Cambridge, Mass. – While most of Cambridge was still shaking off the glitter and wigs from Halloweekend festivities, others were up early, basking in the brisk autumn sun to take part in the city’s annual half marathon.
On Sunday morning, November 2, thousands of runners gathered in East Cambridge at 7 a.m., kicking off the day with a 13.1-mile loop around the iconic Charles River.
Now in its eighth year, the race winds past some of Cambridge’s most recognizable landmarks: the glistening auburn Charles under the fall leaves, the warm red-brick dorms surrounding Harvard’s campus, and the length of MIT’s riverfront.
Among the thousands of participants, Aaron Gruen of Rhode Island was the top male finisher, crossing the line in a blazing 1:03:11 before some spectators had even found their spots. In the women’s division, Jacqueline Gaughan claimed the fastest time, marking her third consecutive top finish.
Despite the scenic course, not everyone was impressed. Some commenters on Reddit questioned the logic of running through Harvard’s football stadium.
“The course is nice along the Charles, but I can never understand the random mile-ish around Harvard Stadium,” one wrote.
Others, like Andrew Stemberger, a Boston University student, appreciated the unique touch.
“I’ve run marathons like in Coney Island where you just circle around the boardwalk. This was a beautiful run, and it’s cool we got to run directly through the football stadium,” he said.
Still, the course wasn’t without its flaws. “On one of the bridges, there was lots of construction, and the road wasn’t properly paved, which forced you to slow down,” Stemberger noted.
Even so, the route was lined with cheering supporters of all ages. At the finish line, crowds of college students, parents and grandparents celebrated as the announcer enthusiastically called out each runner’s name. Amid the applause, sweaty and breathless finishers were embraced by loved ones, pride and joy radiating during the normally quiet early hours of Sunday morning.
“That was one of the best half marathons I’ve run,” said Alyssa Camp, another student. “It was especially beautiful with the fall leaves, and the weather was perfect. One of my favorites. I’d do it again next year.”
Some runners used the event to make humanitarian statements, donning keffiyehs and backpacks adorned with Palestinian flags. Others took a more playful approach, dressing up as bananas or even as a trio of girls linked together in a bouncing caterpillar costume. A few charged down the track with stoic determination, muscles taut and shirts off, seemingly impervious to the cold.
Meanwhile, the crowd stayed lively—passing around drinks, playing music, and waving handmade signs to cheer on friends and family, often with delightfully pun-filled messages.
By the time the last runner passed the finish line, Cambridge was fully awake. As the sun climbed higher over the horizon, the thousands in the audience – from all over the country and all ages – were reminded that, like its runners, the “People’s Republic” is always pushing forward.
This article was produced for BINJ.News, the independent weekly magazine published by the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, and is syndicated by BINJ’s MassWire news service.
