Michael Raciti is taking on quite a challenge: He’s running the Boston marathon for the first time. Helping him along the way is none other than Hopedale‘s Auntie Dalie’s Pasta.

Q: Is this your first marathon?

A: Yes! I played soccer and basketball through high school at Sacred Heart in Kingston, Mass. and baseball for a year in college, but I’ve never run more than a 5k. So running the Boston Marathon is probably my most aspirational athletic endeavor, considering I am much more accustomed to sprinting and throwing/kicking balls into nets.  

Q: How did you get involved with the marathon?

A: Working as a Content Producer at Beth Israel Lahey Health, I have had a front seat to watch our healthcare professionals do amazing things day in and day out. Being in the ED and ICU and other departments at BID Needham hospital throughout the pandemic, it was truly humbling to see these incredible and dedicated people perform under pressure at such a high level. I wanted to do something to thank them and to hopefully give back some of the energy and inspiration that they’ve given to me.  

Q: How did you find the Hopedale business?

A: I first discovered Auntie Dalie’s pasta at the Needham Farmer’s Market. This summer, my close high school friend was telling me about a pasta he discovered that he thought I would like. As soon as he said that, I knew exactly what pasta he was talking about. We have both studied in Italy and have eaten plenty of pasta over there.

Q: Where do you live?

A: I recently moved to South Boston. I grew up in Western Mass then worked my way east to Plymouth.  

Q: Why carb load?

A: Nutrition is an extremely important component to athletics of any kind. As a source of energy, carbs are actually more important than electrolytes, contrary to popular belief. I have been eating a steady diet of carbs as well as protein and fiber, such as Goya beans and chicken throughout my training. Though keep in mind, I have been obsessed with pasta since birth so the marathon has provided me with plenty of justification for my high carb consumption. It’s been very liberating in that way!  

Q: What will you be eating from Auntie Dalie’s?

A: It’s too hard to choose. As a pasta connoisseur, I like all types of pastas depending on the sauce and on my mood! I not-so-secretly hope that one day a pasta will be named after me. That is on my bucket list. So hopefully one day I will be cooking and eating “Mike Raciti” - that has a nice pasta-sounding ring to it if you ask me!

Q: What makes it so great?

A: Besides the aforementioned health benefits from the carbs while training, there is nothing like a good pasta. Sure, I love a good carbo load, but I also love a good pasta even when I have no intention of doing anything active whatsoever.  

Q: Anything I didn’t ask you that you would like to get in?

A: Here is the link to my page: https://bit.ly/MarathonMike