Mark Adamiak Runs Boston Marathon for Playworks New England

Fifteen years ago, Mark Adamiak, 24, of Somerville, met one of his best friends, Trevor Perry, of Boston, playing capture the flag. The boys often participated in neighborhood pick-up games, challenging their strategic thinking and team building skills as well as physical abilities. Now, the life-long friends are training together to run in what will be Adamiak’s first marathon, the Boston Marathon. They will lace up to support Playworks New England to give youth the same opportunities to play that they had during and after the school day.

Playworks New England is a regional branch of a national nonprofit working to bring play and physical activity into elementary schools as a means to improve the health and well-being of children and to enhance learning. Through onsite direct-service coaching and training school faculty and staff, the organization integrates physical activity and social-emotional learning into organized activities during recess. The goal is to create a space where students feel included, are active, and build valuable social and emotional skills needed to thrive in the classroom and beyond.

Perry works for the nonprofit as a Playworks Coach. He leads elementary school students through activities and games during recess and provides training for Boston Public School staff to help them translate skills and lessons learned from the playground to the classroom. Perry’s stories of positively impacting his students through the power of play inspired Adamiak to get involved with the organization. Entering its 11^th year, Playworks New England serves 50,000 students in more than 100 elementary schools across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. To date, the nonprofit has served 160,000 youth.

“A kid’s development isn’t limited to what he or she does in the classroom. What kids do on the playground plays a huge part in who they will become as adults,” says Adamiak. “People often don’t correlate the benefits of recess with things like test scores that schools are judged on. But, recess is something that they don’t even realize recess is mentally stimulating, and not just physical and fun.”

Adamiak is one of six Playworks New England team members who will run for the cause, donning red and purple singlets with the Playworks logo front and center. Although this is his first marathon, he is no stranger to hitting the pavement. In high school, the self-proclaimed novice runner ran track and cross country. In college at Bentley University, Adamiak played ultimate Frisbee and joined a running club where he began competing in mid-distance races, including 5K’s, 10K’s and two half-marathons.

As a spectator, Adamiak has attended the last seven consecutive Boston Marathons. In 2013, he was abruptly ushered off the course as he was walking to meet his brother at the Boylston finish line when the first bomb exploded. He has since been determined to conquer the event. He and his girlfriend, Lisa Giorgetti, will both run the Boston Marathon. Giorgetti will be running as a member of the Brigham and Women’s Stepping Strong team.

“A lot of people have the mentality that they can’t run a marathon because they are intimidated by the distance,” says Adamiak. “The hardest part for me is the commitment – you have to be willing to put in the work. But, you just need to take it one step at a time and to run for a cause that is close to your heart makes the work that much more rewarding.”

During the week, Adamiak does interval training on a treadmill and runs up and down hills near his house. On the weekends, he participates in Playworks team trainings, going longer distances, and also practices yoga. As Adamiak continues to increase his miles, he is more conscious of what he eats – lean proteins, more carbs, and peanut butter treats.

In the weeks leading up to the Boston Marathon, the Playworks team will participate in a number of fundraising initiatives, including holding raffles and hosting events. On Friday, March 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the team will host a fundraiser at Harpoon Brewery. The event is open to the public. Admission is $30 and includes unlimited pizza and beer samples. Through his run, Adamiak hopes to raise $7,500 to support Playworks New England.

For more information about Playworks New England or to donate to Adamiak’s run, visit: https://www.crowdrise.com/PlayworksBoston2017/fundraiser/markadamiak.