Hopkinton native Delaney Mick takes to the road as she prepares to run the Boston Marathon to raise funds for the Ron Burton Training Village.

Delaney Mick is no stranger to running. But long distance is a relatively new aspect of the sport for her.

Mick, a recent graduate of Providence College, competed on the university’s Division 1 track and field team all four years of her undergraduate career. She previously ran for the Hopkinton High School track and field team.

“In high school, I did a lot of sprinting events, and when I was in college it was more mid-distance,” Mick explained. It wasn’t until moving on from college that she began to shift more toward long distance running and the possibility of completing a marathon.

The Boston Marathon is a bucket list item for the Hopkinton native. “The thought had drifted through my head a few times,” she said. Mick added that this time in her life, as she focuses on finishing graduate studies in school counseling, felt like the right time to take on the race.

The 26.2 mile course will be the longest distance Mick has ever run. “In training, I’ve never gone over 20 miles,” she said.

Still, she is up for the challenge, and she is using her first marathon run to raise funds for a cause she believes in.

Mick is running Boston this year to benefit the Ron Burton Training Village (RBTV). The nonprofit runs retreats and programs at its Hubbardston facility with the aim of training youth to “achieve their purpose” through a combination of education, leadership, physical wellness, social advancement and spiritual growth. 

“They host summer camps and programs for a lot of underprivileged kids that gives them opportunities to develop academically,” Mick explained, adding that the program works to help kids develop into “the best versions of themselves that they can [be].”

Training helps with insight

Mick said she fell in love with running in high school thanks to some friends and what she called a “really great coaching staff.” A multi-sport athlete, Mick had been playing soccer in the fall one year and heard friends talking about their positive experiences on the cross country team at Hopkinton High School. 

The conversation piqued her interest, and she decided to get involved with the school’s track and field teams.

“A couple seasons working with the coaches there, I fell in love with the sport,” Mick recalled. Her hard work paid off, leading her to a D1 track and field career with Providence College.

Preparing for a marathon is a far different experience than preparing for a track meet, and Mick said she has had a great time training. She noted that training keeps her busy, and navigating the time commitment with multiple part-time jobs has been a learning process. Along the way, she has prioritized staying hydrated and fueled while taking care of her body to limit potential injury.

“I think that my number one goal is just to get across the finish line — ideally pain-free,” Mick said when asked about an ideal finishing time. 

Added Mick: “In an ideal world, I do have a specific time goal, but I’m trying to keep my expectations realistic for the first one.”

Mick has done much of her training on her own, running parts of the course and getting used to hills by going on runs throughout Hopkinton. She noted she has run the first 17 miles of the Boston Marathon course and has made it all the way to Newton, although she had not tried Heartbreak Hill.

Mick said she enjoys the experience of solo running, noting it provides her a sort of relaxation.

“It’s a lot of time that you’re just kind of by yourself, but I’ve kind of learned to start to appreciate it,” she said, adding that the training process has had an impact on helping her learn about “how to be the best version of myself, physically and emotionally.”

It takes a village

Mick was tasked with raising $7,000 for RBTV — a goal she already has surpassed. As of early April, she had raised $7,634 for the charity. She credited RBTV for its support throughout her fundraising process, as well as individuals in her community who provided her the time and space to raise the money.

“I think it’s been really fulfilling to see how many people there are who are supporting such great causes,” she said.

RBTV is a cause with which Mick has personal experience. She recounted her own experience of attending one of the organization’s retreats when she was in middle school, and one of her brothers has attended the organization’s camps over the past 10 years. 

She noted it was a cause she was happy to donate to and raise money for, although getting its charity bib was not a given.

Mick explained that her interest in running the Boston Marathon preceded her partnership with RBTV. “I reached out in late fall and said I had interest in running the marathon, and was wondering if they had any bibs available,” she said.

Because RBTV is a relatively small nonprofit, word on how many charity bibs it would receive was not available until February. “I essentially had to start training without knowing if I was actually running [for them] or not,” Mick recounted.

Eventually, things worked out. The money she since has raised will support the organization and its programs focused on serving underprivileged youth. She noted that, besides its camps and retreats, RBTV also offers college sponsorships for its youth participants.

Come race day, Mick anticipates seeing her family and friends along the course as she goes. She said she is looking forward to being on the receiving end of all the positive energy she’s witnessed over the years attending the Boston Marathon from the sidelines.

“The thing I’m most excited about is just to experience the joy and support that I know that all of the fans are able to give,” said Mick. She added that the marathon is a difficult challenge, but she believes the experience will be worth it.

“The positives definitely outweigh any hesitations that I have,” she said.