Tufts Marathon Team

[Mastadon]

Today’s Boston Marathon is major event for Tufts. Although “only” 34 people are running this year to raise money for health related issues (the number of non-professional entrants has been severely cut back since the marathon bombings) 2,200 members of the Tufts community have completed the the race over the past fifteen years. Many others volunteer to man the water stations along the course, and many more watch the race and cheer on their fellow Jumbos.

The training paid off. This year, Polshuk is one of 34 Tufts students, alumni, staff and friends who will don one of the Tufts Marathon Team’s yellow singlets on April 17 and run 26.2 miles to raise money to support nutrition programs at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts, including research on childhood obesity, through the school’s partnership with health insurer John Hancock. The team’s goal this year is to raise $350,000. There’s still plenty of time to support the Jumbo marathoners.

Megerle has coached the team since it was started in 2003. Fouteen years later, he remains just as devoted to his runners, who call him Coach. He leads group runs Wednesday and Sunday mornings from July through April, regardless of weather, and indoor interval training on Tuesdays. He meets one-on-one with runners in his office at 80 George St., where the walls are covered with photos of past team members.

“I tell them when you put on this singlet, you’re Superman or Superwoman,” Megerle said. “You can do anything you want to do.”

At the same time, Coach stresses the importance of pacing yourself, drinking enough water, getting enough nutrition and always running with a partner. The regimen has led almost all 2,200 runners in the team’s history to successfully compete the marathon, he said.

[hebrewhammer]

There were also a number of Jumbo alumni out on the course yesterday who entered the race having hit the qualifying standard, including one who placed 52nd overall