By Rowan Chetty, Co-T/E Life Editor
On Nov. 24, 12,381 runners crossed the finish line in the 2024 AACR Philadelphia Marathon. I raced among them, finishing in three hours and 11 minutes and placing 11th in my age group.
Inspired by my father, who has run nine marathons, I wanted to challenge myself to complete the 26.2 miles. I initially feared the distance, unsure if I could finish, but after consulting with some teammates who were running the marathon, I was inspired to join them.
As a cross-country and track runner, running is part of my daily routine. However, preparing for a marathon was a completely different challenge. Rather than focusing on speed and anaerobic performance, I had to transition to building stamina over a longer distance. After completing the cross-country season in October, I began my marathon training, switching from shorter runs to longer distances. The transition was initially challenging, as the runs were mentally and physically tiring, but after a few long runs in Valley Forge National Historical Park, I felt confident going into the marathon.
On race day, I woke up at 5 a.m., feeling anxious for the long run ahead of me. I made sure I had my AirPods, running gels and a pair of sunglasses before I left for the city. A small toasted cheese sandwich was all I could stomach before my teammate, senior Kevin Peng, drove us to the starting line in Philadelphia. Security was tight, but we found a quick line and headed to our race corrals after a quick warm-up. My corral was packed with fellow runners, nervously waiting for the race to begin. After a few speeches celebrating the 31st anniversary of the event, the gun went off at 7 a.m., and the 26.2-mile journey began.
The first 10 miles of the race were the easiest. I felt confident as I strode across the city. Cheering supporters and creative signs lining the streets motivated me as I absorbed the various sights of the city. I continued into the next 10 miles relaxed and feeling good. My playlist, composed of songs from 26 of my favorite albums, helped me throughout the middle of the race as I listened to three songs from one album each mile. The music blocked out negative thoughts and kept my morale up throughout the first 20 miles.
At the 23rd mile, the end was close, but my legs felt heavy with fatigue. With only three miles to go, my muscles begged me to stop, but I knew I could not. After shooting down my negative thoughts, I convinced myself to speed up despite the cramping. From the sidelines, I heard my track coach screaming, “Go Rowan, you can do this!” Hearing her motivational cheers, I knew I had to finish this race with a kick. My last mile was my fastest, at six minutes and 47 seconds.
After crossing the finish line, I felt an amazing sense of accomplishment. Legs cramping and sore, I waddled toward the finishers’ pen to collect my gold medal. My phone was buzzing with congratulatory messages, and I was ecstatic, having accomplished my goal.
Completing the marathon was physically and mentally the most challenging race I have ever run. Wearing my Conestoga cross country singlet, I was surprised to hear “Go ’Stoga” cheers from strangers in the crowd. The support from my parents, friends, teammates and coaches not only motivated me, but also showed true friendship and camaraderie. As I’m only 16, I know that there will be many more marathons in my future.
Rowan Chetty can be reached at rchetty@spoke.news.