Excerpted from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette 4/20/2008
Photo copyright: Rich Dugas, T&G
She didn't run cross country in high school or college, but it should come as no surprise that Sumner Fletcher turned in a fine qualifying time for Boston in her marathon debut last October.
As an Uxbridge High senior four years ago, Fletcher was a Division 2 all-star in field hockey and Southern Worcester County League all-star in track on some stellar Spartan teams, accomplishments fostered through a rigorous work ethic.
Aside from just running, Fletcher has continually worked out in the swimming pool and the weight room. She is one of three members who have trained in part at the Whitin Community Center in Northbridge. Kim Morrison and the Telegram & Gazette's own Bill Ballou, both of Whitinsville, are running Boston for the first time.
"I was always pretty regimented, always looking into new training schedules, different interval workouts," said the 22-year-old Fletcher, who will graduate from the University of Vermont next month with a major in studio art and minor in environmental studies.
Fletcher had become a fixture on the roads of Burlington and the Blackstone Valley as a college student, so at her parents' urging, she began training in marathon mode last year.
"I always wanted to run a marathon, but I just didn't know when I'd get around to do it," she said.
In the Bay State Marathon in Lowell last October, she even surprised herself with her 3:13:36 finish, good for sixth among women.
"I went out, had fun and didn't know if I'd even be able to finish it," Fletcher said. "I stayed relaxed, with a good, positive attitude; to take it as it went."
She stayed relatively injury free while turning in several 70-mile weeks in preparation for tomorrow, even running as many as 100 miles in a week. In February, she joined the Sisu Project, a track club based in Haverhill, and won the women's 5,000 meters at the USATF New England Indoor meet at Harvard University in her Sisu debut. She'd like to add triathlons to her competition repertoire.
Breaking three hours tomorrow "is a goal, but not a major goal," according to Fletcher.
"I'd definitely like to get a lower time and really enjoy the experience," she said. "I'm really grateful that I have this opportunity."
(UPDATE: Sumner ran a PR of 3:04:51 at the Boston Marathon, 2008)
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