Waterford mom marks 120 lb weight loss journey at Hartford 5K

Erin McDonald of Waterford is among eleven people chosen by the Hartford Marathon Foundation (HMF) to represent the 2023 Inspiration Team at the 30th running of the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon on October 14, 2023. Team members represent the resilience, motivation and kindness of the running community who have made the marathon a tradition so special since its inception in 1994.

At the end of 2022, Erin McDonald considered herself very unhealthy. She was morbidly obese,
had extremely high blood pressure and was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. As a mother of
three, she knew she wanted to be healthier for her children and decided to make a change.
McDonald put on a pair of sneakers and took a walk - that first mile took her 36 minutes. But she
kept going and her daily walks turned into short runs. She started eating healthier and before she
knew it, was down almost 120 pounds and able to breathe easier. Three months after that first
walk, McDonald completed her first 5K. The Charity 5K will be her 10th race and while she
feels she has more weight to lose, she hopes her story will encourage others to start making small
changes to improve their lives.

“The success of the Eversource Hartford Marathon is because of our dedicated runners,
volunteers and sponsors. The members of this year’s Inspiration Team represent members of the
community who inspire or make a positive impact on those around them,” said Josh Miller,
President of the Hartford Marathon Foundation. “We are excited to celebrate this year’s race
milestone and look forward to celebrating the achievements of all the runners who cross the
finish line on race day.”

Joining McDonald on the 2023 Inspiration Team are:
● Rachel Berkowsky of Windham
● Rebecca Boncoddo of Mansfield
● Christina Carmon of Windsor
● John Garde of Westfield, Massachusetts
● Ron Gold of Saddle River, New Jersey
● Debra Lombardo of Waterbury
● Jose Lugo of Hartford
● Steph McKenna of Ellington
● Anthony Rykowski of Naugatuck
● Jennifer Zarrilli of Wallingford

Each Inspiration Team member will either be running the 5K, half marathon, or full marathon on race day. Members of the 2023 Inspiration Team will be profiled within the Eversource Hartford Marathon Insider’s Guide and receive complimentary race registration, PRE Perks experience and custom event apparel. The inspiration team concept was developed by HMF in 2011.

Learn more about the Eversource Hartford Marathon events, register now or sign up to volunteer
at www.hartfordmarathon.com.