As Patriots’ Day, or Marathon Monday, approaches, college students around Boston get excited for a day off from school and a reason to day-drink during a stressful finals season. But while these activities are enjoyable, they pale in comparison to the beauty of attending the Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon, recognized worldwide for its prestige and difficulty, has been held on Patriots’ Day since 1897. As the world’s oldest annual marathon, it is widely known as one of the most difficult road races in the world due to the infamous Newton hills, or “Heartbreak Hill.” As I approach the end of my third year in Boston, I am looking forward to the emotional magic that I experience at the marathon every year. 

As a former Division I cross country and track athlete, take it from me: running is never easy. While it can get easier with consistency, it is a sport that taxes you both mentally and physically. 

As I prepare for my first marathon this May in my hometown of Pittsburgh, I appreciate those running Boston that much more. The tax on your body that training for this incredibly long race takes is so difficult, but when I run through Newton on the Boston Marathon course, the community is unwavering. 

These past few weeks, as I’ve strained running up Heartbreak Hill, there are cowbells and tents with free water, people running by you high-fiving and hyping you up. If this community shows up to cheer on those just training; imagine the community that shows up on the actual day. 

If you know someone running the Boston Marathon, that makes the day so much more exciting. The past two years, I have been cheering on people I know and people I don’t — and while having someone to support is not necessary to enjoy the race, it certainly heightens the emotions you feel from the sideline. 

This year, my best friend’s mom and a plethora of my former teammates are running. My excitement for them continues to grow as we approach April 20. If you have never experienced the moment where you see someone you care about trooping through Beacon Street at mile 22, you are truly missing out. 

If you have spoken to anyone in their 20s recently, you’ll know that marathon running is all the rage. The trend has skyrocketed in the past few years, with many millennials and Generation Z embracing the challenging race. While some may scoff at the trendiness of the sport and genuinely dislike running, it is undoubtedly one of the healthiest trends Gen Z has spearheaded. 

The beauty of running is that its difficulty persists no matter your level; it is a non-discriminatory sport. This aspect is not a bug, but a feature that fosters a community of support rather than just competition. Even if marathon running may not be for you, running in general gives you an incredible community to join, and all for a fairly low cost. All you really need is a pair of sneakers, and then it’s you and your legs against the world. 

The Boston Marathon also comes at the perfect time. The world today is a hectic place. It can be overwhelming and depressing when the news is consistently negative and hate persists worldwide. In the United States, we are experiencing increased economic and political tensions, particularly with the war in Iran, and as college students, we feel these tensions in our classes and our everyday lives. 

One of the best ways to take an emotional break is to look towards one’s community, and the Boston Marathon provides a stage for that. Even after the heartbreaking 2013 bombing, Boston residents came together and supported one another, and this support is evident 13 years later. 

Watching strangers complete a grueling 26.2 miles through unknown weather and challenges shows us the power of humanity. You see people celebrate one another in a way that is absent in everyday life, and it can show us how to cheer on those we don’t know. 

In a world filled with polarization and judgment, cheering on people you know nothing about, other than their shared love for the sport, is a beautiful thing. It brings communities together, allowing us to stand with our neighbors and watch as these incredible athletes run one of the hardest races in the world. 

This Patriots Day, make your way to the Boston Marathon course and celebrate those completing this gritty race. While the world may be falling apart around us, we remain Boston strong, and on marathon Monday, let’s show the world how Boston celebrates its community. 

Ava Vitiello is a third-year political science major. She can be reached at [email protected].

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