While the weather was cooler than last year, Gordon says that it was hotter than would be ideal.

Along the path, however, house residents helped out with their hoses, and Gordon took advantage, she says.

As the finish line grew tantalizingly near, the last three miles became the most physically demanding of the race, Gordon says.

“Three is hard and long after you’ve already run 23,” she says. “Our energy at the end was entirely coming from the people telling us to dig.”

Finishing in downtown Boston, Gordon clocked in at four hours and 18 minutes. She collected her medal and her family and friends and went back to Leverett House for dinner.

“I’ll have to celebrate in a more active way later,” she says.

Madigan-Curtis finished after four hours and 30 minutes. She talked to the China Care members who came to watch and then took a taxi back to campus.

“I’m going to study for my Chinese test later,” she says, lamenting how she has fallen behind because of the race.

Gordon and Madigan-Curtis both say that they enjoyed their marathoning experience, they probably won’t go through the ordeal again.

The training, Gordon says, forced her to change her lifestyle.

“There were times when I wanted to not have to think about keeping my body healthy and be able to drink a lot of alcohol,” she says.

Madigan-Curtis says that after accomplishing her personal and charitable goals, she probably won’t be motivated to run again.

Asked whether this was her first and last marathon, she says, “It very well could be.”