Chris Hiller, or ‘Heartbreak Hiller, ‘ a real estate professional with Team MCM out of our Dartmouth office, and Jackie Torres, a real estate professional with the Dino Confalone Team out of our Cambridge office, are preparing to run their first-ever Boston Marathon. Both are charity runners, each motivated by a deep personal drive and a cause they care about. We caught up with them ahead of race day to hear about what inspired them to take on Boston, how they’ve managed training, and what finishing the race will mean to them.
When did you start thinking about trying to run the Boston Marathon?
Chis Hiller
I started running after high school and have been running for thirteen years. I quickly found out that I enjoyed running long distances, so once I was actively running, I started doing half marathons. That kind of became my sweet spot. Right after my first half marathon, it quickly became apparent to me that I wanted to do a full one. It was a daunting thought, and it has taken me twelve years, but this past summer, I realized this was the time. I’m not getting any younger, and it won’t get any easier. I started researching organizations I could run for. I’m not fast enough to qualify through time, so I wanted to run through an organization.
Jackie Torres
I started thinking about it after completing a half-marathon in November 2024. I felt a strong desire to keep pushing myself even further and reach what felt like the ultimate level in running: a full marathon. I knew I wanted to be part of something big and meaningful – something iconic like a major marathon, and that’s when Boston started to feel real. In January, my amazing friend Ariella connected me with the Ed Walsh Foundation, and suddenly, what once felt like a dream became an actual plan.
How did you qualify, and what was that process like?
Chris Hiller
I applied to several organizations and got turned down by all of them. On December 30th, my twin sister, a resident at U Mass Memorial Health, forwarded me an internal email noting that they had a deployable marathon team and were looking for people to sign up. They told me to just fill it out, and two weeks later, I got the phone call saying I got the bib.
Support Chris’s marathon run for U Mass Memorial Health here.
Jackie Torres
I’m running the Boston Marathon with a charity bib, which means I didn’t qualify with time – instead, I earned my spot by fundraising for a cause that really means something to me. I’m supporting the Ed Walsh Fund, named after Lt. Ed Walsh, a Boston firefighter who dedicated his life to serving others. The foundation honors his legacy by helping local families and children in need through education, sports, and essential support. The process of running with a charity bib is pretty straightforward – you start by finding an organization that’s accepting runners, then apply to join their team. Once you’re accepted, you commit to fundraising and begin training.
Support Jackie’s marathon run for the Ed Walsh Foundation here.
What does training look like for you?
Chris Hiller
Training has been accelerated. If I had known in October, I would have done more. It’s been a long-term goal of mine that I finally had the motivation to accomplish. Running 2-3 days during the week. I tried treadmill running and hated it. I’m running 6-10 miles on each run. One day on the weekend, I’ll do the long run, which is anything over 12 miles. My goal is to be at 22 miles when I start tapering.
Jackie Torres
Training is a very intense mix of early-morning runs, long weekend miles with my running club, strength training twice a week, and a lot of balancing it with work, school, and dance. I also squeeze in cross-training, yoga, stretching, and recovery time. It’s a full-on lifestyle.
What motivates you to train even when you don’t feel like it?
Chris Hiller
The act of physically running is challenging. This past winter has been cold and awful. I had this one moment a couple of weeks ago where it was 25 out and there was crazy wind, and I came around this corner and thought, ‘Why am I doing this?’ One of the things I’ve been saying in response to that, when it does come up, is ‘Because I get to.’ From changing my nutrition to the stress of fundraising, I have the luxury of being able to do all of this stuff.
Jackie Torres
My future self. Running has kept me grounded this past year – it’s helped me stay strong mentally and physically. Even on the hard days, I know movement is medicine. Training for Boston gives me a purpose and structure during chaos, and that’s powerful.
What is your plan for the actual run? Will you be listening to anything?
Chris Hiller
I need music. It is what helps motivate me. I just flew down to Florida so I could run and around mile 14, I was jamming out to music, and it felt good. It’s such a good motivator. I am an Apple Music guy. The playlist I created is such a random collection of music– anywhere from Tears for Fears (plenty of it), The Who, 10,000 Maniacs, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Talking Heads, Bon Jovi, to Post Malone and Tiesto.
Jackie Torres
Music is everything. I love Spotify’s pace-specific running playlists because they help me stay consistent and find a rhythm. I’ll probably switch between music and just soaking up the crowd’s energy (especially since the Boston crowds are legendary). I might even save a few hype songs for the final miles when I’ll really need the push.
How are you planning to celebrate once the race is over?
Chris Hiller
I’ve never done anything quite like this, and I have some ideas in my head about what it’s going to feel like when I finish. The planning has been a lot. What gear do I need? What if it’s raining? What if it’s cold? What if it’s 80 degrees? What do I need to be eating? How do I hydrate as I’m running? What supplements work best for me? It has taken up a lot of space in my brain. Every day, there was something new that would pop into my brain. Running when you don’t want to run. When I think about finishing, those are the things that come to my mind. That is what makes it worth it. There are so many different aspects that are kind of behind the scenes that they don’t see. The energy of the event is fantastic, but it is such a small part of the process. After some water and electrolytes, I think a beer or two will be in order! I will be celebrating with the rest of my team a few days later.
Jackie Torres
I want to celebrate with my friends – I know a lot of them will be waiting for me in Boston. I also can’t wait to call the runners in my family and share this achievement with them – I also want a big Brazilian meal with a very sweet dessert, followed by a huge nap. And then, I’ll definitely be displaying my medal for at least a few days.
Crossing the Finish Line
For Chris and Jackie, crossing the Boston Marathon finish line will mark the end of one journey—and the beginning of another. Their stories are reminders that every mile matters and that even the most iconic finish lines are reached by taking one step at a time. Whether they’re running for family, for a cause, or for the future version of themselves, they carry with them a deep sense of purpose. And when the crowds roar and the medals are placed around their necks, it won’t just be a celebration of race day, but of everything it took to get there.
As race day approaches, Chris and Jackie are carrying more than just energy gels and playlists—they’re carrying years of personal motivation, community support, and a whole lot of heart. If you’ll be watching the Boston Marathon on April 21, keep an eye out for bib #32518 (Chris) and bib #29549 (Jackie) and join us in cheering them on every step of the way.
Thank you for running on behalf of great charitable organizations …you both have already won the race, just by all your hard work in raising funds, and preparing yourselves for the run of a lifetime ! Wishing you both, all the very best on Marathon Monday…one step at a time !