Sports

Marathon Woman: Why Marjorie Morse Runs

At 56, she's running her 21st Boston Marathon today.

Mother Nature may be bringing the heat, but that's OK; Marjorie Morse's determination is weatherproof.

This will be the 21st Boston Marathon for Morse, 56, who has done everything she can to prep for the race. It's not about winning, although taking a rain check (or more like heat check) as offered by organizers, worried about the extreme temperatures, was not an option for Morse.

"I'm going to run, no matter what," said Morse on Saturday, not long after returning from picking up her official jersey number.

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Morse is a physical trainer by profession, owner of PhyZZically Fit in Nashua, so she understands the real risks involved in attempting the grueling marathon course in extreme heat.

"Boston Athletic Association is recommending people don't run. They're worried about heat stroke. They're worried about dehydration or over-hydration. A lot of inexperienced runners will be out there running because of the charities they represent. But even the elite runners will be challenged – anybody could have a  problem," Morse said. "The heat will change the outcome by making us all run slower, that's for sure."

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Speed is not a factor for Morse, who had her best run "many years ago," when she completed the course in 3:59.

"Now, I'm looking at five hours to finish. I'll compensate by wearing a lot less than I normally would, just shorts and singlet. I'll wear a hat and use sunblock and pour water over my head and arms. And I'll have to walk some of the way, but I'm not going to worry about my time. That's not why I run," Morse said.

Despite a disciplined fitness regime, Morse admits running marathons doesn't come easy to her. "I'm not fast, but I love to run, especially because this means so much," Morse said.

Although it's her 21st Boston race, the ones that really count are the 18 she's run for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, something she started doing after losing her dad, Gilbert Morse, in 1989 to colon cancer. He was just 62.

"Back there there weren't that many runners on the team. Now we have 500 runners, and we raise millions and millions which goes directly to scientists and researchers at Dana Farber, which is important to me," Morse said.

She also runs for Anthony Quartarone, who was 8 when he died 14 years ago of cancer. Morse was matched with Anthony through the In-Memory Program organized by Dana-Farber. Through that experience, Morse has formed an important bond with Anthony's family, who come out to support her each year.

There are seven others that Morse runs in memory of, as well as a growing list of friends and family currently in treatment.

"One reason I keep going is because it's such an effective way to raise money for the cause," said Morse, who last year raised a personal record $7,400. She's hoping to surpass that amount this year.

"It's hard, especially for me, to ask people for money. Over all the years I've been doing this, I've raised $93,000. People are generous. They anticipate that I'm going to ask each year, and they continue to give, so I feel like I have to keep it going," Morse said. 


Others who signed up to run from Nashua, from the BAA website:

If you, or someone you know, is on this list, we'd love to get an update on whether they ran and how they did. Drop us a line: carol.robidoux@patch.com

Aschbrenner, Ryan 34 M Nashua


Brannen, Tyler 39 M Nashua


Bull, Christina M 28 F Nashua


Busby, Robert C. 32 M Nashua


Galli, Elizabeth 32 F Nashua


McCarthy, Rebecca L. 34 F Nashua


McDevitt, Colin J. 37 M Nashua


Moore, Amelia R. 37 F Nashua


Morasse, Joe 32 M Nashua


Morse, Marjorie J. 56 F Nashua


O'Connell, Jim 43 M Nashua


Palmer, Jonathan E. 27 M Nashua


Patronick, Justin R. 32 M Nashua


Rouleau, Stephen 33 M Nashua


Sinnott, Daniel J. 36 M Nashua


Somorrostro, Julie A. 38 F Nashua


Taylor, Christina M. 31 F Nashua


Triest-Hallahan, Pam A. 51 F Nashua


Valeri, Stephen 27 M Nashua


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