Andrew Racca crossed the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street on Marathon Monday (Hopkinton’s name for Patriots’ Day). Racca works in finance and lives in Providence, R.I., with his wife. A first-time Boston finisher, Racca described the experience as the most fun he’d ever had in a race — despite 26.2 miles of sweat, cramps, and hard-won perseverance.

Running for Lake Maspenock

Racca ran the marathon as a fundraiser for the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association (LMPA), a cause with a personal connection. The LMPA works to protect and preserve the lake where his parents, Jim and Susan Racca, recently relocated after leaving Franklin. He was happy to carry their cause across the finish line.

Third Long-Distance Race, First Boston

Monday was not Racca’s first time at the 26.2-mile distance. He previously completed the Newport, R.I., Marathon. In addition, he ran a 50k ultra. An ultramarathon is any race over 26.2 miles. Racca ran the Womp Romp 50K, a 31-mile trail race in Wompatuck State Park. But Boston, he said, was on a different level entirely.

“I ran two marathons before that, but nothing on this scale,” he said.

Starting Strong, Hitting the Wall

Racca said the early miles felt almost effortless. He ran confidently through the first two-thirds of the race, keeping a solid pace and soaking in the crowd energy along the route. As often is the case, the turning point came at the base of Heartbreak Hill.

“Right around Heartbreak Hill, things got a lot tougher,” Racca said. “I felt some pretty bad cramps for the last five or six miles of the race.”

He didn’t stop. Racca pushed through the pain, kept up his nutrition, and stopped at a medical tent to get some Biofreeze for the cramping. The relief helped him keep moving. He crossed the finish line with a smile.

The Crowd Carries You Through

One of the race’s most famous moments — the screaming crowd at Wellesley College — lived up to the legend. Racca said he’d heard stories about the Wellesley students lining the course with signs, and the reality did not disappoint.

“I had heard all the stories, and they were definitely true,” he said. “I heard them before I saw them. The girls were out front screaming with ‘kiss me’ signs. It was pretty cool!”

Racca also had a personal cheering section. His wife tracked him on a race app from the finish line area, while family and friends appeared at multiple points along the course.

“I had a lot of family and friends show up at a couple of different points throughout the race,” he said. “So, I had a good support system cheering me on the whole way.”

The Expo Moment: It Becomes Real

For Racca, the full weight of what he was about to do didn’t sink in during training. It hit him when he picked up his bib and attended the race expo at the Boston Convention Center on Saturday.

“The gravity of it all really sank in once I was there,” he said. “You’re going through the training, and it doesn’t hit you. And then you go to the expo, and it’s like, holy crap — the atmosphere is so cool, and you’re like, okay, I’m really doing this.”

He left the expo loaded with marathon gear. And after the race, he wore his medal proudly to dinner, as is tradition among finishers.

After the Finish Line

After crossing the finish line, Racca and his family headed to the Seaport district to celebrate. Beers with family. A Brazilian steakhouse. A finisher’s medal around his neck.

“It was by far the most fun I’ve ever had doing a race,” he said. “It was painful, but it was amazing.”

The next day, Racca was already browsing future races online. New York and Chicago — both part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors — are on his radar. “I have the bug now,” he said. “After doing that event, I love that environment. I’d love to do something similar.”

“Proving finance guys can still get off the couch and run a marathon,” he added with a laugh.

More than a Race

For Hopkinton, the Boston Marathon is more than a race that passes through town — it is a large part of the community’s identity. When a local resident toes the start line on Main Street and finishes on Boylston, it carries a special meaning.

Andrew Racca made that journey from Hopkinton to Boston and came home with a medal, all while raising money for a great cause.

—If you’d like to contribute to Andrew Racca’s fundraising page, here is the link: https://www.givengain.com/project/andrew-raising-funds-for-lake-maspenock-preservation-association-115360