Mary Anne Marciante, a vibrant member of the Park City community, is preparing for a remarkable milestone: completing her 70th marathon on her 70th birthday this October. This achievement is not just a testament to her physical endurance, but also to her resilience and determination in the face of personal challenges throughout her life. Marciante's journey is one of transformation and perseverance. Just last spring, she crossed the finish line of her 60th marathon in Paris, France. Inspired by this achievement, she set her sights on an ambitious goal: to complete ten marathons in eighteen months, leading up to her milestone birthday. "I thought, ‘Could I possibly run 10 marathons in the next 18 months?’" she recalled, reflecting on the initial idea. With encouragement from her running group, she began to make it a reality. "They said, ‘Mary Anne, yes! You just have to do one a month.’ I said, ‘I know, but I’m old.’ They said, ‘We’ll run them with you,’" she added, highlighting the supportive community that has become integral to her running journey. Over the course of the past year, Marciante has maintained an ambitious schedule, finishing marathons in June, July, August, September, October, and November. As of now, she has completed 67 marathons, with only three remaining before her big 70th birthday event. One of those will take place in May on Long Island, New York, hosted by the same running group she connected with during her first race almost fifty years ago. "In 1977, women’s running hardly even existed. Sports bras did not exist. Women’s running clothes did not exist," Marciante reflected on the early days of her running career, recalling how she had to adapt her wardrobe to fit her needs as a female athlete. Her passion for running has remained a constant in her life, serving as a source of joy and community as she moved from Long Island to Florida, then to Tennessee, and finally to Park City, Utah, after retiring from her accounting career. "It’s so much fun when you’re training with a running group, especially in Park City when you get up and it’s 17 degrees out, and you’ve gotta run," Marciante shared about her training regimen. Her typical week includes running with the Park City Running Group at 6 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, followed by long runs on Saturdays, covering distances between 12 and 20 miles. As Marciante approaches her 70th marathon, she has carefully chosen the Loch Ness Marathon in Scotland as the location to celebrate this milestone. "I picked the Loch Ness Marathon two weeks before my 70th birthday," she said, expressing excitement about the adventure. She will be joined by 40 friends from various stages of her life, including those from New York, Nashville, and Park City. "It’s so wonderful to be loved and have all these people supporting me in this adventure," she remarked. Marciante's running journey has not been without its challenges. She has faced significant personal struggles, including a divorce, near-bankruptcy, and battles with depression that kept her from running for over two years. On her 60th birthday, she contemplated suicide, preparing to end her life with a lethal dose of pills. "All I can say is divine intervention or whatever you want to call it. I had all these pills in my mouth, and this bright light came through the window and almost blinded me. It was like a bolt of lightning," she recounted, describing a pivotal moment that redirected her path. After this life-altering experience, a friend encouraged her to start training for a half-marathon, which reignited her passion for running. Marciante credits the determination required for running with empowering her to make significant life changes, including moving to Park City five years ago to work at Deer Valley Resort as a hotel ambassador. Her time spent living in employee housing surrounded by younger colleagues rejuvenated her spirit, making her feel youthful again. Looking forward, Marciante is not only focused on her 70th marathon but also has ambitions beyond that. She is considering the possibility of completing marathons on each continent, having already achieved this goal on three continents. "Running gives you the courage to take a chance on life, because let’s face it, when you’re running, there are so many times your brain is telling you, ‘Alright, you can walk off the course,’ but you don’t do it. You just like, ‘No, I’m doing it. I know I can finish this,’" she concluded, affirming her belief in the power of perseverance and community support. Mary Anne Marciante's journey serves as an inspiring reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of community in achieving our goals, no matter the age. As she prepares for her next marathon, she continues to inspire those around her with her dedication and resilience, proving that it’s never too late to chase one’s dreams.