Boston Marathon Profile: Laura Jacobson

SUDBURY, MA — Sudbury has 32 residents running in this year's Boston Marathon.

Sudbury Patch highlights those runners in the next few weeks.

Today, we meet Laura Jacobson, who is 53. Good luck, Laura!

Reason for running: My father, Bob Pill, passed away on Feb. 27 after a relatively short battle with gall bladder cancer. I think about him every day and miss him more than I can describe. He was an incredible person who has continued to teach me things about myself, and about the person he was during his lifetime.

My father was an ethical business owner who always expected honesty and integrity from others. He was committed to his own life-long learning and supported his children and grandchildren in their education journeys. He was a dedicated father, husband and friend, had many interests and enjoyed adventures and taking risks. He was a man I admire and hope to emulate.

During my dad's illness, he demonstrated his unwavering bravery, resilience and sense of humor, despite the pain, terror and uncertainty he was facing. I truly believe that the support he received from all of his family and friends, and the expert medical care he received from the Dana-Farber, strengthened his ability to fight his illness, and to end his life as he would have liked, with dignity and with grace.

Now, in his honor, I am embarking on one of the biggest challenges of my life, training for and running the Boston Marathon. My personal quest, no matter how difficult it will be for me, pales in comparison to the challenges that my dad faced, and that cancer patients continue to face every day. By participating in the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC), I'm supporting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's goal to find better therapies and, ultimately, cures for cancer.

Marathon experience: This is my very first marathon. Up until this past November, the longest distance I ever ran was about 10 miles. Now a "short" run is 14-16. I grew up in Newton along the marathon route and have wonderful memories of cheering for the runners as they passed my house. For a long time I have thought that I would like to challenge myself physically by running a marathon and after my dad died I felt that it was the right time. I would be able to push myself in a way I have never pushed myself before, raise money for an incredible organization, and honor my dad.

Training tip: The biggest challenge has been finding what foods help and what foods hinder. It is important to give yourself time to figure this out while you are training. Which gel sits best in your stomach? Do chews work? Gatorade vs. water? It is also important to find out which meals provide the most energy without upsetting your stomach while you run. I have found that I crave salmon and baked potatoes, and need to stay away from greens the night before a training run.

Photo (submitted): Jacobson (on the left) with friend Shari Grosso, who is also from Sudbury. Photo was taken Oct. 16 before the Tufts 10K

Are you running the Boston Marathon? We'd love to feature you, too. Email charlene.arsenault@patch.com.