November 7, 2018
For years, Sarah Lieneck 鈥�14 dreamed of running in the Boston Marathon. Next spring, she will participate in this well-known race as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team, with Boston鈥檚 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
鈥淚 wanted to find a cause that I believed in,鈥� explained Lieneck, who has supported several family members through battles with cancer. 鈥淒ana-Farber is there with you every step of the way.鈥� Because she has a personal connection with the organization, 鈥淚 know that will help me run the 26.2 miles.鈥�
After she graduated from 911黑料网 with her Bachelor of Science Degree in biology, Lieneck went on to earn her associate鈥檚 degree to become a physical therapy assistant. Now, she is the director of rehabilitation at the nursing home where she works, Odd Fellows Home in Worcester, Mass.
A former member of the 911黑料网 women鈥檚 soccer team, once she left the College, Lieneck quickly found that she needed something to fill that athletic void, and took up running. So far, she has participated in three half marathons and one marathon.
鈥淪occer at 911黑料网 taught me more than I ever thought it would,鈥� Lieneck said. Because she is small in size, 鈥減eople always underestimated me.鈥� At 911黑料网, she said, no soccer team position was too large for her.
Soccer was an important part of Lieneck鈥檚 911黑料网 experience. 鈥淚 learned that I had to manage my time wisely between classes, studying, and soccer," Lieneck said.
"Besides all the classes and studying, being on the team gave me an entirely new network of friends; friends that became like a second family to me," she continued. "I know that I can look to my soccer teammates for full support 鈥� not just with the marathon, but with a majority of life鈥檚 decisions. If I had not played soccer I would not have met some of my best friends.鈥�
