Bry Lauck poses with her medal after finishing the Boston Marathon April 18. (courtesy photo)
Bry Lauck poses with her medal after finishing the Boston Marathon April 18. (courtesy photo)

Bry Lauck helps St. Francis Xavier students reach fitness goals they may not have even formally set, but today she achieved one of her own. The P.E. teacher crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon.

Better yet, she beat her qualifying time by more than eight minutes. Lauck, a P.E. teacher, crossed the finish line in Boston April 18 after pounding the pavement for 3:07:43.

She qualified for the elite marathon in her home town of Chicago in 2014. Lauck grew up there and ran track at Loyola University.

“I knew that I would come back one day and run in the marathon,” Lauck said of the qualifier. “I am now very excited to be able to have the experience of running in the Boston Marathon.”

The P.E. teacher regularly ran 40-50 miles per week in training. One of her favorite routes was up North Central’s bridle path to the canal then up to 44th street and back.

To help her train for the hills in the Boston marathon, Lauck ran up and down 32nd street between Camelback and Lincoln. Before she left for the marathon, St. Francis Xavier students presented her with a “paper plate” medal from each grade level and they all signed it to wish her good luck.

Lauck loved the encouragement. They told her to run hard and how proud they were of her.

Students at St. Francis Xavier awarded Bry Lauck, their P.E. teacher, with gold "medals" made of paper plates as a send off to the Boston Marathon. (courtesy photo)
Students at St. Francis Xavier awarded Bry Lauck, their P.E. teacher, with gold “medals” made of paper plates as a send off to the Boston Marathon. (courtesy photo)