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From her bandit days to now, Kathy Murphy has lived much of the Boston Marathon's rich history.
The Worcester native, resident and Doherty High grad always enjoyed running but didn't compete for the Highlanders because she was working up to 30 hours a week at the local CVS.
Like many marathoners of old, who were milkmen, pressmen and other blue-collar workers, Murphy would squeeze in time to hit the roads, and did the same with a running club while attending UMass, with a keen eye on someday running in the Boston Marathon.
So not long after graduating with a degree in speech pathology, Murphy took on the task of finding a sideways route to the starting line in Hopkinton, in 1982, the year of the fantastic finish between Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley. She did the same two years later and once again before running with an official number on her singlet.
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"After college, I really wanted to run Boston," she said. "That first one, I ran with shoes from Charlie's Surplus, and with those high basketball socks."
On April 21, Murphy takes off from Hopkinton for the 18th time, in the 129th Boston Marathon, and as one who has posted 10 qualifying times to participate. Of course her standard has eased since she's now 67, but the competitive fire remains from when at 27, she finished the 1985 Worcester Marathon in a personal-best 3:30, then still 10 minutes short of a Boston qualifer.
"It's a very emotional experience," Murphy, who retired after 30 years as a speech pathologist in the Hudson public school but continues to work in the field in Upton and North Brookfield, said of Boston. "I do cry at the end, and I'm proud that I fought the fight."
Murphy, who has completed 32 marathons in all, has been the mark of consistency over the past several years. Her last seven Bostons have boasted finishes in the 4:10-4:20 range, often while turning in negative splits. She crossed the line in 4:21 last year, another qualifying time.
But this past year, Murphy has been battling a series of injuries, beginning with a stress fracture to a foot last summer that kept her off the roads for a month, around the time she had planned to represent Central Mass Striders at a USATF event.
"As soon as I start feeling better, I'll pick up the pace too soon," she said. "Guess I'm not a good patient."
Murphy spent January, February and half of March in Florida, and even tried a little speed work. She tempers her expectations for this year's race.
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Nonetheless Murphy has continued to maintain her mileage base, having run a 19-miler March 22 and taking in another such long run before race day. "It was not a typical pace," she said. "But I'll finish no matter what.
"I have run marathons in total pain, but it gets harder nowadays to get back from injury."
Murphy acknowledges other challenges that Boston poses.
"Boston is the hardest because the weather is unpredictable, so you keep fighting the fight," she said. "Running in the later waves can be a disadvantage. The waves move along, but if you're in a late wave and it's a hot day, you'll really be running in the heat."
Then there are the chillier times, including when she was interviewed pre- and post-race by Runner's World in 2007, when rumors circulated of a possible postponement because of rain, high winds and other nasty weather forecast.
"In 2018, I was so cold, my teeth chattered, I couldn't text," she added. "At the 20-mile mark, there were these people who had a box of socks they were putting on our hands. Those people were so kind. The spectators are awesome in Boston, especially when the weather is bad."
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The miles between Wellesley and Commonwealth Ave. also provide a test for Murphy. "The toughest part of course is between Wellesley and the Newton fire station," she acknowledged of when a right off Beacon Street turns to the Newton hills. "I love it when you turn that corner."
Murphy's more serious running didn't pick up until she was in her 40s, as her four children were growing older. "That set me back several years," she mused. "But I'd still get a cell call from one of them every once in a while I was on the road."
Yet at least one of the kids caught the bug. Daughter Shela Arias just ran her second marathon, a 3:28 in California, only three minutes shy of qualifying for Boston.
Murphy credits her former husband Tim, who coached running at South High and Assumption. "He really has been a huge help and very supportive."
Her days remain full, and the juggling act continues.
"It's hard to work and run," said Murphy, who frequently rises at 4:20 a.m. for a run, sometimes as far as 6 miles, often followed by a strength workout at the Y. "If I don't, I'll get hurt."
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Fall marathons are enjoyable for Murphy, who has completed New York City five times and will run this year's Chicago with her younger sister, Chris Sheney. "Chicago is a great marathon, and it's all flat," Murphy said.
This year's Boston is especially meaningful for Murphy. She's running for the Mass. General Hospital Marathon Team in honor of a family member, who is a patient. As an official entrant, she was asked to raise just $1,000 but has received more than $8,000 in pledges
"I figured how can I do something for him," she said. "I'm not running it for my own stupid ego."
How many more Bostons does Murphy have in her?
"I want to keep running Boston, until I'm 70, and I promised the kids I'd end this."
—Contact John Conceison at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ConceisonJohn.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Heading into 18th Boston Marathon, Worcester's Murphy still savors moments
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