Rajesh Panigrahi crosses the Rourke Bridge in Lowell as he runs the 2024 Baystate Marathon. PHOTO/RAJESH PANIGRAHI

Rajesh Panigrahi had never seen a marathon before he and his family moved to Hopkinton’s Legacy Farms neighborhood. He also never thought he’d be able to run one, either. 

But now, with a couple of half marathons and the Baystate Marathon under his belt, Panigrahi is gearing up for Boston. He’s also in a time crunch as he ramps up his marathoning career. 

The 45-year-old has an ambitious goal: to complete the six major world marathons before he turns 50.

“I have five years to do that,” said Panigrahi. “I’m running Boston, and then next year, I’ll be applying to others.”

“I might get on the Chicago [Marathon] this year, too,” he added.

Boston will be Panigrahi’s first step on his way to earning the Six Star medal from the Abbott World Marathon Majors. The majors awards its medal to runners who complete the six major world marathons: New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo.

To prepare for the Boston Marathon, Panigrahi has been working with a strength coach, along with a running coach from Arizona. He also has been running sections of the marathon route, including a March run to Heartbreak Hill in Newton.

“Training is brutal,” Panigrahi admitted.

If things go well on race day, Panigrahi hopes to complete the marathon in four hours. He finished the Baystate Marathon last October at around 4 1/2 hours, and he completed a half marathon in just under two. He noted that half marathon time was a “bucket list item” for him.

Injury, inspiration

For Panigrahi, who immigrated to the United States in 2010, running a marathon was not a foregone conclusion. He trained for years as a martial artist and reached the rank of brown belt. Running was an important part of his martial arts practice.

“I ran 5-10 [kilometers] every week as part of my training,” Panigrahi said.

That training was disrupted several years ago after a trip back home to India. During that trip, Panigrahi sustained a knee injury that would plague him for years.

“My father took me to the fairground,” Panigrahi recalled of that trip. “I started running to test myself and got my knee injury.”

The injury persisted as Panigrahi and his family moved to Hopkinton in 2020. Eventually, he experienced his first marathon and decided it was a feat he wanted to undertake.

“I was so inspired by the people running,” he said. “Seeing runners of all background and abilities pushing their limits motivated me to get off the couch and hit the track.”

After an eight-year long recovery period from his knee issues, Panigrahi tried his hand at running again and made plans to run the Boston Marathon. That training has occurred over the last few years, and now he is ramping up his efforts as the big day approaches.

As he trains, Panigrahi finds motivation along his routes. He talked about how, when doing his training runs between Hopkinton and Newton, he’ll pass other runners who cheer him along the way.

“It keeps on motivating [me] and says I’m doing something, which is helping a lot,” he said.

Panigrahi also has found inspiration and motivation from his neighbors.

“I was also inspired by Legacy Farms runners Shankar Datta and Sudhakar Bellidiga,” Panigrahi said. The two are seasoned marathon runners “whose dedication and passion for the sport encouraged me to start my own running journey,” he said.

Running for the arts

Panigrahi will be running for the Hopkinton Center for the Arts this year, an opportunity he says is “super excited” for.

On his fundraising page, Panigrahi says the cause is near to his heart. “As someone who values the arts’ role in transcending borders and opening minds, I’m excited to support HCA,” he wrote.

The money he raises will help the HCA fund various arts programs and scholarships.

Getting a bib from the HCA was equal parts luck and knowing the right people, according to Panigrahi. One of his friends in the Legacy Farms neighborhood previously had run the Boston Marathon to raise funds for the nonprofit. Through that friend, Panigrahi connected with Joy Donohue, who has run for the HCA six times, and submitted an application.

Panigrahi said when he received the news that he had been selected as one of 10 participants to run for the HCA, he was “jumping off the couch” with excitement. He gave particular thanks to Donohue for helping him make the fundraising team.

His fundraising goal, set at $8,500, is ambitious, but he recently surpassed that total. He credits his community for pitching in for his cause.

“I’m thankful to all the local donors, all my friends and family,” Panigrahi said. “Everybody pitched in.”

He also thanks his employer, Becton Dickinson, for support in reaching his fundraising goal. The multinational medical technology and life sciences company offers a gift matching program to its employees for charitable donations.

Panigrahi is thankful for the opportunity to run for the HCA this year. He is excited to have his wife, daughter and best friend from Legacy Farms South cheering him on at the start line, as well as other friends rooting for him in Ashland and Newton.

Most of all, Panigrahi credits his family and his coaches who have given him the encouragement and time to work toward this goal.

“It’s a cumulative effort to make my dreams come true,” he said.