Every Marathon Monday, the BC students partying at mile 21 have the opportunity to cheer on fellow Eagles running the prestigious marathon. Her Campus caught up with two students, Danielle Bellantonio and Lauren Healy, who will both be running in the 2018 Boston Marathon.
Photo submitted by Lauren Healy
How competitive is the process to be accepted to run the Boston Marathon?
DB: The process is pretty competitive! The women’s qualifying time for my age group is 3 hours and 30 minutes, which is 8:12 per mile (for 26 miles) so that’s pretty fast! Then there are only so many charities that offer bibs to runners who are willing to fundraise. I found out that I had the opportunity to run for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Charity in December. The Camp serves over 20,000 children with severe illnesses per year and I committed to raising at least $7,500 to support this cause. I was thrilled and so grateful to accept this amazing opportunity.
LH: I’m running for a charity, the Wellesley Education Foundation, and so the process was a lot easier for me than qualifying runners. My friend ran for WEF two years ago and he referred me to them around December and I was confirmed as a runner in January.
How did you prepare for the marathon?
DB: I’ve been following a steady training plan that includes short and long distance runs, cross-training, and, most importantly, rest days! I have also been fundraising for the charity in preparation for the marathon, which included hosting a few events for my friends and family to attend.
LH: I run four days a week and cross-train one day a week. There are two short runs, usually 3-5 miles, one medium run, 5-10 miles, and one long run which is anywhere from 9-21 miles. For cross-training, I did yoga and went to classes at the Plex.
How will you prepare on Marathon Monday?
DB: I will try to get a ton of sleep the night before, eat a huge breakfast, and try to calm my nerves. My roommate, Sarah Hansman, is also running the Marathon so it will help to have her by my side right up until the start line.
LH: A lot of the prep is done the day before. My mom is flying in to be my road crew and we’re going to the North End for pasta to carbo-load. You have to drink a ton of water the week leading up to it and add in additional protein and carbs for energy. On the actual day, I’m going to eat oatmeal and a banana for breakfast and drink a few glasses of water. I have pain relief muscle cream that I’m going to put on my legs and then re-apply around mile 15, before the hills start. Also, I’m going to put sour patch kids, pretzels, and chocolate in the pouch on my water belt to give me extra salt and sugar along the way because you sweat everything out. I have two playlists that I’m going to switch between for music. The first is a little bit slower, just chill songs that I can listen to during warmup and at the beginning so I don’t sprint out of the gate and overdo it. The second has a lot of rap and EDM, that’s what I use to help push me up hills and when I get tired.
When did you decide you wanted the run the marathon? What motivated you?
DB: I have wanted to run the marathon since Freshman year. It was inspiring to cheer on the runners watch as they came by BC. I thought about what a dream it would be to run and I applied for bib my Sophomore year but did not get a spot. When I found out about the opportunity to run this year, I had to accept. It’s motivating to think that my friends, family, charity team, and the city of Boston will be cheering me on throughout the course. It is also inspiring to run on behalf of the children at the Camp who do not have the opportunity to run this race themselves.
A few weeks ago, Patrick Downes shared the story of how he and his wife both lost limbs in the bombing. He crossed the Boston finish line again after this horrific day on a prosthetic blade and I was moved to hear his perspective on forgiveness and recovery. I am motivated to run through “our f*’n city” as Big Papi once said and to represent the strength of Boston after that day in 2013.
LH: I made it a goal of mine to run Boston when I was a senior in high school and had just decided on BC. My mom has run it five times, all qualified, and my grandpa ran it twice so I grew up around people who loved the race and the city. There’s actually a picture of me when I’m like 8 with my mom and grandpa at the finish line.
The actual push for me came last semester when my stepmom got diagnosed with stage four brain cancer. She started getting headaches a week before I left for school and passed away right before Thanksgiving. It was a really hard time for me and my family. I needed an outlet for everything I was feeling –anger, stress, grief – and so I started running. I had done a half marathon before and wanted to push myself further so I reached out to a friend who ran the marathon for WEF and loved the cause and the community around it. It’s been an amazing way to stay in shape, give back to the local community, and relieve stress.
Photo submitted by Danielle Bellantonio
Have you ran a marathon before?
DB: Nope! This is my first one.
LH: No, this is my first one. The largest race I have done before this was the Chilly Half Marathon in Newton last year.
Has training impacted your schoolwork?
DB: Maybe just a little…A benefit of running Senior year is the lighter workload. I train between or after classes and save my long runs for the weekend where I can dedicate more time to focusing on training and taking care of my body.
LH: I definitely have had to focus on time management more. You have to fit in your normal workload of homework, clubs, and friends on top of running and raising money. I try and run in the morning so I can go to the library in the afternoon, but there have been some late nights in O’Neil. The plus side is that it clears your head so sometimes if I’m struggling with a paper, I’ll go run and then come back to it with a better perspective.
How has training been impactful in term of finances?
DB: Running is fairly inexpensive because all you really need is sneakers and then the roads are free! Warm clothing, gloves and a hat are also important items for training through winter in Boston. Another benefit of running the marathon while enrolled at BC is that the Plex is always available on the brutally cold or rainy days.
LH: I was surprised at all of the costs I didn’t think about. I have two pairs of good shoes that I switch between to prevent injuries, protein shakes, recovery drinks, energy powder and gels, and weights for cross training that I bought over the past few months. Just the entry fee for the marathon was almost $400 and then I pledged to raise $4,000 for WEF.
What are you most excited for on Marathon Monday?
DB: Of course I am most excited to cross that finish line, but I am also excited to run by my charity team at Mile 20, to see my friends at Mile 21, to meet my family at the finish line, and to accomplish this feat alongside 30,000 other amazing runners. I will be excited knowing that by running, I have helped send three children with severe illnesses to Camp to make their lives happier.
LH: My mom always said Boston was her favorite because the entire city comes out to cheer on the runners, so I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone and celebrating with them. Also, I am SO excited to hit BC at Mile 21. Once you make it up Heartbreak Hill you have all of your friends waiting for you, cheering you on, and waving giant, embarrassing posters of your face. I honestly cannot wait for that moment.
What does running the Boston Marathon mean to you?
DB: For me, the Marathon means first accomplishing one of my major life goals and demonstrating that persistence and patience can lead to success. It also means experiencing the city that I love in a whole new way as I make the trek from Hopkinton to Boylston Street. I am thinking of moving to San Francisco after graduation, so in a way, this is my farewell to the city that I call home. My race specifically means that I will benefit children who struggle with illnesses and will get to go to camp for free!
LH: Running the Boston Marathon has a lot of layers for me. It’s an athletic achievement that I have worked hard to hit and has taught me that my body is way stronger than I thought it was. It’s a chance to help raise money for a great cause and to have a positive impact on others. It’s shown me how incredible Boston is as a city, and that they genuinely feel connected to the race and the runners on a deeper level than I think most other races have. On a personal level, it means continuing a legacy as a third generation runner in my family and feeling connected to people who I have loved and lost. It’s just a celebration of life and overcoming the hard times to try and do something good.
How many people run the Boston Marathon? Is this an independent race or do many runners know each other?
DB: I believe there are over 30,000 runners in the Boston Marathon. Lots of runners seem to know each other, although there are many who travel from far away to run this classic race. Over 20 BC students are running as well, and they have been an amazing support system throughout this process.
LH: It’s a huge race with around 35,000 runners. You run it independently, but the running community as a whole is very strong and a lot of people know each other. As you run you talk to people around you to help past the time and support each other. Within BC there are around 20 runners who have a group chat where we give each other support and advice. It’s been a great way to stay motivated and bond over our experiences.
Is there anything else we should know?
DB: The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was founded by Paul Newman in 1988 and supports healing for severely ill children and their families who are coping with cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other serious illnesses. The Camp serves over 20,000 children and family members each year through summer sessions and family weekend programs at the Camp in Ashford, Connecticut – all FREE of charge thanks to generous donors. The Camp allows children to explore, develop physical and intellectual skills, and receive community support even when bound to hospitalization. Their motto is “to let kids kick back, relax, and raise a little hell” giving them another shot at enjoying their childhood.
LH: The crowd’s energy can have a huge impact keeping the runners motivated and pushing through it. By the end of the race, you’re tired, everything hurts, you can’t really feel your legs, but if 1,000 people are screaming your name then none of that matters and you find the extra drive to keep going. Cheer loud, we can hear you!