First it was scheduled for April. Then it was postponed until September. And finally, officials for the Boston Marathon announced the event would be held virtually.

Barrington native Heather Dodge, who had been planning to run the marathon, decided to run her virtual Boston Marathon on the East Bay Bike Path and was very happy she did.

"The bike path seemed like a great choice for many reasons; it’s beautiful, flat and near most of our family," she said.

"I’m pretty sure I picked one of the most beautiful courses in New England and even got some great cheers from fellow runners and cyclists."

Heather said planning for the marathon did present some challenges. For starters, she needed to think about staying hydrated on the 26.2-mile course, and also had to plan for bathroom stops. She said she wore a belt equipped with water bottles that her family members refilled throughout the run.

"…thankfully I didn’t need the bathroom although we had some friends who live on the path and Borealis Coffee shop in Riverside willing and ready to provide one for me," she said.

Heather said she is not a natural marathoner, and realized that completing the task would be difficult.

"It was a huge challenge for me and I have been truly overwhelmed by the donations, encouragement and support of so many people," she said. "I was running for an amazing cause, one that effects so many families and it definitely kept me motivated. I ran the first half alone and then had family members run stints with me during the second 13.1 miles. It took me nearly 5 hours and was absolutely the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically."

The challenge of completing a marathon is equalled by the fund-raising required by many people who run the Boston Marathon. Heather ran for The McCourt Foundation, which is a Boston-based charity that raises money and awareness for neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

"My husband and I have been involved with the organization since its beginning in 1992," Heather said. "I committed to raising $10,000 which somehow even with COVID and not being able to hold fund-raisers, I did it."