching the Boston Marathon and has run other long-distance races, but this will be her first time running the iconic race.

races together. We wouldn’t necessarily run together, but we’d celebrate together at the end. So the camaraderie was fun.”

In fact, she enjoyed the experience so much, her husband was prompted to join her for Chicago in 2023.

“I guess I made it look like so much fun the year before — and I had a blast — so it convinced him he wanted to do it, too,” she said with a laugh.

“I think after this I might take a break from the intensity of marathon training … but who knows? I might just go and sign up for another one,” she added.

Smith said she’s honored to participate in Boston and to run for a local organization that is making an impact on Hopkinton’s residents. Her husband, son and daughter will be cheering her on, as she used to do with her grandfather.

She hopes her contribution moves others to get involved with the race.

“The Boston Marathon is not just a race, but a symbol of strength, determination and resilience,” she wrote on her fundraising page. “By crossing the finish line, I aim to inspire others to believe in their own abilities and to show that together, we can create positive change.”

Anderson steps up for Angel Fund

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

On April 15, Kiel Anderson will celebrate her birthday by running her first Boston Marathon, benefiting the Angel Fund for ALS Research. The Angel Fund (theangelfund.org) is a regional charity supporting work at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester. It keeps overhead and administrative costs low to focus on its mission: to fund research that will lead to better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for the baseball star who died from it in 1941). Locally, the Sharon Timlin Memorial Event, a road race and family day at Hopkinton High School scheduled this year for June 15, is a major fundraiser

for the organization.

“I’m very excited … and I feel so grateful to have been given this opportunity, to be able to [run Boston] for an amazing organization,” Anderson said.

Anderson has played sports and been a runner all her life, and she started doing half-marathons when she was in college at Stonehill. Although she’s been participating in long-distance races for the past 10 years, she said it’s still challenging.

“For me, it isn’t something that comes naturally,” she said. “And the challenge is very much mental.”

Anderson, an interior designer whose roots are in nearby Mansfield, said it’s “always been a bucket-list goal to do Boston.” Family members who live in Hopkinton and are active in the community connected her with The Angel Fund.

She said she’ll count the experience as a win regardless of her pace, “as long as I’m moving forward. For me, it’s not about being the fastest or anything like that — it’s about challenging myself to go out there, create a goal, and be able to achieve it.”

And, as she wrote on her fundraising page (secure.frontstream.com/angel-fund-team-als-boston-marathon-24/ participant/KielAnderson), it’s also “about standing in solidarity with those facing a daily battle against ALS.”

Anderson chose to support the Angel Fund because “ALS physically impacts people but doesn’t mentally affect them,” she explained. “It’s like being trapped in your body.”

ALS is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the motor neurons in the brain, causing increasingly debilitating Anderson | 25

Kiel Anderson will run her first Boston Marathon to support the Angel Fund for ALS Research.

Elite field: Chebet, Obiri back to defend titles

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

E

vans Chebet last year became the first runner to repeat as Boston Marathon champion since Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot almost two decades earlier. Now Chebet looks to match Cheruiyot’s mark of three straight wins from 2006-08.

Chebet heads to Hopkinton having won six of his last seven marathons.

“Boston has become like a second home to me, and running in Boston is always special — returning as reigning champion even more so,” the Kenyan speedster told the Boston Athletic Association. “Even after having run 28 marathons during my career, the chance to race the 29th in Boston and the fans there give me the motivation necessary to prepare to defend my title. I look forward to hitting the streets there this spring and hearing the enthusiastic crowds along the course.”

Leading challengers include Ethiopian Sisay Lemma, who ran the fourth-fastest marathon in history when he won last year’s Valencia Marathon in a blazing 2:01:48, Tanzanian Gabriel Geay, who has a lifetime best of 2:03:00, Kenyans Cybrian Kotut and John Korir, and Ethiopians Haftu Teklu and Shura Kitata.

Top Americans include Sam Chelanga, Elkanah Kibet, Matt McDonald and CJ Albertson, all of whom have run 2:10:07 or faster.

Anderson steps up

paralysis. The condition is especially traumatic because the patient remains very much aware as they gradually lose the ability to control their muscles or communicate — and, eventually, to swallow or breathe.

It’s something Anderson reflects on often as she trains for Boston.

“I’m grateful every day that I am physically able to do this,” she shared. “I want to make sure that people who are affected by ALS have the best resources to create the best life moving forward for them.”

There is no known cause and no remedy for ALS, and only limited treatment options for those suffering from the disease, which can strike regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. An estimated 30,000 Americans will die from ALS this year. Funding is crucial to advance research that continues to look for a cure.

Anderson is proud to do her part, and in April, she’ll exemplify the tagline on the Angel Fund website: “Stepping up to cure ALS.”

On the women’s side, after sprinting to a victory last year in 2:21:38, Kenyan Hellen Obiri is back to face a stellar field of competitors.

There are nine women who have logged a sub-2:20 marathon, led by Ethiopians Tadu Teshome, who ran a time of 2:17:36 at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, and Hiwot Gebremaryam, who posted 2:17:59 at Valencia in 2023. Kenyan Judith Korir’s resume includes a 2:18:20 at the 2022 Eugene Marathon.

American Des Linden, who won Boston in 2018, and Caroline Rotich, the 2015 champ, are part of the women’s field. Rotich, a native of Kenya who began representing the U.S. last fall, is coming off a sixth-place finish at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Also in the field is Sara Hall, who finished fifth in the U.S. Olympic trials, setting a national masters record of 2 hours, 26 minutes, 6 seconds, and fellow American Emma Bates, who posted a time of 2:22:10 at Boston last year.

In the wheelchair division, the leading women’s athletes are the defending champion, American Susannah Scaroni, along with Manuela Schar of Switzerland and Madison de Rozario of Australia. For the men, Marcel Hug of Switzerland set a course record of 1:17:06 in winning last year’s Boston. Canadian Joshua Cassidy and Americans Daniel Romanchuk and Aaron Pike are among the top contenders.

The female professional runners head out from Hopkinton in last year’s race.

Anderson | from page 24

‘Emotional drive’ propels Agostinelli to Boston

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Mark Agostinelli is quick to point out that while he certainly is an athlete, he is not a runner.

“I played college lacrosse years ago, and I think since then I had not run longer than three miles,” Agostinelli said. “I am not a runner, not a runner at all.”

The Hopkinton resident is a dedicated CrossFit athlete, however, and the spirit of having the world’s most famous race start in his hometown drove him to take the plunge and run his first Boston Marathon this year.

“I don’t think I’d be running the marathon if I didn’t like in town, but when you live in town and you bring your kids to the start line, you can’t help but see people and think, ‘If that guy can run it, I should try it at least once,’’ he said with a laugh.

Agostinelli is going to be running for the sport he loves, lacrosse, raising money for Hopkinton Boys Youth Lacrosse (hoplax.com/donate-to-mark).

member for Hopkinton Youth Lacrosse, and I love being a part of it. I am very passionate about lacrosse.”

“Raising money for the charity is awesome,” he said. “I am a board

After the program asked around for about a week in search of a runner, Agostinelli said he realized this was his chance to run Boston and do so for a

Local races: Hoyt Memorial, Timlin Event on tap

Rick and Dick Hoyt are gone, but their memory lives on in Hopkinton. In addition to the bronze statue of the duo in front of the former Center School that was unveiled in 2013, a new street downtown was named Hoyt Way two years ago.

Another tribute that started last year was a road race through town. Now back for its second go-round on May 25, the Team Hoyt Memorial Yes You Can Run Together Road Race (teamhoyt.com) features a 5-mile race — with an accom-

panying 2-mile walk — to recognize the distance of the first-ever race Rick and Dick competed in together.

The Hoyts went on to compete in more than 1,000 endurance events and 32 Boston Marathons, with Dick pushing a wheelchair holding Rick, his son, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth.

The Team Hoyt race starts and ends at Marathon School, where Rick visited last May, just days before he passed away at the age of 61. Dick died in 2021 at the age of 80.

“We wanted it to be somewhere that represented our family and everything

Mark Agostinelli, shown with his family, is attempting his first Boston Marathon this year.

Runners take off from Marathon School at the start of the Team Hoyt Memorial Road

cause that he really cares about.

“The emotional drive is there from the charity standpoint,” he said. “I am definitely happy to be helping Hopkinton Youth Lacrosse. I feel like that game has given me life so much, this is like I am giving back to the game.”

Agostinelli has had good days and bad through his training. Traveling for work adds another wrinkle into the mix, but he has been able to run with a Hopkinton moms group where he is the only male. Starting out in a new endeavor, he said the women’s support has been an incredible resource to aid in his training as he ramped up his mileage and prepared for the big day.

“I think there is going to be a ton of adrenaline and some nervousness, and just overall excitement,” Agostinelli said of his expectations for race day.

He said he has felt the nerves every Friday evening before his Saturday long runs and imagines the feeling will be amplified on the day of the actual race. But there is also going to be a tremendous amount of energy with the crowds lining the course and friends and family watching him along the way.

Both the start in his hometown and the finish in Kenmore Square are going to be memorable, he said.

“I will admit, I am most excited about getting to the finish line and seeing my kids, coming down Boylston Street and knowing my family is going to be on the other end of that line,” Agostinelli said. “I think that’s probably the thing that is going to motivate me when the grind gets real.”

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Nick Brown is back for a second straight year running the Boston Marathon, and the Hopkinton resident is hopeful that his experience from a year ago will make the day even better the second time around.

“I don’t know if it is going to be any easier physically, but the mental side of it will be a little bit easier to bear,” Brown said. “I am comfortable with what is coming in terms of the physical aspect of it. It’s just a matter of showing up.”

Brown admits to being a little bit “nervous and anxious” when gearing up to run the 26.2 miles from East Main Street in Hopkinton to Boylston Street in Boston. But this year, he has an expectation of where he is going to stop for water or food and what to expect from the challenging course.

He also has the benefit, once again, of running for a charity that has a direct impact on his family and his community. Brown ran for the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation last year. This year, he will be lacing up his running shoes for Hopkinton Girls Youth Lacrosse.

“My oldest daughter, Kaleigh, plays lacrosse here in town. I knew they were looking for a runner, and I reached out proactively,” Brown said. “I got a call early this year and, in the back of my mind, it didn’t take very long to say, ‘Of course, yes.’’

Some of the other nonprofits in the area can struggle with awareness, Brown said, but many families have a child or multiple children who play lacrosse. It was a similar situation last year with the library.

“Everybody I know uses the library,” Brown said. “With both of these organizations, you are directly impacted, you know the people using those organizations one way or another. It’s nice being able to have it be tangible like that.”

Brown stuck to a strict training regimen last year. He had

Local races: Hoyt Memorial, Timlin on tap

that has gone on with their racing career,” said Russ Hoyt, Rick’s brother, in a Hopkinton Independent story last year. “It just made sense that it was going to be in Hopkinton.”

Race proceeds benefit Team Hoyt and its mission to increase access to athletics for people with disabilities.

“It’s all about trying to give individuals with disabilities the same opportunities to participate that Rick had,” Russ Hoyt said.

Also worth noting are the efforts of Rick’s mother, Judy, who was instrumental in helping get laws passed to allow individuals with disabilities to be educated in public schools.

Timlin 5K returns in June

Another road running tradition in Hopkinton is the Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K: A Race to Cure ALS. This year’s race, the 21st edition, is June 15 at Hopkinton High School.

The event includes a kids color run and a family fun day, with activities, food, raffles and opportunities to meet former Boston Red Sox players.

The race (sharontimlinrace.org) started in 2004 and is named in honor of former Red Sox pitcher Mike Timlin’s mother, who was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2002 and died less than a year later.

Proceeds go to the Angel Fund, an independent, nonprofit charity that supports ALS research at UMass Chan Medical School.

On a related note, the Hopkinton Running Club’s Couch to 5K program, which began April 7, is a 10-week training program that concludes with the Timlin 5K. Other popular races in town include four fall favorites. Michael’s Run is held at the Town Common to benefit the Michael Lisnow Respite Center. The Hopkinton Center for the Arts hosts the Wicked 5K to cap its Halloween weekend festivities. Then there are two dog-themed runs: the Baypath Humane Society’s Paws & Claws 5K at Hopkinton State Park, and the Metrowest K9 5K at the YMCA Outdoor Center.

run a number of half-marathons, but he needed to get used to doubling up the mileage by the time race day rolled around.

“The training weather last year was really accommodating. We had pretty mild mornings and a relatively mild winter overall, so you could train and get the long runs in,” Brown said. “This year it’s different. It’s colder. I have pushed my morning schedule back to get runs in mid-morning instead of first thing in the morning.”

As the 2023 marathon approached, Brown said it felt daunting as he frequently checked the weather reports and calculated whether he might be out on the course when rain started rolling through. But he did have the benefit of starting the race in his hometown and having the privilege of avoiding the elements before the start by relaxing in one of the middle school gyms.

The weather ended up being good for running.

“It was in the mid-to-high 40s, and you could start off in shorts and a T-shirt and know you were going to warm up fast,” Brown said. “It was a fun day.”

It’s anyone’s guess what the weather will be this time around, but Brown is feeling more confident as he prepares to take on the challenge for a second time, with Kaleigh, his son, Will, and wife, Alison, in his corner.

“It’s still grueling,” he said. “But it’s less of a mental block, and I feel more comfortable knowing what I am going to be facing.”

Local races | from page 26

Nick Brown, shown with his family at the Town Common, is looking forward to his second Boston Marathon, having learned what to expect following his debut last year.

The longer the road, the greater the glory

You’ve been pushing your way through pain for months, building your endurance so you’re ready for the race. And this year, it was harder than ever to qualify so the challenge was even greater.

As we celebrate a century as the official starting place of the Boston Marathon, we pay tribute to the strength and sacrifice it takes to get here...and we’re cheering you on!

We’re not just in your neighborhood, we’re your neighbor.

Hopkinton. Where runners come to test their limits since 1924.