As Boston’s streets come alive with the buzz of anticipation and the spirit of competition, fourteen New Canaan residents are lacing up their running shoes for one of the most iconic races in the world—the Boston Marathon. Scheduled for this coming Monday, April 15, we wish all of the runners a safe and fun race. Hosted by the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), founded in 1887, the marathon’s mission is to promote a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running.
The race begins in the historic town of Hopkinton, with runners gathering at the High/Middle School’s Athletes Village for warm-ups before making their way to the corrals on Main Street. The finish line is located on Boylston Street next to the Boston Public Library, marking the culmination of not just 26.2 miles of pavement but months, or even years, of dedication and training.
Among the New Canaan athletes taking part this year are seasoned marathoners and enthusiastic novices alike, each with their unique story of perseverance and determination. Alex LaPolice, Dani Hiravy, David Keeffe who in 2022 time of 5:37:08, Delphine Krakoff, Hiran Cantu who ran in 2022 with a time of 3:34:01, Katherine Norton, Lisa McManus who ran in 2022, Madison Ellingson, Moira Cassidy who ran in 2022 with a time of 4:18:08, Sarah Hanses who ran in 2022 with a time of 3:13:37, Sloan Alexander who ran in 2022 with a time of 3:16:43, Thomas Robey who ran 2022 with a time of 3:39:02, Xiaojie Wang, and Yong-song Basta who ran in 2022 with a time of 3:20:01.
Madison Ellingson, shared her journey, she returns this year for her third Boston Marathon, Ellingson’s dedication shines through her words. “I think what drives me to run marathons is the energy, grit, and satisfaction of accomplishing something really hard,” said Ellingson. Having qualified three years ago, she deferred her participation last year due to pregnancy, underscoring the resilience and determination that marathon running embodies. “The hard work of getting here was already done, and now the fun begins of just being able to run it,” Ellingson added.
As these runners from New Canaan join over 30,000 participants and thousands of cheering spectators, they become part of the marathon’s vision. The Boston Marathon, known for its rich history and supportive community, stands out as a wonderful event that encourages people to explore and embrace the joys of running, offering a gentle reminder of its power to reveal our capabilities.
