Meet the Taunton Woman Who Aims to Run All 932 Streets in the City
If you need a little motivation today, take a jog in Deb Diegoli’s running shoes. The 61-year-old Taunton woman is on a mission to run every street in the city – 932 in all.
Ever since she was in high school, Diegoli has loved to run, participating in cross country and track and field, but she’s an honest woman and admitted it was a high school crush that got her into running.
“I was dating a runner, and I wanted to be a cool kid,” she joked. But in turn, Diegoli was the cool one, who became a certified running coach and a physical trainer later in life.
“I just helped some of my clients complete their first half marathon, and it’s been a rewarding experience,” Diegoli said.
She ran the Boston Marathon twice, in 1984 and 2014, and is currently training for her 11th marathon by hitting the streets of the city she has called home for the past 20 years. With each marathon, you’ll find her wearing her “Homes for Our Troops” jersey, as she raises money for the organization with every marathon she enters.
Diegoli considers herself “61 years young” and continues to push her limits on her journey of health and wellness.
“I’m not a big believer in making excuses. Your health is the most important thing you can take care of,” she said. “I’m a huge believer in if you do something a little bit every day, you’re going to feel better.”
Running is Diegoli’s outlet. Working from home most days makes her feel isolated from the world and running allows her to get out and clear her mind. Running in the same place, though, can be boring, which led her to set a massive goal of running the entire city of Taunton.
“I’ve seen a few of my friends do it in their towns, so I thought about it, and it seems overwhelming,” Diegoli said. “When I realized there were 932 streets, I realized I am taking on a big one.” With 148 streets down, Diegoli is determined to hit the pavement of the remaining 784.
Diegoli is living proof that age is just a number if you work hard enough. She hopes to inspire others, young and old, to push past boundaries in search of your healthiest self.