Known as the world’s oldest race and one of the most challenging, the Boston Marathon is not for the faint of heart. But that's not stopping Ponte Vedra Beach resident Julie Copaken, who is taking on the challenge April 15.
Copaken will run in memory of her father, who died in 2008 from pancreatic cancer. She's running on behalf of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to raise money for cancer treatment and research.
"I've been raising money for the fight against cancer for the last 13 years," said Copaken, whose best friend also died from breast cancer in 2009. "Of all the Boston Marathon charities, Dana-Farber is most closely aligned with my charitable priorities and specific programs for both breast cancer and pancreatic cancer research."
Inspired by her sister, Laura, Copaken started running in 2009. Laura had already been running since college, and Copaken had flown out to Boston three times already to watch and cheer her on. They were both supposed to run the 2018 Boston Marathon with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team but had to cancel when their uncle died after a multiple-year battle with a malignant brain tumor. His funeral was on marathon day.
The tables turned this year when Copaken's sister underwent foot surgery. Now, Laura will be watching from the sidelines as Copaken conquers the 2019 Boston Marathon on her own.
"My sister had her toe amputated and she wishes she could just run," Copaken said when asked what helped motivate her during training. "I think of her and the people I've lost and think I'm fortunate just to be able to run."
Training four to five days a week and following a strict, 18-week program by renowned runner Hal Higdon since the beginning of November, Copekan is ready to cross the finish line. She’s hoping to hit her personal best, with 4:45:00 set as her goal. But if she finishes at 5:15:00, she said she’ll be ok with that too.
Twenty-six miles is a long way to go, but with the proper training and mindset, Copaken believes anyone can finish the Boston Marathon.
"To get in, you need to qualify,” she said. “There are training programs out there for anyone. Finding an organization close to your heart is something to consider. If I can do it, anyone can do it."
Copaken’s positive outlook and determination stemmed from her father, who she keeps in mind with every run — even with her Boston Marathon application. When it asked to supply a story of her most memorable race, she didn’t even choose running, but instead a memory from her rowing days back in college with her father at her side.
“You only get one shot at nationals, and this was it, so I rowed, and we won!” Copaken wrote in her application. “And for the record, my dad, who had taught me all about commitment and persistence and was truly responsible for getting me to that place and time, was there with video camera in hand videotaping the whole thing. And then he edited together a movie, and put it to music, and mailed off VHS tapes to all my teammates. Because … that’s just the sort of thing he did.”
