NOTEBOOK
From Tennis to 26.2
2016 Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig is shifting from the courts to the pavement, aiming to complete all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
What does running mean to you?
Running is something that I never used to enjoy, believe it or not. Whenever I was told to step on the treadmill or do sprints, I would roll my eyes and sigh. However, a few months ago, an ongoing injury forced me to retire from professional tennis and I started to run. Running helped give me a goal, a sense of purpose and a drive that eased the difficulty of needing to step away from something that I loved very much.
How did you get into running?
My husband is a marathoner and actually helped me get into running. He had run three previous marathons and when we began dating, we went on hikes and small runs here and there and we had talked about running a marathon together. This became our thing over time! We love running together and we love being able to push one another.
Has your tennis career and mindset in matches helped you prepare to take on the marathon?
Tennis and running have a lot in common. First, it's individual, and second, it's extremely mental. When you're running, it may seem like it's you against the field; however, it's really you against yourself. Only you have the ability to make yourself go faster or slower and only you can push yourself and test your own limits. In tennis, it's the same! I feel that tennis and running go hand in hand and it has given me a great mental base to start this journey.
Tell us about your first marathon.
My first marathon was in NYC in 2022. My husband and I ran this marathon together just one week before our wedding! Running a major marathon as my first was intimidating of course! I had no idea what to expect, but I wanted to trust myself and my training every step of the way. However, when you're out there running, most of your training goes out the window because of the adrenaline and the crowds. The weather was very warm and it was a tough race, but seeing many people cheering and yelling on the sidelines was a boost of energy. I tried to let the crowds and the emotion carry me through to the finish line and honestly, it was one of the most liberating experiences I've ever had!
Is it true you want to complete each of the Abbott World Marathon Majors? What has motivated you to take on that challenge?
YES! It is true! I put this as a challenge for me after my tennis career. I wanted to find something to fuel my fire and something that I could channel my competitive spirit into. I want to prove to myself that I can continue to fight for my goals and dreams. I was feeling so lost after my retirement and running gave me a purpose.
What's your favorite place to run?
My favorite place to run has been on a trail close to my home! It is a beautiful trail with lots of trees which make for great shade in the summer and beautiful colors in the winter.
If you could run with anyone, anywhere, who would you run with and where?
I would really love to run with Eliud Kipchoge! I know that I probably cannot run at his pace but he is the greatest runner in the world. The way that he continues to surpass limits amazes me, and he wants to continue to break records. Not only that, but he looks likes such a down-to-earth person and loves to give back. I would just love to know more about him and his story and what motivates him and pushes him to be the best! And as far as running place… that would be up
to him! I would be honored just to be in the same room as this legend!
What are you most looking forward to in Boston?
I am looking forward to running one of the most historic races in the world! I have family that lives in Boston and having a great support system is exactly what you need in a race like this. But, honestly, I just want to get out there and run and just free myself once again on the streets of a marathon and continue to push my limits and see how far I have come. Hoping for a sub-4-hour finish!
Any race day superstitions?
I don't think I have any superstitions, to be honest. When I was playing tennis, I used to listen to the same song over and over during my activation before going out on court, but I don't think I have developed one for running yet! It's only the beginning, though, so time will tell.
If you had to trade your tennis Olympic gold medal for a gold medal in track and field, what distance/event would it be in?
Although I wouldn't trade my gold medal in tennis for anything, if it was in track and field, I think it would be 100 meter sprint. I used to train sprints and quick twitch movements for my career and I really did enjoy my agility days! It was one of the workouts that I was actually happy to do!
Brock Holt
Ryan Dempster
RED SOX TURNED MARATHONERS
A pair of Red Sox legends and World Series champions will take on the Boston Marathon course for the first time, ten years after winning a title at Fenway Park.
course for the first time, ten years after winning a title at Fenway Park. Infielder/outfielder Brock Holt and pitcher Ryan Dempster were both part of the historic team to win the 2013 World Series while sporting the famous B Strong patch on their uniforms, honoring those affected by the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Now a decade later, the pair will trade their cleats for running shoes as they tackle 26.2 miles.
“Never thought I would voluntarily choose to run 26.2 miles but could not be more excited to do so,” Holt wrote on Instagram. Along with wife Lakyn, he’ll be running for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute marathon team. “As we train and look to break the course record, our main goal is to continue to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer.”