Troy ready to race from Hopkinton to Boston
Hopkinton By Josh Farnsworth Journal Correspondent

Bill Troy is passionate about every step he takes in the Boston Marathon.

That is because every step of his run on that 26.2-mile road race is dedicated to his late father.

Troy is one of many participants from across the United States and several other countries who will run in the 18th annual Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge on Monday. The Challenge will be running in conjunction with the Boston Athletic Association, the organizers of this year's 111th Boston Marathon.

The goal of this year's Challenge is to raise $4 million for the Claudia Adams Barr Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Troy, who is running his eighth Boston Marathon on Monday, has dedicated every marathon in memory of his father, William Troy Sr., who died in 1977 after a battle with cancer.

"It is a way to give back and be a part of such a positive process," said Troy, who works in the Admissions Office at Cushing Academy and coaches the school's ice hockey team. "The people at this foundation have been very, very good to me."

Funds for the Claudia Adams Barr Program go toward providing scientists with the "opportunity to develop and sustain their basic research over the long term and to explore new directions of investigation," according to the program's Web site.

Areas of scientific research include understanding cell development, exploring tumor immunology and pinpointing genetic abnormalities that lead to certain types of cancer.

The program was founded by Wayne and Delores Weaver, principal owners of the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars in 1987. It was named after Delores's mother who died from cancer 30 years before.

Since becoming a part of the Dana- Farber Marathon Challenge, runners have raised more than $30 million for the Barr program.

As for the race itself, Troy is ready.

"The marathon has become a big part of my life," he said. "It is just a great experience from start to finish. It's just incredible."

"The people along the marathon route are very encouraging," he added. "Plus, they keep you updated with how the Red Sox are doing as the innings go by."

Troy said he hopes to maintain a string of finish times under four hours after putting in six months of training.

"Running a race like this gives you extra motivation," he said. "You can't just wake up and run a marathon."

Marathon runners, however, will have to wake up earlier than usual this year. Start time for the race, as well as the Red Sox game, is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Despite the earlier start, Troy is not concerned. It is just another memory bound to enter into his mental scrapbook of the race he loves.

Troy said he still remembers his first Boston Marathon vividly.

"Crossing the finish line for the first time was pretty amazing," he said. "I had only done 22 miles prior to my first marathon and there was one thing I was not sure about: how painful are these last four miles going to be?"

Runners raised a minimum of $3,000 to obtain an invitational entry into the race. To contribute to the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge, please visit their Web site at dfmarathon.kintera.org.