Fewer than 1 percent of people will ever run a marathon in their lifetime, according to a global analysis from the Marathon Handbook. A small group of Massachusetts high schoolers has been working to join that percentage.
Founded in 2008 at Newton South High School, DreamFar is New England’s first and only high school marathon training club. Their mission: to help teens develop physical and mental wellness, community and confidence to prepare for and run a full or half marathon. The club was brought to the high school in 2010 by social worker Paul Epstein and is currently led by science teachers Jack Reed and Elsbeth Leslie.
The club saw significant success following its expansion, gaining traction and building a strong student base. Leading up to the COVID pandemic, the team was at an all-time high. However, Leslie said the shutdown did a number on the club.
“Before COVID, our team was 26 students,” Leslie said. “Then, they only allowed returners the year they came back, and most people had graduated.”
Today, the club and its three remaining members can be found after school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in room 315. Leslie said the club is currently in the early stages of training for its next marathon and is eager to recruit new members.
“We’re still taking new people and would love everyone,” Leslie said. “Our three people who made it to the end of the season last year were all 9th graders, now 10th graders. I’m really hoping that they’ll attract friends, and we’ll continue to gain more people and build back up our numbers to where we were before.”
Sophomore and team captain Zavier Quinones said that many people are put off by the level of commitment that is required.
“The problem with growing this club is that running a marathon is something a lot of people want to do but don’t want to put the effort or time into,” Quinones said. “So it’s really hard to advertise.”
On top of offering a unique opportunity for students and teachers to stay active, Reed said it also has a friendly atmosphere.
“I wanted to be a part of it as soon as I got here. These are the people I wanted to run with,” Reed said. “Spending time with them, listening to music, that’s really my memory of the past year.”
According to Quinones, the DreamFar club has helped build valuable connections for its members and build camaraderie outside of a school setting.
“We started bonding, talking more with people while running and seeing each other more often,” Quinones said. “We built a sense of community.”
DreamFar does not stop there; according to Leslie, students come out with real-life skills and experience.
“It’s not just the miles; students gain confidence and feel good about who they are,” Leslie said. “You set this goal for this really hard thing. Then it’s little by little, week by week, and next thing you know, you’re running 18 to 20 miles on a Saturday.”
While the concept of the club may seem daunting, Reed said it is open to anyone, no matter their skill level.
“[It] is great for people who have zero running experience, zero background. There is no ‘Will I be good enough? Will I make the cut?’” Reed said. “Everyone is welcome, and we take them all. Kids can come in at any walk of life and come out having done something epic.”
