THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Page 3 Saugus Police Offi cer Brett DiPanfi lo talks about his goal to run in this year’s Boston Marathon Editor’s Note: For this week, we sat down with Offi cer Brett DiPanfi lo, one of fi ve members of the Saugus Police Department who are registered to run in the 127th Boston Marathon, which is set for Patriots’ Day, April 17. This is the fi rst in a series of interviews with each of the Saugus Police marathon runners that will be published in The Saugus Advocate over the next four weeks, leading up to Patriots’ Day weekend. We will highlight each runner’s marathon running background, how they prepare for the grueling 26.2 mile course that will draw a fi eld of 30,000 runners from all over the world, their motivation to run a marathon and the charity they are running for. Offi cer DiPanfi lo, 31, is a 2011 graduate of Saugus High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Salem State University, and he has been a member of the Saugus Police Department for two years. He is running for the TB12 Foundation. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: How did you get involved in Marathon running? A: During the pandemic when gyms closed, I needed a way to stay healthy and in shape. Endurance running is one of the best ways to do that. Q: And why Boston? A: There are a lot of charities involved with the Boston Marathon, so I felt it was a great opportunity to give back, plus I love to run, so it was a no-brainer. I’ll be running for the TB12 Foundation, founded by seven-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady. The TB12 Method that he preaches is an excellent and innovative system, and I feel that a lot of people can benefi t from it to improve their overall wellness. Through their charity work, the TB12 Foundation makes this innovative system more accessible and helps those at risk to overcome economic or health-related obstacles to reach their performance goals. Q: When did you start running? A: About three years ago. A: This will be my fi rst one. Q: Talk about the sense of accomplishment you get from this exhausting and physically challenging activity. Not everybody gets out and runs a Boston Marathon. A: It’s a great feeling. Marathons are really a challenge of your mind, body and spirit. You get to see what you’re made of and, through all that suffering, on the other side you come out a stronger and better person. Q: What’s it like at the start of the race? Or, what do you think it will be like? A: There’s a lot of energy and Saugus Police Officer Brett DiPanfi lo displays a t-shirt of the TB12 Foundation — the charitable cause he will be running for in this year’s Boston Marathon on Patriots’ Day, April 17. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Q: How long have you been running? Why do you run? What do you get out of it? A: I’ve been running for about three years. I run to get mentally stronger and to stay physically healthy. On top of that, this year I’ll be running for charity, which I’m grateful for that opportunity. Q: How many Boston Marathons have you run in? obviously a lot of runners. It’s really exciting. Q: Do you have friends or running buddies you’ll be running with in this year’s marathon? A: There will be four other runners from the Saugus Police Department competing in the race this year. Q: How many miles do you do in an average year? A: A lot. Q: Do you do other marathon races besides Boston? Or, is this your fi rst marathon? And will you run in others this year? A: I’ve run the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and the Berlin Marathon — with food poisoning — in 2022. Q: Running a marathon in Berlin with food poisoning? So, what was that like? A: Running the Berlin Marathon with food poisoning was by far the hardest thing I’ve had to do athletically. It was grueling, but I knew I could dig deep and fi nish the race after months of training. Q: How do you prepare mentally and physically for this event? A: I just make sure I’m focused on my training, taking care of my body by using the TB12 pliability roller and staying hydrated. Q:Any special meal regimen you do before the race? Like carbo loading? A: Defi nitely, a lot of carbs and a lot of water. ADVOCATE ASKS| SEE PAGE 5 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut St. We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! 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