STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Making the commitment was the easy step. The runners then had to concoct and follow a rigorous running regiment that would condition them to endure the 26.2 miles.

The students independently devised similar programs. Overwhelmingly, they decided to run short distances of about five miles on the weekdays, and then indulge in a longer run of up to 20 miles on the weekend. The longer distances decreased as the marathon neared.

“Three to four weeks before the marathon, you begin a taper to drop your mileage,” said Woo, explaining that runners want to avoid overexertion and injury.

Most of the students said they follow the asphalt path along the Charles River. “For longer runs, it’s really nice when I get to run toward Boston,” said Woo.

But Gordon said that after so many miles, the scenery becomes dull.

“I run along the Charles, but it gets so boring and repetitive after a while,” she said. Instead, she and a friend who is from the area and knows the roads sometimes run to places like Belmont, Arlington, and Brookline.

“We did some great runs where we would just explore,” she said.

A common belief among the runners was that mornings are the best time to exercise, and McDonough said that an early run calms her throughout the day. But not everybody can brush the sleep out of their eyes— and legs– for an early start.

“I wish that I liked the morning, but I can’t run in the mornings because my body is far too tired,” said Gordon.

When Madigan-Curtis tries to wake up in the morning, “it’s time to go back to sleep,” she said. “I definitely run in the late afternoon and early evening, and I really like the sunset.”

EATING THE PART

Staying in tiptop shape has forced the students to make some social sacrifices.

“It’s kind of tough because you can’t really party on Fridays when you have to get up and run 18 miles,” said Stephen J. Fiascone ’08, who trained with Rizzo and is running in the marathon today.

There was universal agreement that alcohol would have to wait until after the race.