 In the heart of Boston, a young runner is not just pacing through miles, but also through memories. Meet Zoe Balcon, a Northeastern University student whose passion for running has a profound purpose. At 20 years old, Zoe Balcon from Connecticut is turning the pain of loss into power to persevere. After losing her father unexpectedly, Zoe found solace where she least expected it on the running track. And then one day, like, end of 2022, I was like, OK, yeah, I want to run a half marathon. Then we just, like, loved, we loved the training of it and everything like that and doing it together. What began as a challenging idea was a friend soon blossoming into a full-blown marathon mission, propelling her toward the prestigious race. My dad died midway through sophomore year in November, which was really devastating. I was always trying to do the best I could for both my parents, but my dad especially would be really pushing me to always improve in every single thing that I did and wanted me to follow through with my goals. Zoe runs not just for fitness, but the forge a legacy of a man who taught her the value of setting and achieving goals. I love, like, everything Boston and I loved the first freshman year when I went to watch the marathon. I just loved the camaraderie of it and how the entire city is there cheering people on and it just seemed like such an impressive thing. The spirit of the Boston Marathon, a beacon for many now, beacons Zoe to its starting line where she will stand as a symbol of resilience and recovery. It's a way to honor my dad, I guess, because it just gives me time to think. We'll see after the marathon if I'd run another marathon for the same cause, but yeah, I think I'll keep running. As Rage Day approaches, Zoe looks not only to cross the finish line but to touch the hearts of those watching and inspiring them to overcome through endurance. Reporting for BUTV, I'm Tyler Johnson.