Autumn Tumbleton has been studying in Spain and traveling throughout Europe while training for her Boston Marathon debut.

Autumn Tumbleton is prepared to follow in the footsteps of her parents, Keiron and Maureen, as a runner in the Boston Marathon. The 19-year-old Hopkinton native is racing home after completing a semester in Barcelona as a University of Massachusetts Amherst sophomore, arriving about a week before the big competition.

“This whole process has been a little bit out of the ordinary,” explained Tumbleton in a recent Zoom interview from Spain. “This is not how most people train.”

Running literally flows through the Tumbleton family’s blood. Her dad, a native of Dublin, Ireland, was scouted there by colleges and accepted an offer from Providence College, leading him to America.

“My mom and he met through work, and she got into running then,” said Tumbleton. “They both just had such a strong influence with me and my sister growing up with running. That’s always been our main sport, and we’ve just continued with it through our whole lives.”

Having two marathon runners to seek advice from has been an advantage, she added.

Tumbleton lived steps from the starting line as a child. She recalled walking to the athlete’s village the week before the race and the palpable excitement in town. Her parents often hosted runners, at times also running in the big race.

“Growing up, we always hosted runners for the marathon,” she explained. “I have really strong, warm memories of going downstairs the morning of the marathons. Me and my sister would see all these runners in the house getting ready. There would be so much good energy in the house.

“There’s just that excitement in town, that sense of pride,” added Tumbleton. “It’s really cool seeing people from all around the world come and support people running it for their organizations. It’s definitely surreal.”

Training, studying in Barcelona

Tumbleton beginning running “at a pretty young age,” she said. After participating in kids races, she joined a running club in middle school. She competed as a member of Hopkinton Middle School’s track and field team beginning in seventh grade and kept running throughout her entire high school career.

One of Tumbleton’s biggest joys was when her sister, Chloe, who is three years younger, ran with her on the track and field team. Tumbleton described Chloe as her “best running buddy.”

“Whether it’s for fun or with a team, I’ve always loved it,” she said of the sport. “Once I got to college, I chose not to run through the school. But sometimes I go to the UMass Running Club. I find it manageable to incorporate running into my life.”

Since January, Tumbleton, who is majoring in finance, has been studying in Barcelona. This has given her the ability to train in the scenic Spanish countryside and experience the country and continent.

“I’ve been able to travel throughout Europe,” she said. “Even recently, I went to Morocco with some of my friends. It’s nice that I’ve been able to run in these amazing places.

“Running has really helped me soak up the places I’m visiting,” she continued. “And the weather is beautiful, usually sunny in the 50s and 60s with not much humidity.”

Joked Tumbleton: “So I’m not sad that I was able to dodge training during a New England winter.”

While loving the urban atmosphere of Barcelona, Tumbleton often enjoys running in the mountains and near the ocean.

She added: “You just get a lot of different areas to work with, and it’s really cool.”

Tumbleton is not running the Boston Marathon on behalf of a charity. She earned a place because of her participation in the White Mountains Marathon in North Conway, New Hampshire, last May.

“I didn’t have to qualify or run for an organization or anything,” she explained. “But I would love the opportunity to run for an organization in the future.”

Studying abroad has made it more difficult to develop a training routine, Tumbleton noted. But she has managed to keep pace with her coursework, running, traveling and social activities.

“Before, I was used to a coach telling me what to do, like train for a 5K,” she said. “Now I like to experiment with different distances. I like to incorporate cross training, speed work and a lot of different elements in my routine. The biggest thing is getting the mileage in.”

Getting enough sleep and recovery time also is important, Tumbleton stressed.

Working out has benefited Tumbleton in other areas of her life. It has helped her by alleviating stress and forming new friendships.

Insights on running

While balancing training with her academic and social activities has been tough, Tumbleton said she relishes challenges.

Said Tumbleton: “Knowing that I have the privilege to do this all makes it really worth it in the end.”

“It’s such a cool sport in the sense that everyone’s trying to support each other and there’s so much energy there,” Tumbleton added. “You don’t see that in some other sports necessarily.”

She noted that while running is obviously physically challenging, there is a mental component to succeeding in the sport.

“My biggest piece of advice is just to not get in your head too much about what you can or can’t do,” she advised. “I just think you have to have that positive mindset that you can do these hard things and find balance.

“I think everyone should give running a try,” Tumbleton emphasized. “I feel like a lot of people really end up enjoying it.”

Tumbleton said she is unsure about her life’s future direction. But running always will be a key part of it.

“I’m so grateful to be able to finally run in [the Boston Marathon] after watching it my whole life,” she said. “I’m definitely open to so many possibilities down the road.”