By Sean Sullivan

As fog haunted melting snowbanks on a cool morning in early March, Kaitlyn Duncan readied herself for a run. Daylight Savings Time had robbed the region of an hour of Sunday slumber, but rising temperatures somewhat softened the blow.

Thermometers were forecast to push near 70 degrees midweek, and that Sunday morning was already flirting with 50 around breakfast time.

Those taxing, early-morning runs are part of Duncan’s training for the Boston Marathon.

The Natick mother of three is running the race on behalf of the Natick Center Cultural District. The cultural district works at the hub of commerce, culture and creativity, working to boost and build bridges between them.

“I see every day how much my children benefit from the art installations, cultural events, and town-supported programs that make Natick so special,” Duncan wrote on her fundraising flyer. “It brings our town closer together and makes Natick an incredible place to grow up.’’

Duncan’s training schedule is a dizzying array of cross training and cross country work.

Most are shorter runs (under 10 miles), some interspersed with brief sprints. Pushups, planks, sit-ups and stretching round out the regimen.

In the first modern Olympics competition in 1896, organizers were looking for a galvanizing event to adopt as a centerpiece to the games. As a tribute to the ancient Greek competitions, the marathon was chosen as that crowning event.

Boston’s annual Marathon saw its inaugural running of the race the following year, and has hosted it ever since. “Marathon Mania” swept through the United States in the early 1900s, as cities and states adopted their own versions of the race.

The Bay State road race is considered the most prestigious and storied of the many marathons now held annually worldwide.

In addition to attracting elite runners from all corners of the globe, the Boston Marathon organization sets aside a number of slots for local athletes. As a “host town” for the race, Natick is awarded 25 bibs for town residents. To earn these slots at the starting line, runners like Duncan agree to fundraise for a local cause.

She ran track as a Natick High School student, but strove for short bursts of speed in lieu of sustained stamina. Running with a friend after graduation, she discovered the appeal of going the distance.

That friend was then training to make the college running team, and Duncan rose early with her for emotional and endurance support.

“I just woke up at 5 a.m. and trained with her for fun.”

Running has been part of Duncan’s own support system for years. A victim of domestic violence, she and her children were living in a shelter without transportation.

“I had no car and would run with my kids in the stroller everywhere.”

While living there, the manager of the safe house took note of her penchant for pounding the pavement, and asked Duncan to run her first Boston Marathon on behalf of the shelter.

“He became my trainer and has trained me for most of my marathons and ran one with me.”

He has remained Duncan’s trainer, and is currently coaching her for races she’ll run this spring and summer. She’ll run the Falmouth Road Race in August, her third time on behalf of the Natick Service Council.

That local aid organization has been a source of support for Duncan’s family over the years, and the Natick mom has used running to return the favor.

Michelle Parven, an art teacher at Brown Elementary School, has taught all three of Duncan’s children, and is currently helping her with fundraising for the cultural district.

“I fell in love with being able to give back to places that have saved me, doing something I’m good at and that I love.”

Kaitlyn Duncan with her family. Courtesy photo