Over 20,000 marathoners, including the members of the Tufts Marathon Team, have one day marked on their calendars. April 16, 2007, is the culmination of months of grueling training and early morning runs all building up to a tremendous athletic feat.
But for now, Tufts runners have their sights set firmly on Dec. 3 - the first hurdle of many to come - when anyone interested in donning the Tufts jersey must complete a 10-mile qualifying run. The run starts at Cousens Gym and ends at Gifford House with a light breakfast with President Lawrence Bacow.
This is not the first commitment the runners have had to make to the marathon team, however. The group has been training every week during the semester, with 7 a.m. group runs on Wednesday and Sunday mornings going for increased distances each time. The runners even refused to take a break for Thanksgiving weekend, pounding out an eight-mile run on Sunday.
"Running is completely nuts," said Sarah Conroy (LA '06) a graduate student at the Elliot-Pearson School running in her first marathon after a four-year career on the Tufts softball team. "But for me, there is a feeling of competition with no one other than myself that keeps me coming back for more."
With all of the hours spent training, the runners have plenty of time to get to know each other, and the motivation of group running helps on the early mornings.
"The best part about the training runs is that you are with at least 20 other people braving the cold and sticking it out together," Conroy said. "It is quite motivational, especially on those mornings when you think to yourself 'Am I seriously going to get out of this warm bed? I must be nuts.' And we are."
An annual member of the squad, Bacow attends as many of the training runs as his busy travel schedule permits. Sustaining shoulder surgery this October, his training has been limited, but he is slowly getting back into it and loving every second of the routine.
"I enjoy the training," Bacow said. "It gives me a chance to get to know a group of students, staff, and alumni in ways that I would not otherwise have."
And Bacow knows that it goes both ways, and that seeing him in his running gear breaks down some of the administrative walls of his office.
"It can be intimidating to come to my office to speak to me," Bacow said. "When we are out running, however, after four or five miles, we are all just runners. I think people feel more comfortable talking to me when we are all sweating together."
Runners will continue to increase the distance of the training runs, slowly building up to 20 miles during the Sunday long runs, until about three weeks when they will taper until the day of the race.
This marks the fifth year of the President's Marathon Challenge, which raises money in support of nutrition, medical and fitness research, education, and outreach programs at Tufts. All runners participating in the President's Marathon Challenge are required to raise a minimum of $1000, but are asked to strive for $2500. One hundred and ninety-three runners crossed the line for Tufts last year, raising over $430,000, and the team's ranks are looking strong this year as well, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone has joined the Tufts roster.
"On some days we have had more than 50 runners," Bacow said. "It is great to see students, faculty, staff, alumni and even some parents come out to run with us."
Supporters may sponsor a runner by logging on to www.tuftsmarathonchallenge.com.
