A seasoned marathon runner, Erica Pagotto has used various types of motivations, usually ones that deal with pushing herself to the limit.

When she recently completed her fourth Boston Marathon, the Lehighton head track and cross country coach again followed her script to keep herself on a fit track.

“It was the quote, ‘Choose your hard,’” emphasized Pagotto. “Marathon running is really hard, but so is not exercising and the health risks that go along with that. I needed to choose my hard, and my hard is marathon running.”

Pagotto finished the marathon in 3:32:53, which was just nine seconds shy of her personal record of her Boston run of 3:23:33 in 2023. It was her fourth time in Beantown, and her 18th overall marathon.

She took a simple game approach.

“My goal for this Boston was to take it all in, slap as many hands as possible — especially the kids — and read all the motivational signs,” reflected Pagotto. “I felt great during the race and ended up going faster than expected, but I went with the flow.”

This one was special, however, because she ran it with Cera Gaston, a 2017 Lehighton graduate and her first running pupil to participate in running’s gold standard.

This time around, Pagotto got a chance to rekindle some of those thoughts with Gaston, who had a celebrated career at Messiah College and also as a graduate student at Alvernia. Gaston finished with a new PR of 3:13:03.

It was another chapter in their relationship that continues to reach new levels.

For Gaston, it was a surreal and undefinable experience.

“I am still trying to put it into words, and I don’t know if I will ever be able to,” gushed Gaston. “It was absolutely unforgettable from the energy of the crowd to the prestige of the race itself.”

Gaston relied on her past high school methods to complete the last grueling part of the race.

“The course was definitely challenging, but the support and adrenaline carried me through,” offered Gaston. “Lehighton is nothing but hills, so I was used to the rolling terrain.

“When I got over Heartbreak Hill — the last hill — I tried to do some quick math to see if I was still on track for a PR, even after all the hills. My mom kept texting me every time it updated with the new estimated time and encouragement whenever I would cross a timing mat. That kept pushing my time, and I dropped by another minute ... Crossing the finish line on Boylston Street was a dream come true.”

Pagotto was proud of her runner’s effort, as Gaston once held the school record for the 3,200 (11:52:24) before it was broken by her sister Kelsey (11:33:07).

“She’s a talented and dedicated runner,” said Pagotto of Gaston. “She had a PR at Boston, which is quite an accomplishment. In high school we always knew she was capable of great things. She also coaches now too, so she can inspire even more runners.”

Gaston had a rather unorthodox anecdotal start to her running career.

“I kind of stumbled into running,” she recalled. “I was part of the Lehighton Booster Club track program, and I was doing throwing and jumping events at the time. I struggled to find something that truly clicked, and I did sports for the social aspect.

“At a championship meet, our team needed just a few more points to win, and I was the only athlete who hadn’t maxed out their events. So, my coach threw me into the mile, and I had zero training for it. I had to actually race to score a point, and I ended up finishing within seconds of the meet record.

“From there, running kind of found me. I’ll keep running because there is always room to grow.”

At Lehighton, Gaston and Pagotto developed a lasting bond of respect and trust, despite some bumps along the way.

“Looking back, coach Pagotto and I definitely bumped heads a bit in high school,” remembered Gaston, who is the track distance coach at Garden Spot High School. “But once I went to Messiah during my undergrad, we reconnected and our relationship changed on a whole new level.

“She became one of my biggest supporters, and was the first person I called after my first marathon in 2022. She was also one of the first people I called when I qualified for the cross country nationals.”

Over time, Gaston has learned to further appreciate Pagotto’s influence.

“She has always been there to celebrate the highs with me, and became someone I leaned on and respected,” added Gaston. “One thing she always pushed was reflection, and I used to roll my eyes when she asked me how my race felt, what would I change, and what was my favorite part.

“I thought it was corny at the time, but it’s still the first thing she asks me if we talk about a race. And funny enough, I’ve carried that with me into my coaching.”

Whether it was her first marathon in Wilkes-Barre in 2004 or her latest one, Pagotto always has to deal with a stimulus to reach her goals.

“There are times when I don’t feel like working out, especially this winter when it was so cold and windy,” noted Pagotto. “There are times when I am overwhelmed by pre-race nerves and anxiety and question why I do this.

“When I was trying to qualify for Boston, it took me five marathons before I finally hit the qualifying standard and was accepted. There were times when I felt like giving up and marathon running was not for me, but I put in more miles each week and followed a harder training program, which really paid off.”

Through it all, Pagotto — who ran for Northwest Area High School and Marywood College — has managed to keep everything in the proper light.

“Sometimes, I just think of Nike’s slogan, ‘Just do it,’ said Pagotto. “Once I do, I always feel better after. I get a sense of accomplishment, and I know it’s worth it. But I still get nervous as a 40-year-old athlete.

“It also helps me relate to my athletes, as I know their pre-race jitters can get the best of them sometimes.”

Yet, Pagotto’s first Boston marathon participant took her advice and made her coach proud.

Boston Creme ... Along with Pagotto and Gaston, Jim Thorpe’s Brian Hydro finished the Boston in 3:38:11 while Summit Hill’s Jordan Christman posted a 2:13:47 as a handcyclist.

Philling It Up ... Congratulations to Summit Hill’s Jill Krout (39:08), and Jim Thorpe’s Blake Yurchak (40:46), who both participated in the annual Phillies 5K in late March.

On the Calendar ... The Lisa Napoletano Running with the Angels 5K (also a one-mile race for kids and adults) will be held Saturday, May 10 at the Jim Thorpe Train Station. Napoletano was a freshman at Marian and a member of the cross country and track teams. In early March, she was involved in an ATV accident and passed away from her injuries. The cost for the race is $22.50 for the 5K, and $17.50 for the one-mile race.

Lehighton’s Healthy Kids Running Series will continue on May 4, 11, and 18. The races are open from pre-Ks (ages 2-3) to eighth-graders.

For more information on both races, visit, www.runsignup.com.