WORCESTER, Mass. - Lauren Murphy is preparing to run the Boston Marathon and she’s got her husband Brian Rettger by her side.

“This is my third marathon in six months," Murphy said. "But Brian is actually the one who got me into running during COVID.”

It’ll be a busy weekend for the couple leading up to marathon Monday.

“I'm in my final weeks of training. We're in the taper phase, so cutting down the mileage and cutting down the training," Murphy said. "Thank goodness. Brian decided to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon the weekend before the Boston Marathon. So, we will be hiking the canyon the weekend before the Boston Marathon. We're flying in at midnight on Marathon Monday. 12 a.m.”

The two medical professionals both work for UMass Memorial Health and as Murphy joins the thousands running into Boston, Rettger will be working the UMass Mile 10 Medical Tent as his wife runs by.

“She’ll do great. She's got three under her belt in under six months. So, you know, at that point, nothing could really hurt you," Rettger said. "The hay is in the barn, as it were. So, the work's been done. She’ll be fine.”

“It's really exciting, too, because our entire family, my side of the family and his, my in-laws will all be at mile 10 at the tent," Murphy said. "So, I get to say hi to my husband and get to say hi to the in-laws and my parents and my aunt and uncle and some friends too. So, it’ll be nice.”

This is the first year UMass Memorial has been given marathon bibs. Murphy and three others are fundraising and running for the UMass Memorial Deployable Medical Team.

“The idea is pioneered by John Broach and Tim Boardman, who are emergency physicians here at UMass," Rettger said. "And they want to be able to put up a field hospital in the local Massachusetts area if needed within 12 hours of an emergency. This was kind of initially inspired by the DCU field hospital that they spun up during COVID. And then they've sort of progressed that plan from there. Even if there isn't an emergency, they'll still be working in the local area to improve emergency response.”

And with the support of her coworkers, family, friends and husband cheering her on, Murphy is hoping for a great run.

“Hopefully the weather cooperates and hopefully it's not raining," Murphy said. "And hopefully it's not hot and hopefully it's not cold.”

“It'll be all smiles in Natick," Rettger said, "and all smiles on Boylston Street right?”