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Inside Marathon Monday
Written by Dani Cejudo and Darcy Gallagher | Designed by Zoe Zheng | Photographed by Hui-En Lin
The Experience of a Runner
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The Boston Marathon began in 1897, and is the oldest annual marathon. The race has gained global popularity, as 30,000 participants will run in this spring’s upcoming race, according to the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.). We spoke with veteran marathon runner Mari Del Pozo to hear her experience with the historic 2020 race cancellation, as well as her journey back to competing in 2021’s marathon.
Del Pozo has been a marathon runner for more than 20 years, running 1-2 marathons per year as well as triathlons. For Del Pozo, the pandemic provoked an abrupt pause in her usual athletic training.
“It was hard as I have run more than 19 marathons,” Del Pozo said about 2020’s cancellation. “Although I was disappointed, this didn’t stunt my training.”
Del Pozo said she would train in the space of a parking lot, which helped her both physically and mentally get through the pandemic’s challenges.
“It was hard to work around COVID restrictions, yet really made me realize how much I loved the sport, forcing me to find flexibility in my schedule and run whenever I had the chance to,” Del Pozo said.
Del Pozo was living in Colombia at the time of the race cancellations, but due to her husband’s acceptance into MIT to obtain his masters, her family relocated to Boston.
“My biggest challenge was starting to prepare for the Boston Marathon, as well as for my big move from Colombia to the United States. It was the end of a chapter, yet the Boston Marathon was my light at the end of the tunnel,” Del Pozo said.
When the time came for the Boston Marathon in October 2021, Del Pozo admitted she struggled. She fell for the first time and experienced severe leg cramps.
“After this, I was feeling a little down, but the support of everyone felt magical and got me back on my feet,” Del Pozo said.
Del Pozo’s persistence proves how important it is to be passionate, and shows the impact the Boston Marathon has on people. The race will continue to push athletes to achieve their highest potential this spring, as well as bring the Boston community together to cheer them on.
