At 24 years old, Swampscott native Hannah Zafrani doesn’t consider herself a runner, despite being one of 13 local residents set to compete in the 2026 Boston Marathon on Monday.

Though she grew up playing sports, running was never a major interest. That changed recently, when she realized taking on the iconic 26.2-mile race was a personal goal she wanted to pursue.

In the months leading up to Patriots’ Day, Zafrani has committed herself to training for the marathon, a journey that hasn’t come without challenges. During her preparation, she suffered a stress fracture, an obstacle that temporarily set her back but didn’t derail her determination.

“It’s been a big change in my lifestyle,” said Zafrani.

Training for the marathon has tested her mentally as much as physically. In addition to logging miles, runners must meet fundraising goals to participate.

Zafrani chose to raise money for Boston Children’s Hospital, where she was paired with a patient partner, which is a current or former patient. Zafrani and her partner were able to spend some time together in the days leading up to the race, which Zafrani said gave her additional motivation.

“I’m really excited,” said Zafrani. “Nervous, but overall excited.”