Clark's Fundraising Page | Girls on the Run
Miller's Fundraising Page | Shawn Thornton Foundation
Shute's Fundraising Page | CYCLE Kids

BOSTON - Since 1890, the Boston Marathon has tested the strength, endurance and will of those who venture 26.2 miles on the storied trail from Hopkinton to Boylston Street. For Emma Clark (COM '15), Brittany Miller (QST '15, COM '16) and Sarah Shute, (SHA '08, SED '17), they have watched plenty of Marathon Mondays from behind the barricades on Commonwealth Avenue. This Marathon Monday, the trio will be between the barricades as they write their own story in the 122nd running of 2018 Boston Marathon.

Clark is in her third season as an assistant coach on the women's soccer team, Miller just completed her second season as the men's hockey director of operations and Shute, the field hockey associate head coach, will start her eighth season on staff this fall.

All three have watched every Marathon since arriving on campus in their respective freshmen years. This year, the trio will have the reverse perspective as each will be running the 26.2-mile trek for charity. Clark is running for Girls on the Run, Miller is supporting the Shawn Thornton Foundation, and Shute is contending for CYCLE Kids.

Clark, who guided the women's soccer team to three NCAA Tournaments while competing for the Terriers, drew inspiration for donning a bib in this year's race from a former teammate, as Rachel Blauner (CGS '14, COM '16, COM '17) took part in last year's Marathon.

"Although Rachel is younger than I am she has always been a role model and inspiration for me," said Clark. "Rachel faced many struggles with injury in her collegiate career but that never stopped her from being happy and determined. I was at the finish line last year when Rachel completed the Marathon and I was so proud of her for all she accomplish and all the hard work she put in, it was at this moment I made a promise to myself that when it came time to apply in the fall to run for a charity that I wouldn't be scared and would fill out an application."

She kept that promise as she dove into researching and applying to charities in the fall, though one name stuck out, Girls on the Run.

"I didn't know much about my charity prior to applying in October," started Clark. "The name obviously stands out to me and through doing my research it turns out to be a foundation very relevant and close to my life."

Girls on the Run is a transformational learning program for eight to 13 year-old girls that emphasis teaching life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games. 

"I believe Girls on the Run is important to me because it directly reflects what I do with my life everyday," commented Clark. "Granted, I am working with older females, but soccer is our tool to teach our players not only how to become better soccer players, but the relationship we create with them help us teach them to become more complete and better people. Girls on the Run believes in giving young females strong female role models and I make that my goal every day, I hope I am a positive role model for the girls on the team, showing them that it is acceptable to be strong, confident, athletic, and that anything is possible."

Miller also drew inspiration for running Boston in a former teammate. Miller served as a team manager all four years during her days as an undergraduate at BU. During her junior year, her roommate, also a team manager, was involved in the 2013 bombings and has run every year since. 

"My roommate encouraged me to run," started Miller. "I had always been hesitant since running a marathon is super daunting. Once I found out about the Shawn Thornton Foundation, I thought that if I was ever going to run Boston, this would be the organization that I would run for."

The Shawn Thornton Foundation is dedicated to helping find cures for Parkinson's and cancer. Again, inspiration was never far away as Miller's mother is a cancer survivor, while her Nana passed away from Parkinson's after battling for more than 20 years.

Miller has always been a trailblazer. The first female to receive a full-time role on a Division I men's ice hockey program, running the Boston Marathon for the Shawn Thornton Foundation combines her two passions, hockey and family. As she trades lacing up the skates for sneakers, perhaps her biggest mark on the Marathon is what she has accomplished already.

"Running for a cause is what I'm most proud of," said Miller. "The amount of money we've raised is already more of an accomplishment than crossing the finish line will be. I'm so proud and honored to be running for the Shawn Thornton Foundation."

For Shute, running has helped restart an active lifestyle for the former field hockey standout, as she completed her first marathon in April of last year and followed by running another marathon in October. 

"Every year I am overwhelmed and inspired by the energy and spirit of that special day," remarked Shute. "I have seen the grit and perseverance in the runners I have cheered for and am inspired by the determination of so many to raise money for remarkable causes while training for such a spectacular physical feat."

Like many, she has dreamed of running Boston, though that dream became a reality as a friend who used to work for CYCLE Kids put her in touch with the Marathon leader for the non-profit.

Just like that, the former three-time first-team regional All-American will now add three-time marathoner to her resume.

"CYCLE Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children, especially those living in poverty, overcome adversity by improving their physical, social, and emotional health through an empowering bicycling and nutrition program," said Shute. "I believe in the holistic approach utilized by CYCLE Kids in an attempt to build up our communities and create a better future for our children. The lessons I have learned through sport have helped guide me and shape my life in a positive way and I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to give back by raising money for this organization."