26.2 Miles of Motivation

Alex Crompton '20 during his marathon
Listen

His legs heavy, ankles in pain, and music suddenly off, Alex Crompton ’20 was at mile 18 of his impromptu marathon to raise money for his local community affected by the pandemic when he encountered a mental crossroads.

“This isn’t just for me, I’ve got to push through for these people,” he thought to himself.

Before stepping off, he knew he would face challenges like these throughout the 26.2-mile route, just as people around the world have for months faced a similar test of endurance that is the coronavirus outbreak.

Finding influence in the people he longed to help, Crompton battled through those final miles, finishing his feat in 4:43.

“You can overcome anything you set your mind to,” he said. “Related to the coronavirus, this was an obstacle none of us saw coming, but we have to push through it.”

A Challenge to Inspire Others

Before last week, Crompton, a men’s soccer forward, had never run more than a few miles at any given time.

Motivated by two good friends who planned to and trained to run the now-postponed 124th Boston Marathon, he decided in less than a week to run his own marathon on the back roads of Vermont to raise money for local community members affected by the coronavirus.

In the days leading up, Crompton ran a pair of 5-mile runs, loaded up on carbohydrates, and tried to adhere to a proper sleep schedule.

“(I wanted) to challenge myself, I’d never done anything like this,” he said. “You’re looking for something that inspires you.”

Support Virtually, and In Person

Crompton’s course between the Vermont town of Killington and village of Quechee was relatively flat. The run was broadcast live from cars traveling alongside the entire route, where Crompton received encouraging comments from viewers.

“It was not bad at all, I thought I had a really good pace,” Crompton said looking back on his achievement.

He raised about $2,800 in the effort, split evenly and donated to The Killington Food Shelf at the Little White Church and The Killington Relief Fund.

Alex Crompton '20 the day of his marathon
Alex Crompton ’20 on the day of his marathon.

Crompton hopes to continue to find ways to fundraise and play his part in the fight against the pandemic. He also didn’t rule out the possibility of running a future marathon on a larger stage.

“People were telling me, ‘Now you’ve got to do the Boston Marathon,’ ” Crompton said. “You never say never.”

Posted in Community

More from Community »

Latest Stories

Jason Ou ’27 talks on a microphone
After a 5-Year Entrepreneurial Odyssey, an Undergrad Returns to Babson’s Campus As a sophomore, Jason Ou ’27 left campus during the pandemic. His departure set him off on an entrepreneurial odyssey, as he moved from one opportunity to another. Now, five years later, he is back on campus.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
September 17, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Three entrepreneurs featured in BostInno 25 under 25 list.
Babson Entrepreneurs Lead the Way on BostInno’s 25 Under 25 List From fashion to tech, 12 Babson entrepreneurs made BostInno’s 25 Under 25, reflecting the College’s leadership in innovation.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
September 16, 2025

Posted in Community

Three creative business people look at a window filled with post-it notes
What Is Creative Thinking in the Workplace? And How Does It Fuel Innovation and Problem Solving? Creative thinking is one of the most essential skills for the workforce. Here’s why those skills are so important, especially in this era of rapid change.
By
September 12, 2025

Posted in Insights