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When Cullene Murphy lines up at the start line to a marathon, she focuses on one thing: the finish line. Murphy, a nurse in Hematology-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has crossed marathon finish lines almost 90 times.
“There’s nothing like the feeling of crossing the finish line of a marathon. I used to think the most important thing about Boston was qualifying for the race, but now I have experienced how fulfilling it can be running as a part of a group giving back to the communities in our backyard,” Murphy said.
Murphy is one of 128 members of Team Brigham, which raises funds for BWH community health programs, including domestic violence programs at Passageway; Connecting Hope, Assistance and Treatment (CHAT) program for breast cancer support services and the Student Success Jobs Program. Running 26.2 miles is the easy part for Murphy, who is gathering her family and friends to support her as she raises $3,000. Her family will also be with her on April 21 to cheer her on.
Murphy first qualified for Boston in 1979 and has run the race 15 times. She began running in 1975, when she was a nurse in the Air Force in California. Following her discharge, she found a group of 10 runners at the Santa Ana YMCA and they ran everyday.
“We decided together to do a marathon, and completed the Orange County Marathon in 1977. From then on, marathon running has been about the story that unfolds each marathon day. Preparation is absolutely key. Embracing the experience, even when things unfold unexpectedly is important too,” Murphy said.
Over the next 15 years, Murphy ran three to four marathons a year of varying degrees of difficulty, including New York city, San Francisco, Avenue of the Giants in the Redwood Forest, Pikes Peak in Colorado and Boston, her favorite race.
The Brookline resident trains on the marathon course in winter and runs along the Charles River in summer. In 33 years of distance running, she never had an injury or dropped out of a race. “If you have to walk, do it. Time doesn’t always matter,” Murphy said. “It is not always possible to run a personal best, but it is always possible to cherish the silver lining in each race.”
Running isn’t Murphy’s only passion. She has completed numerous triathlons, including the Alcatraz Triathlon, in which she swam from the infamous prison to the shores of San Francisco. In addition to her love of running, she enjoys swimming, walking and playing tennis and basketball. She plays in a basketball team for women over age 50, which competed in the Senior Olympics last year.
After 25 years in California, Murphy moved back east seven years ago to be closer with her family, who live throughout New England. For her 55th birthday, Murphy wants to qualify again for Boston by running the Chicago Marathon this fall.
Murphy still gets excited with the anticipation of a marathon. “My ritual is to not change my ritual, and to get a good night sleep two days before, because the night before the race, I am just too excited,” she said, noting the importance of double-tying shoe laces and making sure to relax before the race. “I love running, and I really love being a part of Team Brigham. It is just so important to use our gifts and give back.”