Cheer on your neighbors as you watch the Boston Marathon

Support our Marathon Runners!

The Boston Marathon is only a few days away! We are so proud to introduce these amazing individuals that chose to run for The Town of Ashland. These runners' fundraisers benefit the Select Board BAA Grant Program, which funds various programs throughout our community.

We asked the runners to submit some information about themselves so we could know more about them as we cheer them on. Here's what we heard back...

Matt Curtis

Matt is a passionate athlete with a fond devotion to his family. He proudly notes he met his wife during a pirate pub crawl, "the most romantic setting known to man." Married for nearly 8 years, the two have moved from Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, to Ashland. Their family is comprised of their two 90 lb dogs, Jack and Jameson, and their beloved daughter, Aurora (Rory). Matt combines his passion for sports and athletics with his family taking many hikes. Aurora even completed her first 5k last fall at Jacks Abby.

Matt notes he's running "for fun." Saying, "People give me a funny look when I answer that way, but it's the truth. Patriots’ Day is such an amazing day in Boston with the Marathon, the early Red Sox game, and often a Bruins or Celtics game later at night. The energy throughout the city for the entire day is unmatched. The only thing that is better than being a part of that sea of energy is being a runner and getting to experience it all the way from Hopkinton into Boston. Yes, it’s incredibly challenging to run a marathon and the training is even more grueling, but the excitement and energy on race day far outweigh all of that."

He continues, "This year, I don’t have any time or pace goals. I’m going to try and link up and run with a bunch of Teresa’s cousins who are all running for Dana Farber. I’m going to keep a lookout for all our friends that we know will be out there cheering on all the runners. And I’m not sure if there’s an official record for most high-fives given to kids along the route, but I might try to set it!"

Matt chose to run for Ashland because of the community saying, "When we moved to town in 2017, we quickly realized how great of a community it is and how much there is to offer. I really love being able to directly see the impact of the money we're able to raise. It feels great to be helping the community that was immediately welcoming to us. I'm excited for the day when Rory can take advantage of the many programs that support youths- athletics, music, the library, etc. I think of this as pre-paying it forward."

Be sure to give Matt a high-five along the route!

Learn more about Matt and his campaign for the Boston Marathon HERE

Lindsay Halliday

Lindsay is a stay-at-home parent of three young children ages 6 and 4 year old twins and has called Ashland her home for the past four years. She is also a dedicated runner, "In 2020 when we entered Covid lockdown, I found a renewed love for running outdoors in the early mornings. There is something very special about being the first footprints in fresh snow or watching an autumn sunrise when you reach the top of a hill. Running has become fundamental to my physical and mental health."

Watching her husband's cousin run in last year's marathon inspired her to run this year saying, "it was so inspiring to see him living a dream he worked so hard for. It was then that the idea got in my head that it might be something I'd like to do one day. When I saw Ashland was looking for runners I thought Why not? And I figured I'd never get a spot."

She's dedicating her run to her mother, "who always challenged herself and tried new things."

Don't miss Lindsay and give her a big Ashland cheer!

Learn more about Lindsay and her campaign for the Boston Marathon HERE

Sean Cavanaugh

Sean is a NewEnglander through and through with fond memories of watching the Boston Marathon throughout his childhood. He notes, "[Patriots Day]- that day-that morning- is part of who we are in Massachusetts- it's unique to us and has always felt quaint and comfortable."

Sean has lived in Ashland for the past 16 years, has raised his family in this town, and enjoys watching the race from Rt. 135 by the Telechron building, "The race has been a special event for all of us and living in Ashland made it even more special," says Cavanaugh.

Despite getting ready to run a marathon in a couple of days, Sean doesn't consider himself a runner and, "has always seen distance running as a means to an end because I'm a big dude."

The year prior to the pandemic, he purchased a treadmill with a big screen that features a trainer to follow along. He recalls the prolific moment when he decided to run for the Boston marathon saying, "One of the first runs I tried on the machine was at the

Boston Marathon filmed a few years ago. I chose it because of how I feel about Patriots’ Day. I remember having to slow the pace way down. Here’s the thing: I still enjoyed it. As the trainer got into Ashland, I saw some friends and neighbors scattered in the crowd. And as the trainer pushed through town, it occurred to me that she was running on the same side that I and the kids were on. And sure enough, I watched myself and my daughter across from the Telechron building when the trainer pushed past us. I was looking the other way, and I don’t think my daughter was able to give her a high five, but at that moment, on my treadmill, it dawned on me that I wanted to run this race for real. It propelled me to train on that treadmill throughout the pandemic, but running Boston always felt so unattainable until I learned of the entry lottery. I lost the initial drawing but as fate would have it, I was first on the waitlist. I feel so lucky to be chosen to run this year."

Sean continues his sentiments regarding running for Ashland and participating in the marathon saying, "Running the Boston Marathon is a full-circle moment for me. I’m proud and grateful to run for Ashland—a town that has given me so much. I’m proud that I can help raise money for the BAA Grant program that will be put towards Ashland’s Special Programs and Social Services. I am confident that running through Ashland past that spot where I saw myself and my daughter cheering on the runners would be nothing less than a celebration of all that has brought me to where I am now. I can’t wait to give high fives until my hand hurts and hear my own kids cheer me on from across from the Telechron building."

Don't miss Sean at his favorite spot to view the marathon, right here in town at the intersection of Rt.135 and Homer Avenue!

Learn more about Sean and his campaign for the Boston Marathon HERE

Matt Warner

Matt is a math and science teacher with a wonderful young family. He tributes his family's support, "My wife is a brilliant, kind, and awesome person. Saying I found have done this without her is a massive understatement. My kids give me the inspiration and drive every day to make the world a little bit better."

He looks forward to participating in this year's marathon and running for Ashland specifically, "Ashland is such a welcoming and generous community. The marathon is a huge event to kick off spring and I am thrilled to take part in it. Completing that run is a huge personal milestone in my life and will help me learn more about myself and grow as a person. To do that while raising money for the community is really the whole package. Making Ashland the great town it is, takes a great deal of dedication and effort from so many people. I am thrilled to do my small part in that."

This is Matt's first marathon and his first "official" long run. Matt reflects, "I was pretty overweight and out of shape for much of my childhood. I remember running a mile every Friday in middle school and absolutely dreading it. Hitting a ten-minute mile was a huge achievement that still sticks with me today."

Matt appreciates all the individuals encouraging him saying, "Thinking of all the people who are supporting me and getting to tell my family what I had accomplished kept me going [through the training] and having that positive energy from so many people and our community is what will keep me going and get me to the finish line."

Cheer Matt on during his debut at this year's marathon!

Learn more about Matt and his campaign for the Boston Marathon HERE

Aleksei Shabalin

Aleksei was born in a small industrial city about 250 miles east of Moscow, and moved to the United States in 2010. He moved to Ashland in 2016 after he and his wife visited friends in town and found, "Ashland has a perfect balance between being a quiet and lovely spot and still being close enough to grand and busy streets of Boston.

Aleksei is a programmer and enjoys being a software developer because "[he] like[s] to solve various logical and mathematical puzzles."

Aleksei is running the marathon to overcome the challenge, "For some reason I always thought that you cannot just go ahead and run a marathon. Even more so you would have to be a professional athlete to run the Boston Marathon. So, when the opportunity showed up for me I saw it as the ideal challenge."

Aleksei thanks Ashland for the opportunity to run saying, "It is clear that in most cases it is pretty hard to get a running slot in the oldest marathon, save for the Olympic one. Fortunately enough, our great town offers help to its residents who have the dream of running the Boston Marathon. It is very generous of Ashland to give such help to its people, so I am truly proud to run for my town."

Give Aleksei a big cheer as you see him on the route!

Learn more about Aleksei and his campaign for the Boston Marathon HERE

Jake Namiot

Jake is a senior at the University of New Hampshire heading to law school upon his graduation in May. He is a beloved friend of the late P.J Ferrier, who passed away from Osteosarcoma back in 2018.

Jake notes, "I chose to run for Ashland because I wanted to support an organization that touched P.J, and I know giving back to the town where we both grew up was one of the best ways to do this."

This is Jake's second marathon running in his friend's honor.

Give him a big "5" as you see Jake!

Learn more about Jake and his campaign for the Boston Marathon HERE