Local press covers SPEAC fundraising and training

January 23, 2013 edition (Volume 13, Number 24) of the

Hopkinton Independent

"The Big Picture in a Small Town"

Markey taking advantage of Hopkinton training grounds

by Jean Cann

 

Joe Markey, who lives and works in Hopkinton, will run his second Boston Marathon. He qualified to run the 2012 Boston Marathon, but the heat slowed him in last year’s race. Rather than try to requalify at a different marathon, Markey opted to run with a waiver number from SPEAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council). He hopes to raise at least $3,000 for the non-profit, all-volunteer organization that works with the school district to ensure the effective education of all students with special needs or learning disabilities.

“Raising money for SPEAC is one thing I’m doing to work very locally to make the world overall a better place,” said the former Hopkinton Planning Board member. “Helping children with special needs and their families find the resources they need to learn, cope, and thrive ultimately benefits everyone in our community, and eventually beyond our community.

Fundraising has been on target. Markey has been using a blog (http://joemarkey.blogspot.com) for information about SPEAC, links through which to donate, and training updates. The father of three gets out the door before 6 a.m., and often before 5:30 a.m., six days per week. He started a specific 18-week marathon training program in December, and hit his all-time high of 65 weekly miles last week. Typically, he runs nine miles Monday, 10-15 on Tuesday, five on Wednesday, nine or 10 on Thursday, five on Friday, and a long run of 15 to 20 miles on Saturday.

Markey has achieved the strong training despite a swollen ankle in December. He partially healed it by icing or sticking his bare foot in a snow bank after running. “If there’s something persistent, I call Hopkinton Physical Therapy, and they’ve always provided effective treatment and advice,” he said. “Taking a couple days off is difficult, but better than getting seriously injured and missing the race.

The Markey family lives less than a mile from the Boston Marathon starting line. He finds that his hometown offers many training advantages. “Training on the Boston Marathon course is certainly one advantage,” he said. “An even more important advantage, I think, is the fact that Hopkinton is a very health and fitness oriented community. Hopkinton offers great sidewalks, great scenic roads, great trails, and a unique connection to the marathon that no other town can offer. Whether I run at 5 a.m., 5:30 a.m., or 2 p.m., I can be sure to see many other people also out running. In Hopkinton, you’re always going to find someone who runs further, faster, or overcomes more obstacles in order to run; I find that inspiring, and it certainly creates a standard that sets Hopkinton apart."

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