Instead of passing the baton after last year’s Marathon, Sam Novey is passing on his buns.
The Harvard University senior ran the 26.2-mile course in a burger costume and called himself “Burgerman.”
But this year, there will be 10 times the meat making its way to the finish line.
The group calls themselves the “Burger Brigade.” It’s made up of 20 area college students mostly from Harvard, Berklee and Northeastern.
While some of them will hand off their burger costumes relay-style and plan to run only part of the course, all of them will raise money for the organization Back on My Feet. The nonprofit empowers homeless through daily running as well as job and educational opportunities.
Victor Wong, another Harvard senior, has taken over for Novey as the head hamburger. He ran 10 miles of the course last year in a french-fry costume beside Novey. This year he’ll run 26.2 miles in the burger costume.
“It’s 7 feet tall and not aerodynamic,” Wong said of the fry costume. “The burger is lighter and it’s around your waist. I imagine and I hope that it will be easier this time around.”
Novey said he was “exhausted” after last year, but he still wanted to be involved and he’s relishing the opportunity to help plan and lend support for this year’s group.
“What you have to understand is that you’re not running the Marathon in a burger costume. When you put on the burger you become Burgerman, and that’s part of the whole experience,” he said.
The brigade has been training for months by running a “burger mile” and made a YouTube video about their effort.
The costumes were given to the group by b.good, and the food chain is helping the group raise money.
It’s also where the brigade will gather after today’s run.
“All of those burgers and shakes waiting for us after the finish line … it’s one of my biggest incentives for doing this,” Wong said.
