What’s Good in the Valley? Jessica Forgie’s journey from Burnstown to Boston: A marathon of dedication

Jessica Forgie celebrates completing a 42 kilometre marathon in 2022

She’s going the distance; she’s going for speed.

Burnstown runner Jessica Forgie will be among the 30,000 people making the journey to this year’s Boston Marathon, capping off a journey that pushed her to the limit in order to join the most competitive distance runners in the world for a second straight year on April 21st.

She says just getting in was a challenge.

The mother of two has been finding chances anytime and anywhere to train while balancing the rest of her life over the past year since officially qualifying with a gruelling 3 hour, 20 minute time at last year’s Boston Marathon.

While she’s eager to toe the line with the best in the world, Forgie is also hoping to get the chance to meet the event’s elite competitors at the runner’s expo the day before the race and celebrate her accomplishments at the afterparty.

Luckily, she won’t have to take what she considers the biggest race of her life on by herself.

Forgie’s journey into the world of running has not only benefited her but has also helped the community in years past, including a loving tribute run to her late aunt supporting ALS research back in 2023.

(written by Kasey Egan)