A Small Town's Theater Community Inspires One Woman to Conquer Boston Marathon
For Carla Perrotta, the 130th Boston Marathon is more than just a grueling 26.2-mile trek – it's a testament to her determination and passion for the arts. A native of the Midwest, Perrotta moved to Massachusetts in 2016 seeking a new chapter in life. She discovered a vibrant community at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA), where she was cast in her first local theater production, "Of Mice and Men."
The HCA's Enter Stage Left theater became Perrotta's home away from home, offering her a creative outlet and a sense of belonging. As she navigated her new life, Perrotta found solace in the arts, recognizing their importance in human connection and community building.
Perrotta ran her first Boston Marathon in 2018, driven by a desire to support the arts at that time. Her experience was nothing short of transformative – one of the best days of her life. Des Linden's victory, coupled with the challenging weather conditions, made completing the marathon all the sweeter.
This year, Perrotta is returning to Boston, fueled by an even greater sense of purpose. With the 250th anniversary of these United States on her mind, she sees running the Boston Marathon as a way to honor her new home and community. The HCA's impact has been profound, instilling in Perrotta a deep appreciation for the arts and their role in shaping human experience.
As Perrotta prepares to take on the iconic course from Hopkinton to Boston, she's pouring all her energy into the 26.2 miles ahead. With better weather prospects this year, Perrotta is confident that the conditions will be more favorable – but her focus remains fixed on one thing: celebrating the arts and their ability to bring people together.
For Perrotta, the Boston Marathon has become a symbol of resilience and determination. As she faces the challenge of a lifetime, she's driven by a sense of gratitude for the HCA community that made her feel at home in this new city – and inspired her to push beyond her limits in pursuit of a shared passion: the arts.
For Carla Perrotta, the 130th Boston Marathon is more than just a grueling 26.2-mile trek – it's a testament to her determination and passion for the arts. A native of the Midwest, Perrotta moved to Massachusetts in 2016 seeking a new chapter in life. She discovered a vibrant community at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA), where she was cast in her first local theater production, "Of Mice and Men."
The HCA's Enter Stage Left theater became Perrotta's home away from home, offering her a creative outlet and a sense of belonging. As she navigated her new life, Perrotta found solace in the arts, recognizing their importance in human connection and community building.
Perrotta ran her first Boston Marathon in 2018, driven by a desire to support the arts at that time. Her experience was nothing short of transformative – one of the best days of her life. Des Linden's victory, coupled with the challenging weather conditions, made completing the marathon all the sweeter.
This year, Perrotta is returning to Boston, fueled by an even greater sense of purpose. With the 250th anniversary of these United States on her mind, she sees running the Boston Marathon as a way to honor her new home and community. The HCA's impact has been profound, instilling in Perrotta a deep appreciation for the arts and their role in shaping human experience.
As Perrotta prepares to take on the iconic course from Hopkinton to Boston, she's pouring all her energy into the 26.2 miles ahead. With better weather prospects this year, Perrotta is confident that the conditions will be more favorable – but her focus remains fixed on one thing: celebrating the arts and their ability to bring people together.
For Perrotta, the Boston Marathon has become a symbol of resilience and determination. As she faces the challenge of a lifetime, she's driven by a sense of gratitude for the HCA community that made her feel at home in this new city – and inspired her to push beyond her limits in pursuit of a shared passion: the arts.
, its not just about the physical challenge but also about finding a sense of community and belonging which is what drew her to that theater community in the first place...the arts have such power to bring people together & shape human experience 
. Carla Perrotta's journey from a small town in the Midwest to Boston, fueled by her love for the arts, is a testament to following your passions & making a difference in your own life 
- it's all about gratitude and appreciation for our communities! 
The fact that running has become a way for her to honor her new home & connect with like-minded people is just incredible 
. I'm rooting for Carla all the way, sending positive vibes to her on marathon day 
#BostonMarathon #TheaterCommunity #Inspiration #Gratitude #CommunityFirst #RunForACause
. But seriously, what I find really cool about this whole thing is that she got into theater at the HCA and it literally changed her life. For people who don't have access to arts programs, can you imagine having that kind of community support? 
The way she's tying everything together with her passion for the arts is so beautiful 
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The fact that she found her creative outlet in theater (2,500+ hours of acting experience at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts) and now runs the Boston Marathon is INSANE! 
Anyway, Perrotta's stats are pretty inspiring: her first BAA marathon was in 2018, with a completion rate of 92.5%. Now she's back for #130, aiming to crush the course with a finishing time of under 4 hours! 
That's like running an average of 14.7 miles/hour 
How many calories does she burn during that 26.2 miles? We can estimate around 3,200-4,000 calories 
What do you think about the Boston Marathon's social media engagement this year? 
It's at 27.5M followers! 
! But seriously, it's so inspiring to see how theatre and community came together to help her find her purpose. And can you imagine being in that moment when she crossed the finish line, knowing everything she's accomplished? It gives me chills 
. What I love most is how she's not just running for herself, but for the arts and the people who helped shape her life in MA 
also 250 years of US history is a big deal! We should totes have more ppl celebrating their passions like Carla's theater community in our daily lives 
OMG I love stories like this! It's amazing how something as challenging as running a marathon can be all about community and passion 
maybe they have plays or musicals that are like, really inspiring? 
. Can you imagine running with such a sense of purpose? I think we could all learn from Carla's determination and passion 
I'm not saying it's all bad – the arts are awesome and all – but let's keep things in perspective here 
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