On April 21, Wellesley students Noora Harake ’25 and Nicole Sobski ’25 ran the Boston Marathon, one of the world’s most prestigious marathons with a notoriously difficult course and over 30,000 registered participants per year. 

The Boston Marathon, which starts in Hopkinton and ends on Boylston Street, runs through Wellesley College at the halfway mark; students take full advantage of this opportunity by forming the renowned Scream Tunnel to cheer on the runners, with particular enthusiasm for Harake and Sobski this year. The News interviewed both students for a glimpse into their marathon experience. 

When asked what inspired her to run the marathon this year, Sobski reminisced on her first MarMon at Wellesley as a first-year and the inspiration that came with seeing so many accomplished runners. 

She explained that in order to run the marathon, one must have a qualifying time or run for a charity. 

“I really wanted to run for cancer charity because prior to Wellesley, I lost my aunt to lung cancer, so I wanted to raise money for something that was impactful. Running for the marathon and for a cause like that felt like the perfect combination.” Sobski ended up running for Dana-Farber, where every donation supports cutting-edge cancer research. 

In Harake’s case, she had run cross-country throughout middle and high school and had continued to run in college. 

“I’ve always enjoyed running, and last summer I decided to run a 10k, and then I did a half marathon in the fall, and then I told myself, ‘Why do a half when you could do a full [marathon]?’”said Harake.

 The charity she ended up running for was Cops for Kids with Cancer, a charity dedicated to raising money for children battling cancer. 

For both runners, training began last summer, months before the marathon. Sobski ran her first marathon in Cape Cod last October to prepare for the Boston marathon and followed a training schedule that consisted of running between 20-30 miles per week. Similarly, Harake would run up to 30 miles per week, with longer runs on weekends. They also incorporated weight training into their preparation. 

Not getting sick in the weeks leading up to the marathon became a priority as well. Harake said no to social events, wore a mask in public spaces, and slept more to stay healthy. Both Harake and Sobski also made sure to increase their carbohydrate intake. 

The day of the marathon was a flurry of emotions for both students. 

“The day before [the marathon], there was a lot of adrenaline… It was really hard for me to sleep the night before. I woke up around 6:30 a.m. and ate a large breakfast to fuel myself,” recounted Sobski.

 “Once I started, it felt very electric because there were so many people along the entirety of the route. There were kids holding out twizzlers to the runners, there was a bakery in Wellesley handing out croissants, people were handing out beers, donuts and orange slices. There was so much support from people which made it easier. When I got to Wellesley, that was an incredibly special moment. Everyone was so supportive and people were cheering, and I remember feeling very loved at that point.” 

The most difficult part of the marathon for both was Heartbreak Hill, a half-mile incline towards the end of the course that is infamously challenging for runners. Motivational signs were especially helpful in those moments. “Early on, I saw a woman holding a sign that said ‘When you can’t run with your legs anymore, run with your heart,’ and that was a quote that I kept with me throughout the rest of the race.” 

As Wellesley students, a highlight for both Harake and Sobski was passing through the Scream Tunnel — which Sobski confirmed was indeed one of the loudest parts of the course. Supportive and excited friends awaited both students, and the energy of the Wellesley community stayed with Harake and Sobski until the end. 

“It was a strange, surreal feeling to be on the other side [of the Scream Tunnel]. MarMon is a national holiday at Wellesley, and people tend to go crazy, but my MarMon looked a bit different this year,” said Harake.

Being able to share the marathon experience with another Wellesley student was comforting for both Harake and Sobski. They attended the Boston Marathon Expo together, where they picked up their bib and other running goods. They also messaged each other words of encouragement the evening before and met each other at the finish line, surrounded by thousands of other runners. 

In Harake’s case, the Wellesley Biology and History departments — where she is majoring and minoring in, respectively — both donated to her charity, along with the Wellesley College Police Department. 

“I tried to get in contact with the Wellesley administration, the Board of Trustees, at least to get the support of the College and yet I did not hear back from them, so that was a bit disappointing, and I wish they would’ve helped more,” Harake commented.
Although they experienced intense soreness in the following days, Harake and Sobski were determined to run more marathons in future and eventually qualify for the Boston Marathon.

“The human body is designed for endurance. You don’t have to be particularly fit in order to run a marathon. There’s a lot more of a mental and self-discipline component. As long as you follow a training schedule and eat well, anyone can complete a marathon,” said Harake.

Contact the editor responsible for this story: Valida Pau.