4-17-2018

MARATHON ISSUE

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Desiree Linden celebrates coming in first in the women’s division of the 2018 Boston Marathon.

YEAR XLVI. VOLUME XCIV. ISSUE XIII PHOTO BY JACQUELINE YI ZHOU/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Superfans get super drenched PDP trains marathoners

BY MICHELLE SHVIMER DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Boston Marathon, an annual tradition since 1897, rightfully attracts its very own superfans — many of whom show up to the course hours in advance, no matter the weather, to root for their favorite runners with enthusiastic cheers and homemade signs.

This year, the Marathon brought out nearly 30,000 runners and many more spectators, despite it being the coldest one in 30 years.

Robert Grey, 70, ran the Marathon almost every year from 1973–1982 and ran a couple of marathons after that, as well. He has attended 37 of the past 40 Boston Marathons, making him, what some might call, a superfan.

“If you’re out here in this weather, you must be a superfan,”

Grey said, as he pulled the hood of his raincoat over his face.

Rain downpoured on spectators during Monday’s race as they cheered for runners across the 26.2 mile stretch.

“Back in my day, I knew all the runners because I was so involved in the sport,” Grey said. “Nowadays, I know a few.”

Superfans like Grey, who discovered he fell into that category after recalling his decades worth of Boston Marathon knowledge, convey the most enthusiastic energy at the race, come rain or shine.

“We don’t know the people like we once did,” Grey said. “Once upon a time, when we watched from here, we could call them all out by name: ‘Hey Joe! Hey Mike!

Hey Sam!’” The fans and the runners have

a reciprocal relationship — runners excite the fans and the fans motivate the runners, he explained.

Before the race started, Shalane Flanagan, who finished sixth in the women’s race, tweeted, “Thank you in advance to all the volunteers who will be braving this weather today. The Runners really appreciate your help.”

Pat Carr, 64, is another longtime supporter of the Boston Marathon who has been coming to watch the race since 1973.

“We’re definitely superfans,” Carr said. “I mean we don’t know anyone who plays in any of those baseball games, but we know all the runners here.”

Carr, a Brookline native, is not just a superfan. She also ran the marathon when she was 59- and 60-years-old.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

BY SOPHIA BROWN

DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston University students of all experience levels have credited much of their success in training for races like the Boston Marathon to the Marathon Training class the university offers for credit.

The class usually meets once a week and includes exercises on indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as discussions on proper running gear and nutrition, participating students said. This semester marks the first in the last nine years that the class is not being held, due to low enrollment.

Rachel Poppe, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said experience levels varied widely among the people who signed up for the class when she took it last semester.

“Some people were a little more casual, some people were actually training for races, some people had already run marathons and were just crazy good,” Poppe said.

Poppe said she ran a marathon in December that was “super intense” and “the hardest thing [she’d] ever done,” but that the opportunity to connect with other runners in the class helped her prepare.

Hannah Giffune, a junior in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, said she used the class last semester to augment her training for the Millinocket Marathon, which she ran last December in Millinocket, Maine. The Millinocket Marathon is a qualifying marathon for the Boston Marathon.

Giffune said that for her, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS

Running for food: Marathoners’ strides convert to meals

BY JENNA MANTO

DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Stepping up to the challenge, runners at the Boston Marathon this year will be feeding malnourished children across the world via how many strides they take during the race.

In an effort to feed malnourished children through their Readyto-Use Therapeutic Food packets, UNICEF Kid Power partnered with John Hancock, a longtime sponsor of the Boston Marathon, for this year’s race. The goal was to implement Kid Power, a program which encourages kids to be active by “converting” the number of steps they take into nutrition for the food insecure, and adapt it for the number of steps marathoners took on Monday.

With over 30,000 runners in Monday’s race, UNICEF estimates that over 1.65 billion steps will be taken, which will supply over 500 children with peanut-based paste packets, according to a press release from UNICEF. Each runner’s steps will convert to around 2.3 packets, according to the release. The packets, also known as “miracle food,” which don’t need to be refrigerated or administered in a hospital, deliver nutrients that “help kids go from severely ill to healthy to growing over the course of 30 days.”

Matthew Bane, the Boston managing director of UNICEF, said the program aims to encourage children and their parents to get active and help others around the world gain

Runners make their way down Boylston Street in the rain on Monday.

access to proper nutrition. As the city sponsor, John Hancock will provide most of the funding this year for children participating from Boston Public Schools, Bane said.

Bane said about 4,200 kids are currently participating in the program, which runs until the end of May. “I’ve ran the marathon twice and I ran it both times for Kid Power,” Bane said. “… knowing that you’re doing something for those kids is very helpful when you’re doing your training and you’re running on horrible days like [Monday], knowing that you are making an impact that’s beyond

your own personal reasons for doing the race is really powerful.”

Greg Muse, 55, of Flower Mound, Texas, a participant in this year’s Boston Marathon, said UNICEF’s program will motivate him to run.

“Anything we can do to kind of take that and make it good for somebody else, I think that’s awesome,” Muse said. “… knowing that [this program is] out there and they’re going to be counting my steps essentially tomorrow, then maybe I’ll take a lot more steps.”

Megan Elias, director of the gastronomy program at Boston University, said this type of program,

PHOTO BY RACHEL SHARPLES/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

one that encourages runners to raise money for a cause, stems from when running became an activity average Americans participated in during the early 1970s.

“It then becomes a way to raise money for people who are seen as less fortunate, that the runners are kind of the privileged, that they’re privileged to be able to take time off to train and to train and then to raise money for people who are not in that kind of position,” Elias said.

Richard Wamai, a professor of Cultures, Societies and Global Studies at Northeastern University, said this is a great partnership between the

runners and UNICEF, as nutrition is an issue for many countries, even the United States.

“I think every opportunity … to promote and champion the cause of [the] global nutritional conundrum is welcome, is positive,” Wamai said.

“People need to know about it, people need to know that many, many children die every year.”

A marathon runner from Ottawa, Canada said those fortunate enough to run in a marathon should be giving back to those who need it.

“If you’re in a situation where you can train and where you’re not so exhausted at the end of the day from your regular life that you have extra energy to burn and extra calories to burn, that that means you’re in a position that very few people are lucky enough to be,” Mark Sutcliffe, 49, said.

The Boston Marathon is an ideal excuse to help those in need because many participants are already running for causes, Rose Arciero, 50, of Ontario, Canada, said. As a participant in this year’s race, she said running a marathon is a physical challenge in itself, and the addition of another “challenge” is a great way to up the incentive.

“It’s like I’m doing this, but somebody else can’t do it, so that’s why I think it’s fantastic because it gives inspiration to people that struggle to see, ‘well, maybe I can do this too one day with just a little bit of help,’” Arciero said.

Prospective marathoners look to PDP Fans take to the streets TRAINING, FROM PAGE 1 most helpful thing about the class was that it forced her to push herself in a way that running by herself would not have.

“People make me run faster,” Giffune said. “I’m inherently a show off, so if there’s other people around, I’ll run faster than I will if I’m alone.”

Because marathon training usually requires running four or five days a week, Giffune said, the oncea-week class could not encompass all her training. However, she said that having the opportunity to ask questions and receive advice, especially regarding what to wear for her winter marathon, was particularly beneficial.

Poppe, like Giffune, said the most helpful aspect of the class for her was being in a group setting, as it pushed her to keep up with her training.

“It helps keep you on track and keeps you true to your schedule, because then you know if you’re not running you’ll be falling behind everybody else,” Poppe said. “You’re like ‘Oh man, I’ve got to stay on it.’”

Poppe said that as someone who was accustomed to running alone, running with a group of people forced her to change her pacing, which she said helped her in her training.

Giffune said that in addition to the physical benefits of the class, it also functioned as a support group, which she found particularly helpful during the long and grueling process of training for a marathon.

“You really get to a point in marathon training where everything’s breaking down and it’s hard to keep going and you need as much support as you can,” Giffune said.

Priya Krishnamoorthy, a current graduate student in the Arts

PHOTO BY HANNAH ROGERS/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Runners jog around the indoor track in FitRec.

Administration program of the Metropolitan College, said she joined the marathon training class last semester in the hopes of finding a Boston running community and learning more about the process of running.

In India, Krishnamoorthy said, her running coach had taught her to adopt a scientific approach to running, which she said she greatly enjoyed.

“With everything that we did, there was a reason for why we did it, so that helped me build on my skill as a runner,” she said. “I really enjoyed the process, because it was also the science of running that … made the process more rewarding for me as a runner.”

Krishnamoorthy said she did not find the same attention to science and process in the marathon training class, which she attributed to cultural differences. In India, she said, running was more often done under doctor’s orders, while in the United States it seemed to her that physical exercise was a part of people’s everyday life. “[In India] I was a runner with challenges, and therefore there was

this whole process of understanding how it works and getting into it and then understanding my body and all of that,” Krishnamoorthy said. “Here it was more, ‘OK, we all understand our bodies,’ and we just start running.”

Despite the significant cultural differences, Krishnamoorthy said she did end up learning a lot in the class, although not necessarily about the science of running. She was advised to cross-train with yoga, which she said she found incredibly helpful, as it was similar to the warm-up and cool-down exercises that runners tend to use.

Krishnamoorthy also said she got a lot of good tips about the proper clothing to wear for running in Boston, where the weather is very different from what Krishnamoorthy was used to in India.

Overall, she said, the class was enjoyable and a great learning experience.

“There was a reason to get up in the morning, and you knew today that you would explore a different side of the city,” Krishnamoorthy said.

SUPERFANS, FROM PAGE 1 “I ran as a charity runner, and if you train, you can do it,” Carr said. “I dedicated years of training, and once you do it, it’s so thrilling.”

Other superfans held up motivational signs to support the runners: “Wicked hard, but you got this,” “Your mom is so proud,” “Energy Hi-Fives Here” and the classic phrase, “Boston Strong,” which became a popular saying of solidarity after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, were all scattered on signs around the race course.

Some fans took the opportunity to make the race political.

Spectators held signs that stated “You run better than our government” and “Run as if Trump was trying to grab your p***y.”

Dedicated fans of the Boston Marathon are not just limited to runners and Boston natives. All Massachusetts public schools had off for Patriots Day, giving families the opportunity to watch or participate in the race.

Additionally, with Boston being a college city, Marathon Monday has become a tradition for local college students as well.

T.K. Skenderian, director of communications for the Boston Athletic Association, wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press that some of the best fans of the race are Boston University students themselves.

While Boston University had the day off for Patriots Day and the marathon, some colleges, like Harvard University, were still in session.

Harvard freshman Iris Lewis, however, still made time to attend the race.

Lewis, 18, said she had followed the Boston Marathon for years through live tweets and updates, but

this was her first time getting the opportunity to watch it from Boston.

Lewis, who observed the race from just beyond the 25-mile marker in Kenmore Square, said she thought it was incredible to finally see the race in-person.

“I’ve been to a lot of running events before, but this is a different level,” Lewis said. “This is one of the world’s major marathons and to see Desiree Linden win meant so much for women in the running scene right now.”

Lewis was a distance runner in high school and maintained her dedication and fandom for the sport in college, to the point that she is training for her first marathon in May. “Seeing these runners that I cared about so much competing at the highest level always meant a lot,” she said.

Brian Christensen, 31, of Dorchester, said although he didn’t make it outside to watch the marathon until the late afternoon, he still considers himself a superfan.

“I get to be there to witness these people’s crazy dreams coming true,” he said. “I’m here at Mile 25 to tell them that this is the final stretch … remind them of how far they’ve come and that they can do this.”

Christensen, who watched the race from Kenmore Square, held a sign that read “One mile to go! You got this!”

“It’s cool to see the really fast runners come through, but they’re expected to finish and do well,” Christensen said. “What’s really cool to see, though, is these people coming in at the end who you can really help motivate them to finish by cheering your heart out for them and making signs and doing all the things a good superfan should do.”

NEWS 3

Students and staff represent BU in Boston Marathon

BY LILLIAN ILSLEY-GREENE

PHOTO BY VIVIAN MYRON/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Rachel McLean, a senior in Boston University’s College of Communication, ran her second Boston Marathon in three years on Monday. As she prepared to compete this year, raising money for the KeepSmilin4Abbie Foundation, the cause is close to home.

McLean grew up in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the starting point of Monday’s marathon. As a junior in high school, she lost a friend and member of her field hockey team, Abbie Benford, to anaphylaxis.

Benford was 15 years old.

“I wasn’t planning on running Boston again. But then I was contacted by [Abbie’s father] Stephen Benford,” McLean said.

KeepSmilin4Abbie aims to educate people about the dangers of anaphylaxis and ultimately find a way to prevent it from occurring altogether.

Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock,

lenge. Preparing himself to be ready for Monday’s race has been a process months-long process, but at this point, he is ready for the challenge, he said.

“Physically it's always difficult, but I think mentally you have to really grind it out,” DePalma said.

“That's another reason why I like it.

It's a challenge. It kind of keeps you focused. I think that's the most challenging part.”

DePalma, a native of Southbury, Connecticut, grew up not being fully aware of the magnitude of the Boston Marathon. In his time at BU, he has found it to be something important to the BU community and the running community. That, he said, was a part of what compelled him to run.

“It goes right through campus,” DePalma said. “[It’s important] not just for the city of Boston but for the

running community in general around the world. I think just being a part of that community of runners and getting to experience that is really what I'm looking forward to the most.”

DePalma is a seasoned runner, but he said he thinks marathons are for anybody ready to dedicate themselves to a goal, even one as daunting as running just over 26 miles.

“If you've never run before, I don't think it's the first step, but … I don't think it's too daunting for anyone,” DePalma said.

An exciting part of running for DePalma is the challenge to get to the finish line. Determination and drive are the keys to finishing the race.

“If you put your mind to it, you're committed,” DePalma said. “It's a great thing to go out and try to accomplish.”

DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Rachel McLean

When Samuel DePalma entered BU’s College of Engineering as a freshman, it was his goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon before he graduated. Four years later, as a senior, he’s done just that.

DePalma is a former president of BU’s Running Club and has competed with the club in races for the last several years. In October of 2016, DePalma completed the Hartford Marathon in two hours, 55 minutes, allowing him to qualify for the Boston Marathon. He completed Monday’s race in two hours, 59 minutes.

“I'm kind of competing with [the Running Club],” DePalma said. “‘We don't have an official marathon team or anything, but I feel like I'm representing them.”

DePalma started running in college because he relished the chal-

Jackie Cummings

This year, Cecilia Yudin competed in the Boston Marathon to try to put an end to homelessness.

Yudin has been the assistant director to the Undergraduate Academic and Career Development Center at the Questrom School of Business for four years. She has run both the Chicago and New York City marathons, but after 13 years in Boston, this is her first Boston Marathon.

“I came to BU originally for an undergraduate [degree] in CFA, so when I no longer did that as a career, I had all this energy that I didn't really know what to do with, and marathons are kind of a way to focus that,” Yudin said. “More importantly, you set these goals which is this amazing way to test yourself and accomplish things.”

Yudin said running is selfish, in a

PHOTO BY MAGGIE LEONE/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Monday marked Jacqueline Cummings’ first marathon.

Cummings works as an admission and financial aid counselor in the College of Communication.

She found her way to the Boston Ma rathon th roug h friends and the Museum of Science in Boston.

Cummings has been raising money and training through the Museum of Science’s participation in the Marathon Coalition.

As of Friday, she is close to her goal of raising $7,500 for science research. Overall, Cummings estimates that over $100,000 has been raised for the Museum.

The community aspect of

sense. It’s the only thing she truly does for herself. But running for a cause, she said, makes training and participating in the race more communal. This way, it feels as if her family and friends are working with her, too, she said.

Yudin ran for FamilyAid Boston, a charity that supports homeless families in the Boston area. The team of just a few runners this year has raised over $104,000 for the organization.

Yudin herself raised just over $9,000, surpassing her original goal of $7,500.

“I've lived in Boston for 13 years now and homelessness has become so much more of an issue,” Yudin said. “These people are my neighbors. They're Bostonians, so I really wanted to help.”

This was Yudin’s second time training for a marathon — she

intended to run for a team in 2014, but she broke her foot. The experience of training, she said, has been a teaching moment for her.

“I think that's what training for a marathon teaches me. It just teaches me how to set a goal and commit to it, because you have to.

I have to do these long runs or else I'm physically not going to be able to run this marathon.”

Yudin has been a spectator, a volunteer aid and now a runner in the annual Boston race. She said Monday’s marathon is an integral part of the Boston experience.

“Only Boston celebrates the Boston Marathon. On that one day, no matter where you are in the world, it's Boston Marathon day,” Yudin said.

is a type of extreme allergic reaction to food or environment.

“One of the big things that my fundraising for the marathon is going toward is an early detector device for anaphylaxis. The foundation is partnering with the Wyss Institute at Harvard University to produce Project ABBIE, which is a wearable device for detecting anaphylaxis,” McLean said.

McLean raised $4,500 for KeepSmilin4Abbie.

In high school, McLean ran an 11-minute mile. She would often talk about running the Boston Marathon, but her peers did not believe her, she said. On Monday, she finished the race in four hours, 29 minutes. She credits this feat to joining the cross country team in her senior year of high school. She is proof, she said, that anyone can do it.

“I proved those people wrong,”

McLean said. “I am a lazy person … and you just have to push yourself.

And if you think you can do it, you can do it.”

For McLean, running is a mental sport. When she ran the Charleston Marathon, she struggled with the lack of community support. This is not a problem in Boston, she said.

“There are certain parts along the route that you really expect people, like the ‘scream tunnel’ … It’s just like a bunch of women standing along the route with signs, and they’re yelling and cheering you on and it’s so fun and incredible,” McLean said. “Then, of course, when you’re coming through Kenmore there’s so many people you can’t even see faces.”

McLean said the support runners find at the race is incredible.

“There’s nothing like being supported by a whole state of people,” she said.

Sam DePalma

PHOTO BY JACQUELINE YI ZHOU/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

training for such a challenging athletic enterprise was one of the most enjoyable parts of the process, Cummings said.

“Ever y Saturday morning, I would wake up and go train, and it was just a lot of fun,” Cummings said. “It's nice to have a group of people that are running in the middle of February, and it's freezing cold outside, it's like seven in the morning, and you have to run 15 miles. So that was a really, really good part of the experience.”

Like many others, Cummings said that running the Boston Marathon has been a life-long goal for her.

“I’ve always wanted to do it.”

Cummings said. “I've lived in Boston and Massachusetts my whole life, so it's been a goal, and I've done a couple half marathons at this point so I’m really excited to do a full one.”

Cummings said she may not participate in the marathon again after Monday’s race.

Running 26 miles in one day is a daunting task and she said she does not know if she will be ready again. For Cummings, accomplishing the feat once may be enough.

“You can say you're a Boston Marathon finisher for the rest of your life,” Cummings said.

Cecilia Yudin

PHOTO BY VIOLET GIDDINGS/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

4 FEATURES

ARTS

REVIEW: ‘Boston’ shares inspiring look at city’s biggest day

BY ALLEGRA PEELOR DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Five years ago, the Boston Marathon bombing became one of the most shocking tragedies in the United States’ recent history. But instead of wallowing in sorrow, the city bounced back and made 2014’s marathon one to remember.

That’s the message behind “Boston,” a new documentary from director Jon Dunham, narrated by Matt Damon, that follows the city’s journey to the 2014 marathon while tracing the race’s fascinating history.

The film intersperses real historical footage from past marathons with interviews with dozens of organizers, runners and spectators, making it a fascinating watch.

The best part of the film is how it seamlessly transitions between modern-day footage leading up to the 2014 race and historical footage, including interviews with previous champions and historians. It becomes obvious from the very beginning that the marathon is Boston’s biggest annual event and part of the reason why it’s such a famous city.

As college students, those of us who aren’t from Boston probably don’t know a lot about the city’s history, much less the history of the marathon, but it was fun to learn about Bostonians who became celebrities by winning the marathon multiple times and seeing how the race course has changed over the years, up until its current course which goes through eight cities.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL J. LUTCH

The start of the 2014 Boston Marathon. “Boston,” a new documentary, follows the planning of the 2014 Marathon in the wake of the Boston bombing.

We usually just think about the end of the race, the part that goes through Brookline and Kenmore Square and ends at Copley Square, but the entire 26.2 mile course actually covers a lot more of Greater Boston than one might think.

The filmmakers did a great job covering details about the race that nobody else would have thought to talk about, from looking at the uncomfortable shoes runners wore in the early 20th century to going out early in the morning and interviewing the workers who repainted the

finish line. It’s details like these that make the biggest impact and show that the producers worked hard to include as many facets of the race as possible.

One thing that becomes painfully obvious early in the movie is how white and male Boston Marathon runners have historically been.

At one point, the movie shifts focus to talk about Bobbi Gibb and Kathrine Switzer, two of the first women to finish the race. This part was inspirational, to be sure, but it still did not feel like enough com-

pensation for all the white men being interviewed.

This is not the filmmakers’ fault, though, since women were not officially allowed in the race until 1972, and there were 75 marathons before that to cover, with 75 male winners.

Another aspect that felt a bit off was a few minutes where the film focused on a running group for indigenous Australians started by a previous Boston Marathon champion. This part felt out of place and irrelevant to the rest of the story, only tangentially related to the charitable

aspect of the race, and a strange way to incorporate more people of color.

It was still interesting, though, and seeing the Australian outback was a nice break from footage of Boston.

The best part of “Boston” is the focus on the planning for 2014’s marathon. The producers interviewed a few survivors and included footage of the 2013 bombing.

The storytelling in this section is fantastic. The producers weave together a few different people’s narratives of what happened in 2013 to paint a picture of what it was like to be at various points in the race. They even got footage of one runner who was almost to the finish line when the first bomb went off, and his narrative of what happened overlays the video, making for a very powerful scene.

Instead of focusing on how tragic the 2013 events were, the movie quickly but respectfully shifts focus to preparations for the 2014 race.

Instead of creating a somber tone, the film turns wound up being educational as we follow the race organizer, police commissioner and other volunteers who helped make the success of 2014’s race possible.

As a college student who didn’t know a lot about the history of the Boston Marathon before coming here for college, watching “Boston” taught me what makes the marathon so special and gave me a newfound sense of pride in and love for this city that can seem cold and unwelcoming at times.

SCIENCE

Runner raises thousands for Museum of Science programs

BY EDUARD MISKA DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Behind every runner is a reason.

For Rudy Ruggles, it was a quest to support a cause and fulfill a dream that was taken away from him five years ago when he was stricken with appendicitis. His journey began with training for 2013’s Boston Marathon.

Ruggles’ illness left him unable to compete in the marathon, a seemingly unlucky occurrence that would ultimately shield him from tragedy.

But this year, he’s set to run. A volunteer and overseer with Boston’s

Museum of Science, Ruggles, 52, decided to fundraise for the museum for this year’s marathon.

“It really was about raising money for the museum, not just because I wanted to run the Boston Marathon for [a cause],” he said.

Ruggles reached far beyond expectations, raising more than $16,000, making him the team’s second-largest fundraiser. In total, the team has raised more than $150,000. “[The fundraising] is actually for one particular program that the museum focuses on for the marathon,

and it’s called ‘Traveling Programs.’”

“Traveling Programs” is a sector of the museum that aims to expand its offerings beyond the building by bringing exhibits to schools, libraries and community centers.

Ruggles said the program benefits students who can’t access the Museum of Science itself.

“For the kids who can’t afford to, or their schools can’t afford to, or are very far away and can’t get to the museum themselves, it is a great way for the museum curriculum to get out to them.”

PHOTO BY FELIX PHILLIPS/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Museum of Science in Boston. Rudy Ruggles raised more than $16,000 for the museum.

The Museum of Science’s marathon team, which consists of 20 members, is part of the larger “Marathon Coalition” group, composed of 23 Boston-area nonprofits.

The Museum of Science team began training in November.

“We have a coach who works with all of us. We have team runs on Saturday[s],” Ruggles said.

Prior to November, Ruggles said, his training consisted of the occasional run, as opposed to any organized regimen. For Ruggles, proper training hasn’t been easy.

“The hardest part is just keeping my body injury-free or [injury] minimized, making sure I keep the flexibility, keep the resilience and don’t try to do what the 20- and 30-yearolds can do,” Ruggles said.

His cross-training included martial arts and stretching.

“I do some martial art called Aikido, which I continued to do for most of the training. And then also, occasionally, yoga or stretching or that sort of thing,” Ruggles said.

The support he’s received from his broader social network has been amazing, Ruggles said.

“I sent out a fundraising appeal to a very broad network of people I know, have known, over the years,” Ruggles said. “It’s amazing how many people have been so supportive financially as well as [in] sending good wishes.”

One of those people is fellow Museum of Science overseer, volunteer and marathon running enthusiast Chinh Pham. Although he won’t be running this year’s Boston Marathon, having opted for the London Marathon instead, Pham has still been training with the team.

Pham thinks Ruggles will achieve his goal come Marathon Monday.

“I think, based on what I’m seeing, he’s gonna be ready. He’s gonna be able to complete,” Pham said. “In his eyes … it looks like he is going to conquer Boston with ease.”

When asked if he had any advice to give Ruggles, Pham said, “When you say you are going to run a marathon, especially Boston, everyone becomes your coach because everyone will give you advice which you may not need.”

Nonetheless, Pham did have some classic advice to share with Ruggles and other runners.

“In general, Boston is a very technical course. The advice has always been to be very conservative at the beginning of the run because it’s mostly downhill,” he said.

Ruggles isn’t quite sure what his Monday holds after crossing the finish line at Copley Square.

“We’ll see,” Ruggles said. “I think I’ll probably be pretty exhausted but pretty happy that evening, so I think it will be low-key.”

COMMUNITY

FEATURES 5

‘Half Half Half Half Half Marathon’ raises money for students

BY SAMANTHA DRYSDALE DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Runners gathered to participate in a time-honored physical competition deeply embedded in their Boston roots Thursday night on the Boston Common.

“On your mark, get set, GO!” They were off, barreling down the park’s walkway, none of them bothering to pace themselves as they sprinted to complete the .826 mile race.

The Half Half Half Half Half Marathon was fundraising money for 826 Boston, a nonprofit that works to teach and provide opportunities for students in underserved communities by giving them chances to write and publish their work.

The nonprofit predominantly works with youth in the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester and Jamaica Plain. Volunteers aid in after school programs, work as writing tutors and help publish student work in professionally designed collections.

More than 130 runners participated Thursday, and through fundraising leading up to the event, 826 Boston raised more than $29,500 for free youth writing and tutoring programs.

The Half Half Half Half Half Marathon was created last year through a partnership with a marketing agency. Carly Barnhardt, marketing and events specialist at 826

PHOTO BY MADHAV KOHLI/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Participants run in the “Half Half Half Half Half Marathon” on April 12. The annual event aimed to raise money for student writing and publishing in Boston.

Boston, was in charge of organizing the mini-marathon this year.

She originally brainstormed the .826 mile race while reflecting on her own running capabilities.

“I thought I couldn’t run a marathon, but maybe I could run a half… a half… a half… a half… a half marathon,” Barnhardt said. “It was so close to 826 that we thought we might as well do a .826 marathon. I think it really captures our whimsy really well.”

Many runners fundraised thousands of dollars before taking their places at the starting line. They proudly wore their bright yellow headbands throughout the event, but apart from that, the dress code was fairly loose. Some were decked out in Nike attire while others wore jeans and skateboarded the course.

Jessica Drench, executive director of 826 Boston, said her organization always aims to plan events in the best interest of the students.

“All of us share the mission of amplifying student voices,” Drench said. “We have a lot of fun in our programs with students. We really value creativity. It is part of our work. This event brings adults into the fun and raises money for our programs that are free and recruits new volunteers.”

The average runner took about five to six minutes to complete the course that circled around the Boston Common. The applause was thunderous as racers crossed the fin-

ish line.

Jessica Eaton is a former volunteer at 826 Boston and helped to organize the Half Half Half Half Half Marathon last year. She showed her support by running with friends and family this year.

“It definitely brings the community together because the way it ties into the Boston Marathon is so special, and I think it’s great that they play into that,” Eaton said.

After the race, a small awards ceremony honored both top fundraisers and racers. Winning teams and participants won gift cards for fitness classes, restaurants and movie theaters.

Karen Sama, K-8 program director at 826 Boston, announced the awards. After the team “The Big Foot Bounders” won Top Fundraising Team, she proclaimed, “We’re bound together by our love of children and writing.”

The third place finisher was Ricardo Palau, a senior in Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. After signing up at the last minute, Palau was in for a surprise about the race.

“I transferred here in 2016 and used to play tennis, and I run more,” Palau said. “Since I came here I haven’t done as much, so I saw this event on Facebook, and I thought it was a half marathon, and I came here and realized it was not. But I still thought it was cool to do something like this.”

BUSINESS

Bedgear opens temporary Boston location just before marathon

BY HANNAH EDELMAN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Training to run a marathon is no small feat. It requires a disciplined diet and exercise regimen, specially outfitted shoes and breathable clothes, not to mention the proper amount of rest. However, of these necessities, sleep can often fall by the wayside.

Bedgear is aiming to change these perceptions of the relative unimportance of sleep, both for athletes and the general population.

The company, now in its ninth year, sells its products through over 4,000 retailers around the world, and now, for the first time, is selling its products at a pop-up shop in the city the company considers its “mini home,” Boston.

The shop officially opened on Newbury Street on Friday, with a private VIP party the night before.

There, local entrepreneurs and friends of the company had a chance to mingle, explore the renovated building that used to house American Apparel, drink fruity mocktails and try Bedgear’s newest products.

“We just wanted to really get to know the neighborhood and kick off marathon weekend,” said Shana Rocheleau, vice president of strategy at Bedgear.

Rocheleau has been with the company since its inception, working alongside founder and CEO Eugene Alletto, who created the company while questing to create a mattress

that would help his son’s allergies.

To prevent his son from overheating, Alletto made the mattress using moisture-wicking materials used in active wear.

“It’s always about evolving and finding new ways to get you a better product,” Rocheleau said. “We want you to be inspired to try something new, and we feel like if we don’t have that innovation, you’re going to be bored.”

Bedgear’s dedication to “redefining sleep” also extends to the process of shopping for mattresses and pillows, Rocheleau said.

Just as runners consider their gaits, strides and foot size when selecting shoes, Bedgear advocates for and practices a similar fitting system for their personalized pillows.

Employees help customers to consider their sleeping position, average body temperature and mattress type when determining which kind of pillow will provide them with the greatest quality of sleep, Rocheleau said.

“The way we eat has been redefined. The way we drink water has been redefined. The way we sleep has not been redefined,” said Allie Hartman, senior public relations manager at Bedgear. “If you walk into a mattress store 20 years ago and you walk into a mattress store today, it looks the same, so we’re here to change that, and I think that’s a really powerful thing,” While guiding guests through the shop, Hartman sported one of

The Bedgear pop-up shop on Newbury Street. This is Bedgear’s first ever pop-up.

Bedgear’s signature shirts, featuring a new spin on the brand’s slogan.

Rather than “Wake up, world,” the metallic letters across Hartman’s chest read “Wake up, Boston.”

“People think so hard about what they put on their back when they leave their house, what shoes they wear and how comfortable they are, but they don’t really put the same thought into their bedding,” she said.

“We’re here to help them wake up to what it really means to sleep and help change consumers’ perceptions.”

Bedgear plans to host events

open to the public throughout their two and a half months in Boston, the first of which took place on Monday after the marathon.

Participants and spectators were welcome to explore the store, receive free Kinesio taping and professional-led stretching exercises for maximum recovery said Faith Paris, director of public relations at Bedgear. Runners could also submit their bibs to be entered into a raffle.

“We hope to spread the message to runners and their fans that we’re a brand that’s really dedicated to per-

PHOTO BY JENNA MANTO/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

formance and recovery,” Paris said.

“Unlike other brands that talk about using their products to sleep better, we are saying use our products to recover better when you sleep…”

Olympic hockey players Amanda Pelkey and Kacey Bellamy, both of whom attended the VIP party with their gold medals in tow, attested to importance of quality sleep.

“They really care about what they’re selling,” Bellamy said. “You can’t put a price on good sleep, and it really is a difference-maker in life no matter what.”

6 MARATHON

PHOTO BY VIVIAN MYRON/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Fans wear plastic rain jackets and sit along the Boylston Street stretch of the Marathon route.

PHOTO BY JACQUELINE YI ZHOU/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A man in the wheelchair division of the Marathon reaches the finish line.

Fans film and cheer on runners near Kenmore Square.

PHOTO BY BRICEN STANDISH/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

PHOTO BY JACQUELINE YI ZHOU/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Yuki Kawauchi, the winner of the men’s division, finishes the Marathon.

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Roberto Guiducci of Robbinsville, New Jersey warms himself in the rain.

A runner leans against a railing after finishing the Marathon.

The first men’s wave of the Boston Marathon begins in Hopkinton.

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

PHOTO BY BETSEY GOLDWASSER/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Elite wave runner Philemon Rono of Kenya makes his way along the Marathon course.

MARATHON 7

PHOTO BY BETSEY GOLDWASSER/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Jesse Anderson of Flint, Michigan runs through the rain.

A woman finds shelter from the rain in a Bank of America on Boylston Street.

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A runner raises his arms during the Marathon.

A woman cheers runners on near the finish line on Boylston Street.

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A runner lifts his head against the rain during the Marathon.

Attila Kovacs of Etobicoke, Ontario runs in the first men’s wave of the Marathon.

PHOTO BY VIVIAN MYRON/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Jose Jimenez Hernandez of Costa Rica and Rafael Botello Jimenez of Barcelona finish the Boston Marathon.

PHOTO BY JACQUELINE YI ZHOU/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

A woman gazes up at a screen on Boylston Street.

8 OPINION

EDITORIAL

5 years after the bombing: Boston’s continued resillience 2018 marks the five-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing that injured hundreds and resulted in the death of three spectators. Boston came together that day in 2013 and in the months that followed to restore the community and heal its wounds.

The Boston Marathon, held on Patriots Day each year, continues to be a day where thousands of Bostonians support and cheer on runners, many of whom have trained for months or years in order to qualify for the big day.

Gov. Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin Walsh took part in a wreath-laying ceremony Sunday morning to honor the victims of the explosions that took place five years ago. Baker later spoke to a crowd that included the family of one of the victims and several survivors of the bombings, and reflected on the years of healing since the explosions. Video clips commemorated the accomplishments of survivors and the lives of those lost that day, including that of Lingzi Lu, an international Boston University graduate student who was studying for a degree in mathematics and statistics when she died.

It’s important that in remembering the bombing, we’re continuing to put the spotlight on victims and honoring their lives and legacies. In an age where the media likes to construct a narrative based on the suspects and their alleged motives, we’re fortunate that the aftermath of this bombing has always placed victims and survivors at the center of the conversation.

News outlets gave families of the victims time to recover from the loss of their loved

ones and displayed sensitivity when inter- focuses on their lives after the explosion. viewing them, especially in the immediate Heartwarming stories like these can help aftermath. us stand more united as a community and And while it’s important to commem- ultimately provide us with better ways to orate the lives of those lost, we also have cope with what happened on April 15, 2013. to take into account the number of times We have to look toward the future in order survivors have had to recount their stories to honor the past. from that day and relive those experiences.

Still, five years since the explosions is Resilience is key in moving forward. It is not a lot of time. In the grand scale of ter-

PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

the most productive way we should handle the stories of survivors. For example, Jessica and Patrick Downes, a couple who lost their legs during the explosion, recently wrote and have been promoting a children’s book about the service dog that helps them. The bestseller doesn’t mention the marathon once, and instead

CROSSWORD

rorist attacks in this country, half a decade isn’t much time at all. Along the marathon route today, there are heightened security measures, including bag inspections and police walking around with dogs to ensure the safety of those watching. These measures will certainly continue for a while, as no one will ever forget the sight of the

bombs exploding near the finish line on Boylston Street.

And we still do need to remember the explosions. For many current college students, the attack is something we remember watching on TV, no matter where we were. It wasn’t that long ago, and we must honor it by paying respect to the lives lost.

For Bostonians, some of the wounds still feel fresh.

In the context of the daily instances of violence going on today, this is certainly not the last time the world will remember victims lost to tragedy. We remind ourselves of those killed during the shooting in Parkland, Florida so we can graduate from a sense of fear to a sense of community. And this is why it’s so important to show up and support the runners in the marathon: so that we remind ourselves that fear doesn’t win.

Love and support win, and we’ll be there for one another on a day that brings the Boston community together, not apart.

As we think about the terrorist attacks that plague the world today, creating a network for survivors of different tragic events could be helpful in forming a united front.

Two of the marathon bombing survivors created the One World Strong Foundation, which does exactly this, providing support for victims of trauma. Alone, these attacks are a tragedy, but when we look at them from a broader perspective, they speak to the larger threat of domestic and international terror, which is made visible by these organizations. Solving this mammoth of an issue can only come after we make a stand united against it.

This week’s crossword puzzle is brought to you by Shana Lyons COURTESY OF MIRROREYES.COM / CROSSWORD ANSWERS AVAILABLE ON https://dfpress.co/2H94RZW

ACROSS 1. Astringent 5. Alpha’s opposite 10. Charity 14. List of options 15. Varnish ingredient 16. A person who lacks good judgment 17. Horse feed 18. Devalue 20. Gnarled 22. Overshadowed 23. An Old Testament king 24. Relaxes 25. A dunce 32. _____ and lows 33. Mountain lakes 34. New Zealand parrot 37. Leer at 38. Remedies 39. Remain 40. How come?

41. Data stream manipulator 42. Vernacular

43. Being filled with wonder 45. Twined 49. Australian flightless bird 50. Angered 53. Fortunate 57. Everyplace 59. South American country 60. Fully developed 61. Consumed 62. Weightlifters pump this 63. Sleigh 64. Shooting sport 65. Writing table

DOWN

1. Violent 2. Low-fat 3. “Do ___ others...”

4. Upper lip hair 5. Tough going 6. A fitting reward (archaic) 7. Clairvoyant’s gift 8. Prepare for action 9. Afresh 10. All excited 11. Bums around 12. Sacred song 13. Sleighs 19. There’s 52 in a deck 21. Sounds of disapproval 25. Grub 26. Not low 27. Not pretty 28. Chopin composition 29. Rabbits 30. Construct 31. Autonomic nervous system 34. An eccentric idea

35. Border 36. Many millennia 38. Bovine 39. Not a molar or incisor 41. Cheerful (Scottish) 42. Citrus fruit 44. Yield 45. Lascivious looks 46. Blacksmith’s block 47. Paper with a crinkled texture 48. Dog-___ 51. Female sheep (plural) 52. East Indian tree 53. Broth (Scottish) 54. Arid 55. God of love 56. Immerse briefly into a liquid 58. French for “Summer”into a liquid 58. French for “Summer”

Ellie French, Editor-in-Chief

Rachel Duncan, Managing Editor

46th year | Volume 93 | Issue 13

Andres Picon, Campus Editor

Noor Adatia, Editorial Page Editor

Caitlin Fisher, Blog Editor

The Daily Free Press (ISSN 1094-7337) is printed Thursdays during the academic year except during vacation and exam periods by Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc., a nonprofit corporation operated by Boston University students. No content can be reproduced without the permission of Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. Copyright © 2018 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Breanne Kovatch, City Editor

Vivian Myron, Photo Editor

Kaya Williams, Multimedia Editor

Jenni Todd, Features Editor

Shaun Robinson, Layout Editor

Shakti Rovner, Office Manager

t h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r a t b o s t o n u n i v e r s i t y

Nicole Havens, Sports Editor

OPINION 9

WHAT GRINDS MY GEARS:

COLUMNS

LADIES I AM RIGHT:

Partying on Marathon Monday On celebrating the Marathon

BY RILEY VILLIERS COLUMNIST

I’m not a fan of shortening words for just for the sake of speaking less. MarMon sounds less like Marathon Monday and more like a word for a female Mormon.

Is it really that hard to say Marathon Monday? Is your life actually better from the 0.53 seconds you saved from shortening the word?

Also, whoever invented the word “darty” needs to look at a dictionary, as that might be the dumbest “word” I’ve ever heard.

Parties don’t exclusively happen at night — they can happen any time.

The combination of day and party doesn’t express the fact that the party is happening in the morning or afternoon. A day stretches from morning to night, so a “darty” could take place in the evening.

But I digress. My frustration isn’t really with the words used to describe the day.

This was my first Marathon Monday, and to say it was anticlimactic would be a gross exaggeration. I had made plans about two weeks in advance leading up to the day a lot of BU students seem to worship.

I was excited and looking forward to going out. In general, I’m not a huge party person and don’t appreciate huge sweaty walls, sticky f loors or obnoxious people, and those seem to go hand in hand with party culture.

I always like to try everything at least once though, because you never know how you’ll feel until you actually try it. I also like to say that I did something. I feel like college is all about collecting experiences, and Marathon Monday is one I want.

Unfortunately, my plans fell through

the night before, and I spent all day sleeping, cleaning and doing homework. I wasn’t exactly the poster child for a fun, awesome Marathon Monday. And I’m not going to lie, I had serious FOMO. Everyone was out in the rain, smiling, laughing and creating memories, and I was in my room cleaning and packing for the summer. My roommate even asked me last night if she needs to bring her key, which is code for, “Are you going to leave the room tomorrow?” I told her she could leave it behind.

Maybe this is coming from a place of bitterness, but I think my main issue with Marathon Monday is that there’s a social expectation you have to do something big and wild. The day really has nothing to do with the Boston Marathon. I don’t think I had a single friend actually go and watch the runners.

Instead, they went to these awfully named “darties” and were passed out in bed by 5 p.m. And just to be clear, I’m not judging at all. I was going to be one of these people. I might be one of these people next year. The issue that bothers me is the expectation to be one of these people.

We got an extra day off of school. This might be an unpopular opinion, but my favorite thing to do when I don’t have school is to sleep in, wear pajamas all day, watch borderline unhealthy amounts of Netflix and eat take-out.

I literally have dreams about doing this.

My bed is my happy place. Food makes me dance. Netflix is heavenly.

Plus, it was all rainy and dreary on Monday. Those are the perfect plans for a rainy day.

Honestly, I think I embraced the spirit of the day better than anyone. But the runners defied expectations. They ran 26.2 miles in the rain. They were productive.

They accomplished something.

I also defied expectations. I didn’t go out, cleaned my room and did some homework. I was productive.

So at the end of the day, who’s the real winner: the kids who went out and had a blast or someone who watched the new Jumanji movie and ate leftover pad thai?

I think the answer is fairly obvious.

Next year’s Marathon Monday better be more exciting.

BY MEREDITH WILSHERE COLUMNIST

My dad signed me up for a running club at home two years ago. Once or twice every week, I get an email update about the races that everyone is signing up for, including which ones need volunteers and who’s going to be helping out. Less frequently — thank goodness — I get an email about a member that has passed away or an announcement that a family member of theirs passing. The club gets together to mourn and celebrate the life together. At race day, members high-five and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.

By nature, running is a sport that brings people together. The equipment is limited, and usually just requires some form of footwear. There are ancient running tribes, however, who don’t even do that and just run barefoot. It’s an easy sport to watch, where spectators can pick places on the running trail or track, get together and cheer on the runners.

Most importantly, runners can run together. Even relay races, which seem like prime examples of runners competing solo, are an act of teamwork. Any track coach will stress the importance of good communication during a handoff to avoid the fate of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. There’s videos if you want to look that up.

It’s a sport where people run together — through rain and snow, up and over hills and sometimes through treacherous terrain.

Runners carry each other across the finish line and pick each other up when they fall.

If you’ve ever run, you know what it’s like to be a part of this running community, knit together by a love for the sport itself.

It is an incredible experience to celebrate

the sport of running and support those who choose to compete, many running to donate money to charities. Marathon Monday is a special experience, and one that feels rare to Boston University. We get the day off from school, which is a blessing that allows us to enjoy a day where we don’t feel the pressure of going to class. And we get a much needed break toward the end of the semester, when everyone is starting to feel the pressure of finals piling up.

It’s a day when people are brought together to celebrate the sport of running — celebrating the ones we know that go through the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton and cross the finish line on Boylston Street.

As a senior, this Marathon Monday in particular means a lot to me. I was abroad with my best friends for the last one, so I was away from the city of Boston and its people crossing the finish line. Marathon Monday is an experience in and of itself — getting together with friends, cheering on the runners and celebrating getting the day off from school. It gives students an opportunity to see each other, to come together as a school and celebrate one cause.

The Boston Marathon itself is an example of resilience, kindness and caring. After the tragic events of the bombing on April 15, 2013, the city of Boston united as a force of strength.

We remember those who have fallen, and we remember the bravery of those on the scene, helping others and reacting to a tragedy. The whole country felt the shockwaves of the aftermath of the tragedy, and came out in droves to support Boston being Boston Strong. The next year, when it came time for the Marathon, runners and members of the running community came out to show their support for each other, to watch each other cross the finish line and continue to be resilient.

This Marathon Monday, I’m spending time with my friends and then heading out to the race course to support the strong men and women crossing the finish line. It’s a time to remember my track team and those who dedicate their time to running the Marathon. It’s a time for kindness and acceptance; it’s a time to cheer on those who run for themselves or for someone else. The running community is one I’m proud to be a part of, and one that I’m glad has my back when I need them.

CARTOON BY TAREQ ALKHUDARI/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

INTERROBANG

Desiree Linden was the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years.

We here at the ol’ Free Press want to know — what haven’t BU student groups done in a while?

COM: Math

BU Pub: The Knight’s Quest

GretchenLovesBeauty: Unplug

Student Government: Anything productive

President Brown: Lower tuition

Bertucci’s: Be open for business

BU Shuttle: Show up

Dining halls: Have good fruit

FreeP: Vacuum

10 SPORTS

Joe McSorley makes name for himself in net for men’s lacrosse

BY MATTHEW MARTIN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

For the first time in four seasons, the Boston University men’s lacrosse team found itself without an obvious answer as to who would be the starting goalkeeper for the 2018 season.

Last May, four-year starter and 2017 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Christian Carson-Banister graduated, leaving behind a question mark as to who would take over for the Terriers (6-7, 2-5 Patriot League).

“Christian was a Third Team All-American so we were certainly concerned that we would potentially take a dip there,” BU head coach Ryan Polley said.

Enter sophomore goalkeeper Joe McSorley.

“Joe had shown a lot of signs of being a really strong goalie last year,” Polley said. “… We had a lot of confidence in Joe last year, and you never know until you get out there and play, but for the most part, Joe’s had a tremendous sophomore campaign.”

Not starting a single game during his freshman season, McSorley appeared in just four contests.

The Forest Hill, Maryland native made his first appearance in the Terriers’ second game of 2017 — an 18-8 victory over the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he played for just under 11 minutes and stopped eight shots he faced.

McSorley said that backing up Carson-Bannister last season had a tremendous impact on his play and

called him “a great mentor” who taught him about different aspects of the game.

Prior to his time at BU, McSorley played lacrosse at the Calvert Hall College High School located in Baltimore.

It was there that McSorley started for four seasons on the varsity team and served as the team’s captain during his final two years.

He received Second Team AllMetro honors as a senior and was selected to the MSLCA Second Team All-State in 2016.

While McSorley had success as a high school player, he said he does feel pressure in succeeding Carson-Bannister.

“I have big shoes to fill,” McSorley said. “[I] definitely feel a bit of pressure, but I think I’m ready for it. I think I’ve prepared by backing him up last year.”

This season, the sophomore has already been named Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week three times.

The goalkeeper’s most recent accolade came on April 9. This followed his best performance as a Terrier, in which he made a careerhigh 16 saves during BU’s 8-7 victory over the United States Military Academy.

While McSorley’s previous career-high was 14 saves in the Terriers’ 19-18 overtime loss to Harvard University on March 20, the goalkeeper has made double-digit saves in all but two of BU’s contests this season.

Polley noted that the strong

play of McSorley adds extra confidence to the rest of the team during matchups.

“He’s made a lot of big saves,” Polley said. “Certainly [against] Army he played awesome in the fourth [quarter] to allow us to get that comeback. He played very well against Lehigh in the fourth so we’re confident that if we can keep those shots to the outside, he’s going to make those big timely saves for us.”

In the early part of the season, McSorley’s numbers were hampered by the loss of sophomore defender and long-stick midfielder Chase Levesque and junior defender Quintin Germain, who were out with undisclosed injuries.

“Certainly we suffered those injuries and we gave up 16, 16 [and] 19 [goals]. A lot of that had to do with us not playing great defense in front of him,” Polley said “… Once we got Quintin back and got Chase back, we were able to play some better defense and keep the shots to the outside and Joe’s made the saves we’ve needed him to make.”

McSorley also credits his defense as a factor for his success this season.

The Terriers allow an average of 11.62 goals per game, placing them second-lowest in the conference, but for three weeks prior to this weekend, they limited their opposing team to eight or less goals per game.

In this same stretch, McSorley posted an average goal save percentage of .634.

This season, McSorley has started all 13 games in net for BU

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Sophomore goalkeeper Joe McSorley has evolved into his role as BU men’s lacrosse’s starting goalkeeper after replacing Christian Carson-Banister.

and his 11.62 saves per game tops the Patriot League while his .514 save percentage ranks third in the conference.

Despite having a dominant season and being the team’s backup goalkeeper last season, Polley said that McSorley had to win the goalkeeper battle during the fall and the team’s scrimmages leading up to this season.

“We have four awesome goalies on our team,” McSorley said of the position battle. “You had to bring it every day and it was a battle … We’re always pushing each other.”

As for his personal goals, McSorley said that he hopes “to be

able save as many balls to help my team win.”

His performance will be crucial for the Terriers as they will look to clinch the program’s second-ever playoff berth with a win Friday night against their final regular season conference opponent, the College of the Holy Cross.

Making the Patriot League tournament is a large goal that McSorley said the team has.

“Last year was awesome, making it to the semifinals, but we want to win it all,” McSorley said. “We definitely have a chance to this year.

We’ve got a great team [and] a great group of guys.”

With four straight wins, women’s lacrosse looks for more this week

BY SHUBHANKAR ARUN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The Boston University women’s lacrosse team will look to build on its 9-6 Saturday victory against Bucknell University in its upcoming games against the College of the Holy Cross and the United States Military Academy.

The matchup against Holy Cross (5-9, 3-3 Patriot League) will serve as the last home game of the 2018 regular season and will also be marked as the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night.

The Terriers (7-6, 3-3 Patriot League) are currently on a four-game winning streak and coming off a strong defensive performance against Bucknell (3-10, 1-5 Patriot League).

BU head coach Liz Robertshaw noted the importance of the performances from the different units on the field that kept the contest low-scoring against the Bison. “[Sophomore m idf ielder Mackenzie] Howe, [junior defender] Tonianne Magnelli and [junior midfielder Kaitlin] Belval on the draw did a good winning 12-of17,” Robertshaw said following Saturday’s game. “So, I think different units did a good job and … [senior goalkeeper] Christine Laible having double digit saves was fantastic.”

Sophomore attack Kailey Conry, who leads the Terriers in points with 60 and has notched a point in every game this season, had a four-point performance against Bucknell.

“On the offensive end, Kailey had a pretty good day,” Robertshaw said. “She started off a little slow,

BU will be hoping that freshman midfielder Ryann Gaffney can continue her strong form that has seen her score eight goals in the last four outings.

The last time these two teams faced off, the Terriers came out on top, winning 10-9.

After Holy Cross, the Terriers are up against Army (8-6, 2-4 Patriot League), which has fallen in three of its last four games.

The Black Knights went down 20-7 to the No. 11 United States Naval Academy Saturday afternoon, and will take on Colgate University Wednesday afternoon before they face off against the Terriers.

Midfielders junior Manuela Cortes and freshman Jackie Brattan lead Army on the offensive front, with 22 goals this season.

Senior attack Amy Johnston is PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF not far behind with 21 goals.

Senior midfielder and defender Sarah Andersen helped BU’s defense in the team’s last game against Bucknell, collecting two ground balls.

Another layer that could prove to but then came out with four points Holy Cross is led by junior attack “Offensively, it’s a team that puts be a threat for BU’s defense is senior to lead the attack so I thought that Keely Connors, who has scored in up a lot of points so they’ve really midfielder Rachel Hornick, who has was good.” every game for the Crusaders this come on in a couple of games and 19 goals and 19 assists this season.

Wednesday, the Terriers will year, tallying 30 goals. She is the first had some really tight matches, and The last time these two teams face off against Holy Cross, which player from Holy Cross to notch 30 I expect the same.” met, the Terriers edged the Black has lost three of its last five games goals in a season since midfielder The standout player for the Knights in a 12-11 victory. and has alternated wins and losses Laura Ryan in 2015.

Terriers in their last few games has “What we’re going to do to since March 7.

In Holy Cross’ last game against been senior defender Maria Guerra, prepare is we’re going to enjoy As a team, the Crusaders rank Lehigh University, senior goal- who recorded four caused turn- [Saturday], enjoy celebrating our second in the Patriot League in keeper Julia Maloney recorded a overs and four ground balls over seniors and then we’re going to get caused turnovers per game (9.79). season-high 16 saves and added two the weekend. right back to work,” Robertshaw Three Holy Cross players rank ground balls.

Guerra also marshaled the said. “… We’re going to have to fix within the top five in the league In 14 games, she holds a .433 defense to ensure that the Bison some of that offensive look that in caused turnovers per game, and goal save percentage and 12.59 goals could convert only 24 of their 32 we didn’t necessarily see [against sophomore midfielder Audrey against average. clears.

Bucknell].”

Mandaro ranks first (1.79).

“We’re going to see a highly Laible made her eighth douThe Crusaders are also third in aggressive style of defense from ble-digit save effort of the season Kyle Patterson contributed to the ground balls per game with 20.57.

Holy Cross,” Robertshaw said. with 10 stops in the net. reporting of this article.

SPORTS 11

The Terriers inside the Terrier: What it’s like to be Rhett

BY LIAM O’BRIEN

DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Whether he is climbing into the stands at a Boston University hockey game or parading around the George Sherman Union, Rhett the Terrier is an unmistakable figure on Commonwealth Avenue. Chances are, you have exchanged a hug or a high-five with him at some point.

“The fans, the students, they love seeing Rhett,” said Nafeesa Connolly, the assistant director of Marketing and Promotions for BU Athletics. “You can always tell who the freshmen are because they get really excited when they see Rhett.

I think we have a really good visual-looking mascot.”

But have you ever thought of the person inside of the suit?

“The students that perform behind the mask do a really good job of entertaining and engaging with whomever — whether it’s an alum, a donor, a student, even faculty or staff,” Connolly said.

“When he is at a sporting event, Rhett just brings fun and wants to make sure people are having a good time.”

There are four to eight different BU students who share the Rhett duties, according to Connolly. Some of these students are solely responsible for handling Rhett and guiding him around when he is due for an appearance, while others are dedicated exclusively to wearing the costume and playing the role of Rhett.

For those who play Rhett, putting on the suit is a rewarding experience.

“Rhett is an icon, loved by all, and it is an honor to be able to bring him to life every day,” a student who plays Rhett said. “Every time that I suit up, I know that I can expect excitement, love and support from the amazing students and fans at the games.”

Students in the suit often learn to embody the persona that Rhett brings to the table.

“I get so in the zone that I forget nobody can see me,” a student who plays Rhett said. “I usually

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Students who dress up as Rhett the Terrier are often seen skating on the ice at hockey games or other events.

find myself smiling for every Connolly said about the students photo — I think it’s just instinct.” who work as Rhett. “You’re going to The position is paid, according a lot of things and you’re bringing to Connolly, with mascots making the spirit of BU when you are in that $12.25 per hour and handlers $11 suit. You need to be able to be orgaper hour, and for good reason — nized and dedicated to the program.” being Rhett is a considerable time Connolly said BU Athletics commitment. only had one student employed Rhett is a wanted commod- as Rhett last year, which was an ity at many BU sporting events obstacle at times due to the vast and community outreach pro- array of inquiries for the mascot to grams. Rhett also fulfills external appear at events. requests outside of athletics, pick“That was a lot for him to take ing up cameos at cultural events on,” Connolly said. “You wonder, on campus in addition to bar mitz- ‘Where’s Rhett?’ He was really vahs and birthday parties around dedicated, but [you had to] underthe Boston area. stand he’s a senior, he needs to look On BU’s annual Giving Day, for jobs, he has class responsibilRhett was parading around cam- ities. He made sure he could be pus to promote those involved with where he could, but it obviously BU to donate to the university. could have been more.”

Last year, Rhett even appeared When this student, who gradat an engagement announcement, uated last spring, had class or a a showing which generated local job interview to attend, Rhett was media attention. subsequently absent from any“This isn’t just a hockey game,” thing that was occurring at the

same time. The mascot was often only visible at hockey or basketball games.

This led to BU Athletics putting an emphasis on broadening the Rhett program heading into the 2017-18 academic year.

“This year, we have tried to do more outreach and promotion,” Connolly said. “That comes from wanting to enhance the program.”

With Rhett being a fixture at hockey games, having multiple students that can skate is a necessity.

Currently, two students who work as Rhett are experienced skaters, while others are in training for gliding around the ice at Agganis Arena or Walter Brown Arena.

Each mascot goes through an initial tryout to simulate what an actual game night is like.

For those who can skate, Connolly said she has them pretend to skate out onto the ice with the

team and bang on the glass pretending as though fans are in the arena.

Once a student masters skating, he or she can work on learning a whole array of tricks for entertaining fans while rocking the suit.

“Besides being in the center of the arena, skating on the ice also gives Rhett the opportunity to pull crazy, fun stunts like diving across the ice, doing a shootout and even having a dance-off on center ice,” a student who plays Rhett said.

Being Rhett has its perks, with appearances at TD Garden for the annual Beanpot tournament, Madison Square Garden for the biennial Red Hot Hockey tilt, and potentially Belfast, Ireland for the Friendship Four next season as part of the men’s hockey schedule.

“While home games at Agganis Arena are always thrilling, the opportunity to skate at TD Garden, and even Madison Square Garden, are indescribable,” a student who plays Rhett said. “The energy that the crowd brings to those arenas is so wild that it just makes me appreciate the fans, as well as the coaches and players, for all the support they have given throughout the season.”

For many students, however, getting the chance to throw the costume on and cheer up children in the community is the most rewarding experience.

In December, Rhett went along with BU student-athletes to a local elementary school as part of the annual Holiday Reading Program, with the mascot spending time with kids from each classroom in the school.

The effect of Rhett on the kids made putting on the costume well worth it for the student on duty.

“Rhett’s biggest fan was in the special education classroom, where this young boy climbed into my lap and began petting Rhett’s head,” the student said. “He refused to get out of my lap or let me leave so I stayed and the class just loved snuggling with Rhett.”

Burn the Boats: Despite rain, Marathon Monday is still Boston’s day

BY MATT DRESSENS COLUMNIST

Across the country, it is quite literally just another Monday — but don’t tell that to Boston.

It ’s a day rooted in h istor y for the region, as Patriots Day com memorates the f irst shots fired at the battles of Lexington and Concord, which started the Revolutionary War. Today, the on ly shots f ired are those of the starting gun in Hopkinton to kick off the Boston Marathon, which has taken place on Patriots Day ever since the first

race in 1897.

The Boston Red Sox also take pa rt in the festiv ities, as they have held an 11 a.m. first pitch at Fenway Park every year since 1959 on Marathon Monday. However, for the first time since 1984, the Red Sox game has been postponed due to rain this year.

The marathon and the baseball game remain two highlights for the city, obviously, but there really is something for everyone on Marathon Monday. There is a certain electricity around the city no matter where you are or what you’re doing. It truly is Boston’s day.

You didn’t need to see a pitch at Fenway or even witness a runner cross the finish line on Boylston Street, just getting out and experiencing the city is all that matters.

There is nothing like walking down the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Back Bay on Patriots Day. It’s crowded, but there is an energy to the city that can only be experienced Patriots Day.

It’s as if every year, Boston hosts one day of the Olympics. Never mind the competitors or the ballplayers, the people and the crowds that the marathon attracts are like nothing else. Yes, you can go to Bruins or Celtics game and there will be 17,000 people there, but it’s just not the same.

The energy in the city is something to behold. It seems that, on a nice day for the marathon (unfortunately this year it was not), the entire population is out and about taking it all in. The energy of the city can be your cup of coffee that keeps you going.

On a good day, like I said before, you don’t even need to watch any of the race — the experience of the city is enough. There is a special feeling around the hub that only comes around once a year. Due to the rain, this may have been dampened a bit, but even through the showers, there was still a buzz.

Maybe the marathon was your thing. Maybe you loved the compe-

tition. Maybe you went to see the winner cross the finish line. Maybe you wanted to just watch in awe as people put months and months of training and preparation into action, and complete 26.2 miles of running in a freezing rainstorm.

Yes, 26.2 miles. Let that sink in the next time you complain to someone that you have to walk from West Campus to Questrom.

The sacrifices that people make to complete in the marathon are astounding.

It takes extreme dedication and incredible mental toughness just to will yourself to get up and train each day. Training that will inevitably take place in freezing cold temperatures, snow, rain and sleet.

If it’s pouring rain and the training program calls for 15 miles, I guess you’re going to get a little wet. And those training days set in horrible conditions certainly get you ready for days like this year.

However, the top runners, who finished absurdly close to two hours

of time, have never been the main heroes of this race. Yes, the winner got the olive wreath on their head and a shiny medal, but that’s not what this race is about.

It’s about the guy in the office who gets up at 4 a.m. to train before work and comes home to a wife and two kids. Or it’s about the woman who has lost a family member and used the race as a fundraiser. No one cares how long it takes them to finish, just getting to the line is all that matters.

Despite the rain, I hope some of you took some time to walk around the city and take ever ything in. I hope you got the chance to watch some of the runners trot through Kenmore Square. Maybe you grabbed some food and walked along Commonwealth Avenue.

No matter what you did, I hope the weather didn’t force you to just sit inside and take the day off the school calendar gives you. Regardless of the conditions, Marathon Monday only comes around once a year.

“Last year was awesome, making it to the semifinals, but we want to win it all.” ­— Sophomore goalkeeper Joe McSorley on the men’s lacrosse team’s goal for the postseason p. 10

Sports Tuesday, April 17, 2018

“Rhett is an icon, loved by all, and it is an honor to be able to bring him to life every day.”

— A student who wears the Rhett the Terrier mascot suit p. 11

Upsets amidst rainy weather in 122nd Boston Marathon

BY NICOLE HAVENS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Despite the 38 degree rainy weather and a headwind of 10 miles per hour on Monday, 30,087 participants — runners, wheelchairs and hand cyclists — were signed up to participate in the 122nd Boston Marathon.

Getting to the Boylston Street finish line remained a lofty task as per usual, especially with the poor conditions, but that didn’t stop this year’s elite men’s race winner Yuki Kawauchi from pulling off an upset and overtaking the 2017 winner Geoffrey Kirui in the final two miles of the 26.2 mile race.

The 31-year-old from Japan surpassed Kirui near Kenmore Square and didn’t slow from there, finishing with a 2:15:58 time, the slowest winning time since Jack Fultz in 1976.

Kawauchi was the first Japanese man to the win the marathon since 1987, and added this win to his many accolades as a “citizen runner.”

Kirui finished two minutes and 25 seconds later for second place while Shadrack Biwott led the Americans in third with a time of 2:18:35.

Desiree Linden made history as the winner of the elite women’s race, becoming the first American woman to win in 33 years. The 34-year-old, twotime Olympian finished her sixth Boston Marathon with a time of 2:39:54.

Linden was more than four minutes ahead of the second-place finisher, Sarah Sellers.

Sellers, a previously unknown runner from Tucson, Arizona, finished the day with a time of 2:44:05. For the 26-year-old, this marked just her second marathon.

Seven Americans finished within the top 10 for the women while six American men finished within the top 10.

Prior to the runners crossing the finish line, Marcel Hug of Switzerland won his fourth consecutive Boston Marathon men’s wheelchair division title with a 1:46:26 time.

Hug finished 48 seconds in front of Ernst van Dyk, who holds the record for most Boston Marathon titles in any division, with a total of 10.

Tatyana McFadden claimed her fifth Boston Marathon women’s wheelchair division title and her 22nd in the World Marathon

The women’s first wave starts the Marathon in Hopkinton.

Majors, the most among women in the wheelchair division.

McFadden’s time of 2:04:39 was more than 15 minutes faster than t wo-time paralympian Susannah Scaroni, who finished in second.

Tom Davis’ 1:18:41 time led the men’s hand cycle division. Joerg

Schneider, who finished fifth and is from Germany, was the only non-American participant to finish in the top 10.

Alicia Dana led the women’s hand cycle division with a time of 1:40:22.

Monday also marked five years since the Boston Marathon

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

bombing, when a terrorist attack, which took place at the 2013 marathon finish line, killed three and injured 260.

Boston held a moment of silence at 2:49 p.m. — the time of when the first of two bombs went off — to commemorate the anniversary.