Running the 26.2 miles of a marathon or 13.1 miles of a half marathon remains among the greatest athletic feats one can achieve in their life. However, what has drawn many students and teachers to long-distance running is the unexpected camaraderie they encountered on their journeys to the finish line.
Senior John Davies said his inspiration to run a marathon started by running with family.
“Around eighth grade, my stepdad was training for a marathon, and I decided to join him on a couple of runs,” Davies said. “Eventually, I started training with him, and I did my first half marathon.”
Training for long-distance runs with his stepdad started as a bonding experience, but it also allowed Davies to realize he enjoyed it, he said. This passion led him to join the high school cross country team, run four half marathons and now train for a full marathon.
Senior Anja Hoy decided to run a half marathon after volunteering at one.
“I volunteered at the Columbus half marathon in April 2023, and I thought it was amazing,” she said. “That’s what made me want to run longer distances.”
She said seeing how hard everyone had worked to get there inspired her.
Davies said his favorite aspect of running is the alone time it brings him.
“I like reflecting on my day,” he said. “It’s a nice break from the stresses of school and life.”
Davies said running clears his head. Even during long, enduring runs, he said he still finds himself at peace. He enjoys listening to the sounds of nature because it serves as a stress reliever for him, he added.
English teacher Jamie Hayes said her running group pushed her to work harder.
“There was one day we did 10 miles before school,” Hayes said. “We met at 4:30 in the morning, and I don’t think I would’ve done that by myself.”
Hayes said running by herself was better at first because it meant fewer distractions, but when she started training with friends for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon, she realized she enjoyed the company. She said often she’d feel a sense of defeat during the race, but her friends kept her running.
“I got nervous and I started to feel like I was holding my running partners back,” she said. “I hit that wall for a second, but I knew my friends weren’t going to let me give up.”
She said they pushed each other in training and in the race. She added she now looks forward to their 5:30 a.m. runs and appreciates the time they spend together.
Math teacher Keary Ryan said running with friends is the reason he decided to run long distances in the first place.
Ryan said after trying out running and deciding to run a 10k, he found that it provided a sense of community.
“I fell in love with it when I ran a 10k because I loved the camaraderie of all the runners where everybody is in it together,” he said.
This newfound love for the sport led him to train for multiple half marathons with a community running group, he added.
Ryan said he enjoyed the training sessions and would come to miss them when the races were over.
“Just the kindness of the people and the positivity,” Ryan explained. “Nobody’s nagging anybody or cheering against you, it’s just community.”
Hoy said she feels similarly about the support after running the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Half Marathon.
“The adrenaline of thousands of people cheering you on is always going to help,” she explained.
She said the half marathon course had people cheering on the sidelines every step of the way, which was a motivator.
Hayes said the highlight of her race was crossing the finish line with her running partners.
“We crossed the finish line together and just hugged and cried,” she said. “It was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was a huge relief, and I was so proud and happy that I actually did finish.”
