Readers Say

Sisters Trish Wheeler and Michelle Cronin are ‘fearless’ as they take on the Boston Marathon

"There is nothing a man can do that a woman cannot – and that includes running 26.2 miles."

Patricia Wheeler, left, and Michelle Cronin after completing the First Run 10K in Lowell on Jan. 1. Courtesy photo

February 24, 2023

2 minutes to read

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: Trish Wheeler and Michelle Cronin
Age: 42 and 44
From: Manchester, N.H. and Saugus, Mass.

All of their lives, they have been waiting to make a right on Hereford and a left on Boylston.

Sisters Michelle Cronin and Patricia Wheeler grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts, watching the many amazing marathon finishers on television. As young adults, they joined the in-person crowds along the marathon route during their years attending Boston University.

This year, the duo is thrilled to be part of the 261 Fearless charity team, raising funds that will go towards education and local running opportunities for women, no matter their age, fitness level, or running experience.

This will be the second marathon for the pair, who trained for and ran the Cape Cod Marathon together in 2007. It is made especially meaningful because of the charity they are raising funds for – 261 Fearless, Inc.

“Our grandmother passed away in October of 2021 after a long battle with heart disease,” said Cronin. “She was fearless every day and always taught us to set goals, then exceed them. I know she will be cheering for us when we cross the finish line.”

Cronin, of Saugus, Massachusetts, is currently the leader of professional services for the Boston location of Benchling, a cloud-based biotechnology software platform.

Wheeler, who formerly worked at the Boston Herald in college and is an avid New England sports fan, looks forward to following in the footsteps of Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially complete the storied marathon course in 1967.

“In my professional life, there have been times when I have been the only woman in the room,” she said. “In my college days, we would get calls at the sports desk and I was asked to ‘put a man on the phone.’ There is nothing a man can do that a woman cannot – and that includes running 26.2 miles. I look forward to having a ‘fearless’ moment on April 17.”

Wheeler is the associate vice president of people technology, operations and analytics at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. She is chronicling her running journey – and her baking – on her blog.

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.