To fully appreciate what it means to participate in the Boston Marathon, it’s important to reflect on what it takes to get here, all of what it takes. Running Boston isn’t only about completing the distance of 26.2 miles, nor is it only about the training to get you ready for this epic race: it's also about the efforts made to even get an entry. Because Boston is not a race you can just sign up for: you have to earn your entry. There are several ways that can happen and the process can be years in the making. Our nine runners earned their entries in a variety of ways, and we share the stories behind them all. For each and every one of us, getting a race number to this historic event is a victory all its own. Discover why.

This episode is part of our Roads to Boston 2021 series, where we are following the journeys of 9 women from around the world to the 125th Boston Marathon, which takes places October 11, 2021. 

The last Boston Marathon took place April 2019. And finally, this legendary event is back, in person. For every participant who gets an entry to Boston, it's a victory all its own: you can't just sign up for Boston, you have to earn your way in. Get an inside look at what goes in to getting to the finish line of the 125th Boston Marathon. Whether Boston is in your future or your running interests take a different shape, join us to energize your own aspirations.

In episode 1, we met the 9 women of this series and learned about how they got started in this sport. We're in the midst of discovering why we all started marathoning. In episode 2, we learned about Patty's and Amanda's journeys to running marathons, which is inextricably linked to the Boston Marathon; in that episode we also learned about the Boston course. In episode 3, we featured the marathoning stories of Rochelle, Marija, Zarah, and Jonna, and episode 4 explored why Yao, Nicole, and Cherie run marathons. And, in our last episode checked in on what living the marathon life looks like for all nine runners. 

Stay tuned for our next episode where we check in with the runners one final time before the race.

Join us on the journey, to energize your own running goals!

The runners featured

Rochelle Solomon, Randolph, MA, USA; hospital and healthcare compliance officer; Boston first-timer 

Patty Hung, Orinda, CA, USA; retired high school math teacher turned pediatric nurse; 34 Bostons run

Yao (Yaowapa) Hoisungwarn, Bangkok, Thailand; singing teacher; Boston first-timer  

Marija Desivojević, Belgrade, Serbia; mathematician; Boston first-timer

Nicole Spaulding Pinto, Los Angeles, CA, USA; cardiovascular perfusionist; Boston first-timer

Zarah Hofer, lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada; nutritionist; Boston first-timer

Amanda Watters, Ashland, MA, USA; editor, K-12 science curriculum development, 15 Bostons run

Jonna Maas, Spicer, MN, USA; medical doctor, Boston first-timer

Cherie Louise Turner, Somerville, MA, USA; podcaster, writer, editor; 1 Boston run

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Twitter: @WomenRunStories

Website: womensrunningstories.com

Email host Cherie: [email protected]

Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

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