Going the distance: Meet five CWRU community members participating in the 2026 Cleveland Marathon weekend
For some, running in races is about chasing a personal best. For others, it’s a way to reset, stay grounded or simply accomplish a set goal. For several members of the Case Western Reserve University community, the 2026 Cleveland Marathon represents more than a race—it’s a reflection of discipline, resilience and the drive to keep moving forward.
From first-time racers stepping into their debut 5K to seasoned runners returning to the half marathon distance, this year’s participants have done the work to prepare for this weekend’s event.
Read on to hear from five members of the CWRU community, who shared their experiences and what motivates their miles—on the course and beyond.
Morgan Loveday
Second-year chemistry PhD candidate
A West Virginia native and second-year chemistry PhD candidate, Morgan Loveday first turned to running in October 2025 as she prepared for her oral qualifying exam, using the miles to clear her mind. What began as 4-mile stress-relief runs soon grew into 10- to 12-mile weekend training sessions through Lake View Cemetery, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens and beyond. Now, Loveday aims to tackle a new personal record: running her first-ever 13.1 mile race at the 2026 Cleveland Marathon.
While Loveday doesn’t follow a strict training plan, she aims for a consistent weekly mileage of at least 20 miles to lower the risk of injury. In an effort to hold herself accountable and stay motivated, she films her runs as a vlog that she shares with her friends and family. To build her endurance and pacing for the upcoming half marathon, Loveday also participated in a 10K race in Cuyahoga Falls earlier this year.
“Resting and listening to my body and brain is very important, and I try to listen if I am really not feeling up for a run,” she said. “That helps prevent burnout and minimize risk of injury to keep me running strong and having a good time.”
At CWRU, Loveday is part of The Gray Group, a research group that investigates the rational design of organometallic complexes with third-order nonlinear optical properties. She is also treasurer of the Chemistry Graduate Student Association and a teaching assistant for organic and inorganic chemistry labs.
“I have found that the mental toughness and fortitude I have built from long-distance running has made me a better researcher,” Loveday said. “I am becoming more resilient to failure and challenges that arise during my PhD studies and more patient for the long-term goals that I have set over the course of a five-year program.”
On race day, Loveday looks forward to seeing the familiar faces of her friends, viewing downtown Cleveland landmarks and running across the Hope Memorial Bridge.
“I expect that I’ll be pretty tired at that point, but I hope the awesome view will take my mind off the pain and remind me that I’m close to the finish line,” she shared.
Hrishue and Maansi Mahalaha
CWRU alumnus and second-year nutrition student, respectively
For Maansi Mahalaha, a second-year nutrition student, and her father, Hrishue Mahalaha (CWR ’97), running has long been part of family tradition. In the Mahalaha household, vacations often include a family run—an unwritten ritual that has followed them around the world.
During a trip to New York City, that tradition expanded beyond family vacations when Hrishue asked Maansi and her brothers—Shreyas and Kavi—if they’d be interested in running the half marathon at the 2026 Cleveland Marathon.
“Part of the inspiration came from the fact that I ran a half-marathon in India in December on a whim, and Maansi had run a half-marathon in Cleveland last summer,” said Hrishue, executive director of The Aerozone Alliance. “To my surprise, the kids were generally excited about the run.”
Rather than following a strict training schedule, the Mahalaha family has taken a more casual, flexible approach. Loosely following a weekly running plan, they’ve managed to fit in several runs together, including a few under 8 miles.
At the same time, the father-daughter duo has found ways to balance training with the demands of academic and professional life by carving out time for individual workouts.
“I’ve been able to fit training in by getting my workouts done in the morning,” Maansi said. “Whether it’s lifting or running, I always like to go with my friends because they keep me accountable. My support system is the main reason why I’m able to train alongside my other commitments.”
“My routine is not too different,” Hrishue said. “I generally work out a few times a week. Perhaps the biggest difference now is incorporating a longer run on the weekends, which requires a bit of thought and planning to make sure we’re rested beforehand.”
While Hrishue quietly hopes to break the two-hour mark, his main focus is sharing his first official race with his daughter.
“I’ve been a runner most of my life and started in high school,” he said. “To have my daughter, who’s now a runner and also competed in track and cross country in high school, brings me a lot of joy. It is most rewarding for me to go on runs with my daughter.”
Beyond the miles, the experience has offered Hrishue something even more meaningful: a deeper understanding of his daughter’s world as a college student.
“My biggest observation is that I think college is much harder today than it was 30 years ago when I was at CWRU,” Hrishue said. “I see the mountain of work and the academic expectations that students have today.”
“So for me, I’m trying to minimize any overt expectations of Maansi in terms of the run,” he continued. “I’m just so grateful that we get to share this moment together.”
To help keep the energy high on race day, the Mahalaha family plans to queue up an upbeat Spotify playlist filled with ’80s and ’90s dance, rock, pop and hip-hop.
“Any music that gets me excited is always a great option,” Maansi said.
Sruthi Shanker Pydimarry
Second-year mechanical engineering PhD student
In 2025, Sruthi Shanker Pydimarry began running as part of her fitness journey during her first year of graduate studies at Case School of Engineering.
“Graduate school can be mentally demanding, and I wanted to pursue a goal that focused on physical endurance and personal growth,” said Pydimarry, whose research focuses on understanding complex interfacial flows and developing physical models to predict flow behaviors in two-phase thermal management systems.
Now, a second-year mechanical engineering PhD student, Pydimarry is preparing for her first official race: a 5K at the 2026 Cleveland Marathon.
“Signing up for the Cleveland Marathon was the best way I could step out of my comfort zone and build confidence as a beginner runner,” Pydimarry said. “I see it as a good milestone before eventually working toward larger goals, such as running a half marathon.”
Leading up to race day, Pydimarry’s training has centered on consistency, pacing and incorporating strength training into her routine.
“As a beginner, it was easy to start too fast and lose energy quickly,” she said. “I am still working on improving this, but I have learned to pay more attention to breathing, rhythm and maintaining a steady pace instead of focusing only on speed.”
To stay motivated, Pydimarry turns to her playlist that blends Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and late-2000s Bollywood hits. Before every run, she also sticks to a simple routine: staying hydrated, stretching properly and mentally preparing herself for a productive run.
On race day, she hopes to complete the 5K within her target time of 20 to 30 minutes—a personal milestone that reflects months of steady progress. After crossing the finish line, Pydimarry plans to celebrate with family, friends and a well-earned iced latte.
While the Cleveland Marathon will mark her first race, she’s already thinking about where running might take her next: scenic routes through Tsukuba and Fujiyoshida, Japan.
Meg Herrel
Communications manager, University Marketing and Communications
Meg Herrel, a communications manager for the Division of Student Affairs and Weatherhead School of Management, is no stranger to long-distance running. On May 15, she will line up for her seventh half marathon—a distance she has grown especially fond of over the years.
“It’s my favorite race because it feels like a significant accomplishment, but the training and time aren’t as grueling as training for a full marathon,” Herrel said.
Rather than sticking to a rigid training schedule, Herrel has found that giving herself flexibility is what helps her stay consistent.
“I’ve learned that I’m a lot more likely to stick to my training schedule if I give myself the grace and forgiveness to say, ‘maybe I didn’t do my run first thing this morning, but I can do it as soon as I get home from work and it’s still OK,’” she said, also noting the importance of persistence.
“I set a half marathon personal record in 2024 and have unsuccessfully tried to beat it several times,” she said. “Trying and failing to do so reinforced the idea of being okay with ‘failure’ and persisting anyway.”
This year, Herrel’s persistence paid off in an unexpected way when she set a new personal record at a race in April. Still, she hopes to shave off additional time at the 2026 Cleveland Marathon half marathon.
To stay on track, Herrel relies on the Runkeeper app, which helps her structure her training by selecting weekly mileage, scheduling runs and tracking pace goals. The system, she says, keeps her accountable while still allowing room for flexibility when life gets busy.
For individuals interested in starting their running journey, she offers the following advice: Don’t let anyone define your running goal or performance except for you, and make sure you’re having fun.
