For Philip Murray, running has always been a way to relax. If he was frustrated he could “run five miles and calm down.”

Murray first began running as a freshman at Hendricken High School, and now, at the age of 24, he has accomplished one of the most difficult running challenges, the Boston Marathon.

“Running the Boston Marathon has always been on my dream list,” Murray said in a phone interview Wednesday. “I’ve done a bunch of half marathons and 5ks, why not try 26.2.”

As a freshman at Hendricken, Murray was having difficulty reading; therefore, he experienced trouble understanding the material. He would spend all night on his homework trying to catch up, but Murray still began failing his courses. He began using running as a release.

“I didn’t know why I couldn’t do it. I would be getting too much at one time. I was getting frustrated and couldn’t figure out why,” Murray said.

In 2008 as a sophomore, Murray was the pioneer student in Hendricken’s new Options Program. The Brother Thomas R. Leto Options Program offers students with mild to moderate learning challenges and developmental disabilities.

Natalie Kessimian, director of the Options Program, explained that participating students receive extra academic support through modified coursework and peer mentors. Students give up their study period to attend classes with Options Program students, helping them to take notes and tutoring them. The peer mentors also organize events throughout the year, such as dances and movie nights, to help Options Program students feel integrated into the social community of the school.

“Brother Leto recognized the need to educate all young men, and his vision provided students with special needs the “option” of benefiting from a Catholic Christian education,” Kessimian said.

Murray was the first ever graduate from the Options program in 2011. Now, in its eighth year, the Options Program has 12 students.

He would then go on to the Threshold Program at Boston’s Lesley University, where Murray majored in early childhood education. Now, Murray is living in Boston as a full-time preschool teacher at Bright Horizons.

“Through all of it, running let me de-stress. It motivated me to keep trying, to keep going,” Murray said.

When he finally received a bib number for this year’s marathon, Murray was so excited he began training immediately.

While standing on the finish line Murray became nervous. What if he didn’t make it to the finish line? When he did cross the finish line, Murray was overcome with joy to see his family and friends waiting for him.

He said, “To see so many people cheering me on was so incredible.”

Throughout his run, Murray said it was at mile 20 he hit a wall, but to see the crowd shouting in support, reassuring him he could finish, he had a resurgence of energy.

“Here were all these strangers supporting me,” Murray said. “They helped me get to the finish line. Seeing them made me stronger.”

Kessimian said that the Hendricken community and especially the Options Program is proud of Murray. “He was the first Options student, and to see him accomplish his dream of running in the Boston Marathon is amazing and inspirational.”

In addition to participating in the Boston Marathon, Murray also held a GoFundMe fundraiser to benefit the Alumni Association of Providence College. Providence College as well as the Alumni Association, has a proud history of supporting students with various academic needs. Also the donation is in “gratitude” to Charlie Alagero, a 1978 graduate of Providence College who helped Murray find a bib number for the race.

Murray’s initial goal was to raise $10,000, but he exceeded his goal, raising a total of $11,432.

“The day after I wore my medal all day and everyone congratulated me,” Murray said. “It’s incredible how kind and generous people have been through this.”