Jonathan Thurman is not scared to do hard things. In fact, he thrives when faced with a challenge. The 38-year-old Boston resident is currently working a full-time job, going to graduate school full-time, and training for the 129th Boston Marathon as part of the marathon team at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“It’s all about prioritizing,” says Jon. “I put myself in a routine, and I stick with it. There isn’t an option to not work, not study or not train for the marathon. I just do it; I go full steam ahead.”
Jon is part of a Military Family and says his drive and discipline stems from his own time in the United States Army. He served two tours in Afghanistan as part of the 501st parachute infantry regiment, going on patrols, facilitating engagements with Afghan village leaders and at times, fighting against the Taliban.
“In terms of my time there, it’s hard to articulate something that feels so visceral,” he says. “I had dragged my feet as a young man, but when I went into service, I found a sense of purpose. The routine was constant, we had an amazing brotherhood and much of it was fun.”
Coming Home but Feeling Lost
When Jon’s Military service was complete, he moved to Colorado where his parents were living. In this next stage of life, he began struggling and felt adrift. Gone was the sense of community and the challenging routine he had loved.
“It was tricky. I was at a crossroads,” Jon says. “Before the Military, I was floundering, but after the Army, I was a different person. I had been in combat, I was in great shape and proud of myself and my service. When I came home, it didn’t feel good; it felt as if the rug was pulled out from under me. I didn’t know who I was anymore and struggled to find a sense of identity.”
“Participating on behalf of Mass General and Home Base is so important to me. First, Boston is considered the marathon. But it’s also symbolic of my personal journey. Home Base offers Veterans worldclass care and support at no cost to them. This is my way of honoring my brothers and sisters in arms and advocating for their well-being.”
According to the Department of Defense, less than 1% of Americans serve in the armed forces. As such, the experience of deploying to war is something not many people understand. With that in mind, Jon’s parents encouraged him to enroll in a college with a large Veteran population. Once there, Jon found friends who understood not only about his time in service, but also what life had been like since his service was complete.
“Having like-minded people around made a big difference,” he says. “So did running. It helped me cope.”
Jon participated in everything from 5ks to marathons. He had felt at times terrifyingly stagnant; logging miles and completing races helped him believe that his life was moving forward again. So, he kept running after completing college and relocated to Boston to study for his graduate degree.
New City, New Challenges
Alone in a new city, the old sense of unease began to infiltrate Jon’s life again. That is when he connected with Home Base, a program founded by Mass General in partnership with the Red Sox Foundation, focused on healing invisible wounds of war, such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. The program has served more than 40,000 Veterans and their Family Members who face service-related issues, including reintegrating into civilian life.
Jon’s experience with Home Base was incredibly helpful, so when the opportunity arrived, he jumped at the chance to run the Boston Marathon in honor of the services and staff who had been instrumental in his healing. Running the marathon would be a milestone in his journey — a moment to combine the things most impactful in his life: Military service, running and supporting others.
“Participating on behalf of Mass General and Home Base is so important to me. First, Boston is considered the marathon. But it’s also symbolic of my personal journey,” he says.
Jon says he is looking forward to Monday, April 21, and seeing the spectators line the route of the famous race. It is an experience he knows he will never forget.
“I can’t wait to put that medal around my neck on Boylston Street, knowing I conquered another challenge,” Jon says. “Plus, the race is on Patriots’ Day! It doesn’t get much better than that.”
If you would like to support Jonathan, click here.
To learn more about Mass General’s marathon team, click here.
