Marblehead’s Covalluzzi hopes her running can increase someone’s odds

Mother Nature didn’t make it easy for those training to run in this year’s Boston Marathon.With snowbanks standing up to 10 feet tall in some places, finding paths to run on was a nearly impossible task at times. But for runners like first-time participant Gail Coveluzzi, even the weather couldn’t keep them down.”The training was a challenge because there literally was nowhere to run at times,” Coveluzzi said. “But I couldn’t be more excited to run and represent the charity I am.”Coveluzzi has been running for many years but finally decided this year to tackle the 26.2 mile jaunt that is the trek from Hopkinton to Boston.”This is my first marathon but I’m running for a non profit organization that I feel passionate about as well as for my own sense of accomplishment,” Coveluzzi said.Coveluzzi will be running for the Trinity Boston Foundation, a non-profit based in Boston’s Trinity Church that has a mission of changing the odds for Boston youths.The mother of two first came in contact with the group last year when she was a mentor for the group’s running club.”It was truly inspiring to see them cross the finish line of the half marathon,” Coveluzzi said. “Many of them had never even run before.”Running is nothing new to the Marblehead native and mother of two though as she has done it for most of her life.”I started running because I am a strong believer in the benefits of exercising,” Coveluzzi said.”I fell in love with it and never quite felt like myself if I missed too many days.”Through all the challenges of the winter and keeping the training schedule intact, Coveluzzi never lost her sense of humor about what lied ahead.”The treadmill was such a boring alternative,” Coveluzzi joked. “But I managed to keep my training schedule and I couldn’t be more excited to go.”uAll Marathoners from Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Swampscott, Peabody, Salem, Saugus, Marblehead and Revere are welcome to call The Item Monday after 6 p.m. at (781) 593-7700 x1238 to report their times and talk about the race.