For years, Maggie Chaviano watched the Boston Marathon runners from her porch at the 18.5-mile mark in Newton.

On Monday, she’ll be rushing by her friends and family cheering her on as she takes it on herself.

“I’ve been in awe of this race in particular and the history around it,” said Chaviano, 43, a self-employed marketing professional. “Watching any marathon makes me want to cry, because it’s such an amazing display of what people can do.”

The 2025 Boston Marathon will be Chaviano’s second marathon—her first being in Chicago in the early 2000s. She took on the challenge to support Newton Community Pride, a local nonprofit organization that presents free arts programming in the city.

Her husband, Damien Chaviano, has been on Newton Community Pride’s board of directors for five years. He grew up sharing a love of the arts with his brother — performing alongside him in productions of “Bye-Bye Birdie” and the like in his native Chicago.

“For me to have an impact on my community and bring arts to Newton, I thought would be a tremendous way to volunteer my time,” said Chaviano, 44, who works in real estate development.

Chaviano planned to run the marathon to raise money and awareness for the organization this year but quickly realized that he wouldn’t be able to train properly. Smith stepped up to run instead.

“The marathon is a staple, and has been for a really long time, and we’re super excited that we have somebody local who’s running for us, representing us and getting our organization noticed in our community,” said Newton Community Pride’s executive director, Blair Lesser Sullivan.

But this run holds more weight for Chaviano than she could have anticipated. She unexpectedly lost her father about a month ago. When she was growing up, the two shared a love for running. “They were magical together,” Chaviano said.

“[My dad] was very excited,” she continued. “I wish he were going to be here, but I know he will be. He’ll be the wind on my back.”

Chaviano’s parents live about five blocks away from the marathon’s finish line near Copley Square. As she pushes toward the end of the race, she knows she will have her family’s love waiting for her.

“This has gone from a fundraiser to a personal challenge that, on behalf of her father, she’s just gonna have this complete, overwhelming, experience when she crosses that line,” Chaviano said. 

Having not run consistently since before she had her first child a decade ago, Chaviano had to ramp up her mileage from zero to 26.2—and fast. She started training in late December, giving her only three and a half months to prepare. 

One of her friends will run alongside her, and suggested she get a coach. That coach told Smith that she would recommend six to eight months of training for someone with Smith’s background. They developed a “don’t get hurt” plan—but Chaviano has surprised herself with just how far she’s been able to push herself. 

“I think external motivators are really powerful,” she said. “Knowing that I was running for this organization that I think does wonderful work and has done in New England for 35 years, that’s been the biggest like, ‘OK, not a choice to get off the couch.’ I’m getting off the couch.” 

This story is part of a partnership between the Newton Beacon and the Boston University Department of Journalism.