Marion native to run Boston Marathon in remembrance his father

MARION — By the time he was 5 years old, Geoffrey Noonan had entered the world of running as he competed in the Marion Mile, a short series of races where kids ran a timed mile or half mile. When he got older, Noonan joined his high school’s cross country and track teams, and now has his eyes set on the Boston Marathon. 

This year the now 25-year-old plans to race in memory of his father Michael, who died from a rare form of brain cancer when Noonan was 2-years-old.  Along the way, the runner is raising money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a cancer treatment and research center in Boston. 

While Noonan now lives in Boston, he still has family in Marion and returns to the coast for some of his long runs on weekends. 

Noonan ran cross country and winter track and field for four years at Old Rochester Regional High School. He then attended Loyola University Maryland, where he graduated in 2023 with a business degree. 

He ran the Nantucket Half Marathon a few years ago and said he is up for the challenge of doubling that distance. Before his training began this year, the furthest Noonan had run was 13 miles. 

Noonan said training has been more difficult than he expected, especially since he has been training during winter. He started a 22-week training plan in October, and does at least one long run a week along with shorter runs and strength exercises.

“It's been difficult, but it's going to be well worth it,” he said. 

His race day goal pace is between 8 and 9 minutes per mile, aiming to complete the race in about three-and-a-half hours. 

He was inspired to run the Boston Marathon last year while watching the race and chatting with a woman who had run it at least ten times before. 

His father and grandfather were also runners, so he said pairing his love of running while fundraising for a good cause led Noonan to the Dana-Farber Institute’s team. He was connected to the institute through his cousin. 

“It's kind of a no-brainer for me to do it for them,” he said. 

Noonan said he wants to honor his fathers’s memory, as he has heard many stories of how kind, funny, hard working and authentic he was. Noonan said he also wants to support people and families experiencing what his family did.  

“This is going to be for other people that might be going through the same thing and that have loved ones struggling with sickness,” Noonan said. “I think it's a good thing to raise awareness towards and support.” 

He said he finds freedom through running. He likes to control how long, how fast and where he gets to run. 

“There's a freedom to it and it can be very gratifying when you set out to do something,” he said.

In all, Noonan said he hopes to have fun with the marathon, while still working hard — just like his father would have. 

The 130th Boston Marathon will be held  Monday, April 20. Noonan has raised around $8,000 of his $13,500 fundraising goal so far. 

To support Noonan’s journey or to learn more, visit his website at danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=2520&pg=personal&px=2823562.