For most Tufts students, Patriots' Day is an enjoyable day off from classes to sit back, watch an 11 a.m. Red Sox game and follow the marathon from the comfort of their couches.
But for several members of the Tufts athletic community, along with 102 students, 41 alumni, 26 faculty and Tufts staff members, 10 parents and the 21 friends of the University that make up the President's Marathon Challenge team, yesterday was anything but a day off as they reached for the highest pinnacle of athletic achievement.
The 110th Boston Marathon kicked off yesterday with Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya breaking a 12-year old course record by 1 second, running 2:07:14. Americans took five of the top ten spots including third, fourth and fifth. Kenyan Rita Jeptoo won the women's race in 2:23:38.
The field of 19,688 finishers included many Tufts students and faculty. The team's top finisher was Matthew Hyde, an Assistant Director of Admissions and a cross country runner for Bowdoin in his undergraduate days. The former Polar Bear skated through the finish line in 2:44:11, running at a 6:16 mile pace. Brian McNamara (LA '05) was not far behind in 2:52:38, averaging a 6:35 mile.
McNamara, who ran cross country and track for Tufts during his four years as a Jumbo, had multiple motivations for running Boston in his first year away from the Hill. In addition to a family tradition - his father and sister have both completed marathons - McNamara had taken part in the tradition of cross country team members heading out to Heartbreak Hill, the 20th mile of the course, to cheer on runners. After years on the sidelines, McNamara wanted to join in.
"I wanted to do Boston in particular because it has such a tradition," McNamara said. "There are so many people out cheering. It's sort of a hometown race."
McNamara started training back in December and did much of his marathon training with fellow alumni and housemate Peter Bromka. The two both went into yesterday looking to run competitive times, having spent the last few months doing interval training, running a half-marathon and doing other workouts.
"Training to finish is very different from training to run a good time," McNamara said. "With that in mind I've been running a lot more than everyone else would."
For seniors Lea Napolitano and Jeanne Grabowski, co-captains of the 2004 and 2005 field hockey team, the move from game-situation fitness to distance running was an abrupt change.
"[Playing a varsity sport] prepares you for the mental toughness aspect of [a marathon]," Napolitano said. "But it was by far more challenging than any field hockey season I've ever been through."
Grabowski agreed, and contrasted the full-fledged intensity of field hockey to the extended rigor of a marathon.
"It was completely different from anything I've learned in any other athletics," Grabowski said. "You have to pace yourself to make it through all 26 miles."
Grabowski and Napolitano both decided to run during their senior year because of their commitment to field hockey. The two ran as part of a group with sophomore Michelle Paison and alumni Colin Pedersen. Grabowski finished in 4:09:08 (a 9:31 mile pace) and Napolitano was not far behind in 4:11:15 (9:35 pace). The group plans to run Boston again at some point in the next five years.
Both were surprised at the amount of Tufts support along the way.
"I was just amazed at the fan base, particularly all the Tufts fans," Grabowski said. "They were great. It was unbelievable. There were people cheering for Tufts all the way through. It really made me feel proud to be part of this university."
"We were so excited," Napolitano said. "We felt like celebrities during the first few miles with everybody cheering."
The feeling was mutual for spectators, who spent the day cheering along runners. Senior Emily Kaiser, who went down to the course to cheer along seniors Joe Weiner and Steve Keppel, stayed at the 25-mile mark near Kenmore Square.
"It was totally inspiring," Kaiser said. "I'm not trying to say that I'm going to run a marathon tomorrow or anything but it definitely makes you consider that possibility because there are people who at mile 25 are smiling and just feel great. And you'd hope that you would be one of those people."
Kaiser was also impressed by the large Tufts showing. A group of supporters congregated at the ninth mile in Natick and several Tufts cross country and track team members cheered at Heartbreak Hill in Newton.
"The Tufts spirit was great," Kaiser said. "I think I screamed 'Go Jumbos' more in the last hour of watching then I did in my whole Tufts career."
