Why I’m Running: ‘I’m so grateful to have a body capable of tackling this feat’
"My husband and I vowed to give back to the hospital in any way we were capable from that moment on."
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon runners share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. If you’re running the marathon, you can share your story here.
Name: Alexandria (Byer) Magann
Age: 35
From: Worcester
I’m running the 2024 Boston Marathon as part of the Miles for Miracles team with Boston Children’s Hospital in honor of my son, Oliver.
Oliver was born in July 2021 with a congenital heart defect, making his body burn more calories than he could take in simply by existing. We had no idea about his CHD before he was born, so it took us by surprise.
In October 2021, after months of tears, sadness, ER visits, doctors appointments (but most importantly, hope), Oliver had open heart surgery at BCH, and life since then has been nothing short of a dream.
My husband and I vowed to give back to the hospital in any way we were capable from that moment on. Since then we’ve done fundraising walks and bike rides for the hospital, and now I’m tackling the Boston Marathon.
This will be my fifth marathon, but my first since having my two children, and I’m so grateful to have a body capable of tackling this feat.
I ran my very first marathon on April 15, 2013, and unfortunately never had the chance to cross the finish line. In the 11 years since, my life has changed in so many ways, but my love of running and of Boston, my home, remains constant.
It feels so serendipitous to have the opportunity to cross the finish line on yet another April 15.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
Be civil. Be kind.
Read our full community guidelines.To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address