Norwalk Runner Teams Up Again With Soccer Legend

NORWALK, Conn. – Jodi Sorrells’ third Boston Marathon could be her slowest. It will also be the most meaningful for the Norwalk woman.

Sorrells will join her former high school soccer teammate from Wilton High, Kristine Lilly, on the starting line in Hopkinton, Mass., for the 26.2-mile journey into Boston. It will be the third Boston Marathon and 14th overall for Sorrells, 40. She and Lilly are running for Miles for Miracles, which supports Children’s Hospital Boston. People can support Sorrells by donating through her fundraising page.

“I just feel so fortunate that I have healthy kids,’’ said Sorrells, mom of Sienna, 2, and Ava, 1. “When you have your own kids and you see the challenges that some children face, it really hits home. It makes it more special that I’m able to do this. And people have been so generous.”

Sorrells is $150 away from reaching her $4,000 fundraising target. Sorrells and Lilly, the retired U.S. women’s Olympian soccer star, decided to run the race after watching it just steps from Lilly’s Boston-area home. When Lilly raised the possibility of running Boston, she had a willing partner in Sorrells.

“I’m thrilled to do it,’’ Sorrells said. ‘It’s such a fun event and a wonderful day.”

The hard part for Sorrells has been finding the time to train. With the young girls, training consistently has been her biggest challenge. She participated in the Boston Buildup Series to get in some quality miles, but her weekdays have been happily consumed with child rearing. “I really only run on weekends,’’ Sorrells said. “I’m a weekend warrior.”

The Boston race will be Sorrells’ first marathon since having children. Her last one was the Death Valley Marathon in 2007. Her last Boston came in 2003, when she ran 3:33:42. “I don’t know what I’ll be able to run this time,’’ Sorrells said. “I think the most important thing is to finish. I want to run under four hours, because if you’re out there for more than that it just hurts more.”

Sorrells ran track in high school and dabbled in 5Ks and 10Ks during college. Her first marathon was in Bermuda. “It was a challenge, and I thought I need to do this,’’ she said. “I was hooked. I kept doing them, one after another.”

She also believes she more marathons are in her future. “I have to get to 16,’’ Sorrells said. “I know I have a couple more in me. One thing that makes me happy is to have my girls and husband come watch. I love for them to see and be a role model for them. I’m looking forward to the day that I can run a race with them.”

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